Nova Scotia Parks Guide 2020
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Nova Scotia Provincial Parks Parks Guide 2020 –2021 KEY Table of Contents Campsites Welcome Message 1 Park Seasons 2 1 Wooded 1 Partially Wooded1 Open Reservations 3 Self-Registration Parks 4 Beach Access Lookout Fees 5 Rules and Regulations 6–7 Bicycles Parking Safe Stay and Emergency 8 Park Office/Information Boat Launch Amherst Shore 9 Bunk House Picnic Area Battery 10 Blomidon 11 Campground Host Picnic Shelter Boylston 12 Canoeing Playground Cape Chignecto 13–15 Caribou–Munroes Island 16 Change Room Program Area Dollar Lake 17–18 Cooking Shelter Registration Kiosk Ellenwood Lake 19 Cross-country Skiing Restrooms with showers Five Islands 20–21 Graves Island 22 Dishwashing Shelter Laurie 23 Drinking Water Snack Bar Mira River 24–25 Exhibit/Interpretation Snowshoeing Porters Lake 26 Rissers Beach 27–28 Facilities for the Disabled Swimming Salsman 29 Firepit Swimming (Supervised) Smileys 30 Firewood Telephone The Islands 31 Thomas Raddall 32 Fishing Trailer Dump Station Valleyview 33 Flush Toilets Vault Toilet Whycocomagh 34 Group Camping Walk-in Campsite Day Use Parks 35–39 Park Locator Map 40–41 Hiking Waste/Recycling Park Events by Date 42–51 Kayaking Wilderness Cabin Park Event by Location 52 Partnership Advertising 53 Laundry Wildlife Viewing Lighthouse Yurt While we strive for accuracy, you may wish to check with park Save this booklet for your next visit or staff, or the nearest NS Department of Lands and Forestry office, to confirm availability of services or to inquire about any changes to pass it along to a friend. the policies found in this guide. © Crown copyright, Province of Nova Scotia, 2020 Nova Scotia Provincial Parks Guide 2020-21 Department of Lands and Forestry, April 2020 Front cover location: Cape Chignecto Provincial Park ISBN: 978-1-77448-019-9 Photo is used courtesy of: Communications Nova Scotia Welcome to Nova Scotia Parks Experience the natural beauty and diverse landscapes of Nova Scotia by visiting Provincial Parks. Parks provide access to the province’s extensive coastline, scenic views, beaches, forests, lakes and rivers. Nova Scotia Parks offer a range of outdoor recreational opportunities with facilities and services for camping, hiking, swimming, paddling, boating, picnics, and beach-going. There are 20 camping parks and over 100 day-use parks with something for everyone, whether you are looking for adventure or quiet reflection. Nova Scotia Provincial Parks are managed by the Department of Lands and Forestry. The department is continuing work to address aging infrastructure and to promote and support an accessible, more inclusive visitor experience. Efforts include the construction of an accessible and gender-neutral washroom at Valleyview Provincial Park. Additionally, adaptive equipment, such as accessible beach mats and beach chairs/bikes, are available at select locations, more information is available on our website: http://parks.novascotia.ca Visitor feedback on parks is welcome. This season we are conducting a visitor experience survey to better understand what attracts people to Nova Scotia Parks and how we can improve. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see photos, hear about events and stay engaged with what’s going on at parks. Nova Scotia Parks will be running a photography draw this season, see the back cover for details. Enjoy the 2020 parks season! Heather Beach Provincial Park http://parks.novascotia.ca 1 Park Seasons for 2020 Camping Parks PARK TOURISM REGION DATE Amherst Shore ‡ Northumberland Shore June 5 – Oct 12 Battery ‡ Cape Breton Island June 5 – Oct 19 Blomidon ** Annapolis Valley May 15 – Oct 12 Boylston * Eastern Shore June 5 – Sept 14 Cape Chignecto Bay of Fundy May 15 – Oct 12 Caribou-Munroes Island ‡ Northumberland Shore June 5– Oct 12 Dollar Lake Eastern Shore June 5 – Oct 12 Ellenwood Lake ** ‡ Yarmouth & Acadian Shores May 15 – Oct 12 Five Islands ‡ Bay of Fundy June 5 – Oct 12 Graves Island ‡ South Shore May 15 – Oct 12 Day-use parks are open: Laurie * Halifax Metro June 5 – Sept 14 May 15 to Oct 12 Mira River ‡ ** Cape Breton Island May 29 – Oct 19 The day-use areas of camping Porters Lake * ‡ Eastern Shore May 15 – Oct 12 parks open and close on the Rissers Beach ‡ South Shore May 15 – Oct 12 same day as the campground Salsman * Eastern Shore June 5– Sept 14 except for Boylston, Dollar Lake, Smileys * Bay of Fundy June 5 – Sept 21 and Salsman which will be open May 15 to Oct 12. The Islands * South Shore June 5 – Oct 12 Thomas Raddall South Shore May 15 – Oct 12 Valleyview ‡ Annapolis Valley June 5 – Oct 12 Whycocomagh * ‡ Cape Breton Island June 5 – Oct 19 *Self-registration park **Self-registration from Sept 8 to closing ‡Some sites have electrical hook-ups LEARN 2 CAMP Curious about camping ...but don’t know where to start? We can help! Join us for a fun and informative overnight camping experience and learn the ropes from the pros! when August 8 and 9, 2020 where Graves Island Provincial Park, Lunenbury County Deadline to register is July 10, 2020 For more information: http://parks.novascotia.ca/content/learn-camp or call 902-893-5371. 