Nova Scotia Provincial Parks Parks Guide 2021 –2022 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 Look-off 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 35–41 Park Locator Map 42–43 Hiking Waste/Recycling Partnership Advertising 44–45 Kayaking Wilderness Cabin 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, 2021 Nova Scotia Provincial Parks Guide 2021-22 Department of Lands and Forestry, April 2021 Front cover location: Cape Split Provincial Park ISBN: 978-1-77448-184-4 Photo is used courtesy of: Communications Nova Scotia Welcome to Nova Scotia Parks This guide is an overview of camping and day-use parks throughout Nova Scotia. Provincial parks provide access to some of the most beautiful parts of Nova Scotia. Our beaches, lakes, trails, and campgrounds will allow you to relax and enjoy nature. As we begin the 2021 park operating season, we want to thank those who visited provincial parks in 2020. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we all adapt to new rules and changes to how our park facilities operate. Our COVID-19 measures worked well to keep our staff and park visitors safe. Despite a delayed opening, parks were popular destinations in 2020. We heard visitors felt a sense of normalcy while at our parks. Going forward, please be aware that park operations will need to be flexible to change as Melmerby Beach Provincial Park guidance from public health changes. This could mean a reduction in services available at parks, campsite closures or other localized restrictions. Please visit our website for the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 impacts on parks: parks.novascotia.ca The goal of Nova Scotia Provincial Parks is to sustain a diverse system of parks, beaches and trails that protect natural and cultural values while providing nature-based recreation experiences. We continue to modernize parks to ensure high quality and reliable services at parks. Completed infrastructure projects include: • mobility accessible, gender neutral washroom facility at The Islands • mobility accessible park office with a gender neutral washroom at Blomidon • mobility accessible gender neutral public washroom at Battery Park Office • accessible campsites and camper shelter at Amherst Shore • water system upgrades at Blomidon, Ellenwood Lake, Graves Island and Mira River • campsites upgraded with water and electrical service at Caribou-Munroes Island, Ellenwood Lake and Valleyview • accessible beach equipment (roll out boardwalk and chair) at Melmerby Beach • platform with change houses and vault toilet at Lawrencetown Beach In 2021, we look forward to opening a new trail at Cape Split with multiple look-offs on the Scots Bay side. Parking capacity will be increased at Crystal Crescent. This season we are conducting a visitor experience survey to better understand what attracts people to Nova Scotia Parks and how we can improve. See page 45 for more details on the survey and how to participate. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see photos and stay engaged with what’s going on at parks. Enjoy the 2021 season. parks.novascotia.ca 1 Park Seasons for 2021 Camping Parks PARK TOURISM REGION DATE Amherst Shore ‡ Northumberland Shore June 4 – Oct 11 Battery ‡ Cape Breton Island June 4 – Oct 18 Blomidon ** Annapolis Valley May 21 – Oct 11 Boylston * Eastern Shore June 4 – Sept 13 Cape Chignecto Bay of Fundy May 21 – Oct 11 Caribou-Munroes Island ‡ Northumberland Shore June 4 – Oct 11 Dollar Lake Eastern Shore June 4 – Oct 11 Ellenwood Lake ** ‡ Yarmouth & Acadian Shores May 21 – Oct 11 Five Islands ‡ Bay of Fundy June 4 – Oct 11 Graves Island ‡ South Shore May 21 – Oct 11 Laurie * Halifax Metro June 4 – Sept 13 Mira River ‡ ** Cape Breton Island May 28 – Oct 18 Porters Lake * ‡ Eastern Shore May 21 – Oct 11 Rissers Beach ‡ South Shore May 21 – Oct 11 Salsman * Eastern Shore June 4 – Sept 13 Smileys * Bay of Fundy June 4 – Sept 20 The Islands * South Shore June 4 – Oct 11 Thomas Raddall South Shore May 21 – Oct 11 Valleyview ‡ Annapolis Valley June 4 – Oct 11 Whycocomagh * ‡ Cape Breton Island June 4 – Oct 18 *Self-registration park **Self-registration from Sept 7 to closing ‡Some sites have electrical hook-ups Provincial Beaches with Lifeguard Supervision July 1 – August 29, 2021 The Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service provides lifeguard supervision at the seventeen SUPERVISED BEACH PARKS provincial beaches listed here. Lifeguards are on duty from 10 am – 6 pm daily in Bayfield Beach, Antigonish Co. July and August, except for at Clam Harbour and Mavillette Beach Bayswater Beach, Lunenburg Co. where supervision is provided on weekends only. At each location, Clam Harbour Beach, Halifax Co. the supervised swimming area is marked by red and yellow flags on either side of the beach. At coastal locations, the supervised area Dollar Lake Beach, Halifax Co. can be changed based on conditions. For up to date information, visit Dominion Beach, Cape Breton Co. the NS Lifeguard Service website: lifesavingsociety.ns.ca Heather Beach, Cumberland Co. Ellenwood Lake Beach, Yarmouth Co. Lawrencetown Beach, Halifax Co. Martinique Beach, Halifax Co. Mavillette Beach, Digby Co. Melmerby Beach, Pictou Co. Point Michaud Beach, Richmond Co. Pomquet Beach, Antigonish Co. Port Maitland Beach, Yarmouth Co. Queensland Beach, Halifax Co. Rainbow Haven Beach, Halifax Co. Dollar Lake Provincial Park Rissers Beach, Lunenburg Co. 2 parks.novascotia.ca Reservations Making a reservation is easy. Reservations open April 6 and operate until park season ends in October. • For 2021, campsite bookings are open to Nova Scotia residents and anyone from a jurisdiction (province or territory) that is not required by the Public Health Order to self-isolate upon arrival to Nova Scotia. • No self-isolation is to occur in Nova Scotia Provincial Parks. • Reservations are required in advance of arrival at a camping park. No drive-up bookings. • Please visit our website for more detailed information about reservation policies. • To make a reservation, visit parks.novascotia.ca 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. • 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 but cannot be made on-site. • 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. SUPERVISED BEACH PARKS • If you forfeit the first night of your reservation but wish to camp for the remaining period, Bayfield Beach, Antigonish Co. you must make a new reservation with the associated costs. The Department of Lands Bayswater Beach, Lunenburg Co. and Forestry will gladly refund the remainder of the “no show” reservation when you Clam Harbour Beach, Halifax Co. arrive at the park or you can request it by emailing [email protected] with your Dollar Lake Beach, Halifax Co. booking number, the park reserved and reservation dates. Dominion Beach, Cape Breton Co. Heather Beach, Cumberland Co. Special Events Ellenwood Lake Beach, Yarmouth Co. All requests for events will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Event organizers must Lawrencetown Beach, Halifax Co. submit a COVID-19 safety plan with their event application. Families or groups wishing Martinique Beach, Halifax Co. to hold events such as weddings, reunions, corporate events or picnics at day-use parks must contact the Parks Division at Mavillette Beach, Digby Co. Valleyview Provincial Park 1-866-230-1586. Events will not be Melmerby Beach, Pictou Co. permitted at provincial camping Point Michaud Beach, Richmond Co. parks in 2021. Pomquet Beach, Antigonish Co. Port Maitland Beach, Yarmouth Co. Queensland Beach, Halifax Co. Rainbow Haven Beach, Halifax Co. Rissers Beach, Lunenburg Co. parks.novascotia.ca 3 Services Available at Park Offices and Self Registration Kiosks Arriving at the park Please bring your campsite reservation confirmation with you (electronic or print). Your campsite reservation confirmation acts as your campsite permit. Check in is at 1:00 pm. When you arrive at the park with a reservation you can proceed directly to your campsite.