2 http://parks.novascotia.ca Reservations Making a reservation is easy. Reservation lines open April 2 and operate until park season ends in October. • Visit http://parks.novascotia.ca (24 hrs.) to view park descriptions and site maps. Then book online using our secure internet reservation service. Or, call 1-888-544-3434 from 9:00 am to 11:00 pm ADT (7 days a week) to speak to a reservation advisor. Service in French is available. • Those outside North America can make reservations online or by calling 519-826-5301. • Payment of fees is required at the time of booking. • VISA, MasterCard and American Express are accepted for online and telephone reservations. Personal cheques and money orders are accepted for telephone reservations only. • A campsite can be reserved for a minimum of one night and a maximum of 14 nights. • Reservations can be made until 12:00 Midnight ADT on the day of your arrival. • Reservations are held until 1:00 pm ADT the day following your scheduled arrival. Reservations not claimed by this time will be considered a “no show” with a penalty of the first night’s camping fee being charged and the remaining reservation being cancelled. • If you forfeit the first night of your reservation but wish to camp for the remaining period, you must make a new reservation with the associated costs. The Department of Lands and Forestry will gladly refund the remainder of the “no show” reservation when you arrive at the park or you can request it by emailing [email protected] with your booking number, the park reserved and reservation dates. • Please visit the website for more detailed information about the reservation policy. Hours for Park Offices and Registration Kiosks (yellow phone kiosk) Spring shoulder season: Summer peak season: Fall shoulder season: May 15 to June 25 June 26 to Sept 7 Sept 8 to Oct 12 9 am to 11 pm Daily 9 am to 11 pm Sun to Thursday 9 am to 11 pm Daily 9 am to midnight Fri to Sat 9 am to midnight Holiday-weekend Sundays Group Camping Twelve provincial camping parks offer group camping. Groups can make reservations beginning May 1 by telephoning the Department of Lands and Forestry district office closest to the park of their choice (see http://parks.novascotia.ca for phone numbers). For Blomidon, Cape Chignecto, Caribou-Munroes Island, Dollar Lake, Five Islands, Graves Island, Rissers Beach, Thomas Raddall and Valleyview, reservations can be made by calling the park once it opens for the season. For Smileys, The Islands and Whycocomagh, please call the Department of Lands and Forestry district office throughout the season to make group arrangements. Special Events Families or groups wishing to hold events such as weddings, reunions, corporate events or picnics at camping or day-use parks must contact the Lands and Forestry office closest to the park of interest. Anyone with questions about holding other types of events in provincial parks should contact Parks and Outreach Division at 1-866-230-1586. http://parks.novascotia.ca 3 Self-Registration Parks Make a Reservation You can reserve a site at a self-reservation park, as you would at any other park, by calling the toll-free phone number: 1-888-544-3434 or going online: http://parks.novascotia.ca. With a reservation, when you arrive at the park you can proceed directly to your site. (At Porters Lake and The Islands you must arrive before the staff leave at 11:00 pm in order to enter the park.) If You don’t Have a Reservation: Stop at the Registration Centre when you arrive. Look at the park map to note potential sites of interest. Open the yellow box and use the direct line telephone to the booking agent. The line operates 9:00 am until 11:00 pm. The agent will advise on site availability and cost. Provide the agent with your credit card number or put cash/cheque in a camping permit envelope (located in the kiosk). Complete the registration information on the envelope, seal the envelope and deposit it in the Drop Box. Mobile App You can also register and pay using our mobile app. Look for signage along the park driveway that tells you how to access the system. Late Arrival; No Reservation If you arrive after midnight, you can camp on a site for one night. (One night because the site you choose may be reserved for future nights.) Upon arrival complete a registration envelope, place the exact fee in the envelope, and deposit it in the Drop Box.