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Hello kind krafters! Over the last month and a half I have been steadily spending my free time, in the evenings after work and on weekends, hiking, walking, and mapping trails in the Halifax Regional Municipality as part of my sustainability internship. Most of my work so far has focused on mapping the variety of short walking trails that exist here, completing trails most evenings during the week. Not only has this helped me cross off half of the trails on my list to complete, it also makes me feel better. Spending a full day at work, and then a few hours outdoors, helps to improve my mood, relax me, and makes me sleep better. The power of nature is incredible, and I have always known that spending more time outdoors makes me happier, healthier, and nicer. Part of my desire to complete this project is to provide residents and visitors to the HRM the tools and information to use nature positively and safely to similarly impact their lives. Below is a mini-guide of some of the trails I have completed that are perfect for those looking to start spending more time outdoors, or need a quick nature fix after a long day at work or on a busy weekend. Belcher’s Marsh  Located in Clayton Park, Belcher’s Marsh is a beautiful escape from the city. The trail circles Big and Little Belcher’s marshes, with quiet pathways through the woods. The area has a small look-off perfect for reading and sunset views, and does feature some street crossings to connect the two marsh routes. The area is also an excellent spot for bird-watching. Frog Pond
Frog Pond Nature trail is located off of Purcell’s Cove Road and is part of the Sir Sandford Flemming Park nature trails. The trail guides visitors around Frog Pond, offering a short and quiet wilderness adventure. The pond is perfect for swimming on warm days, and is used for skating in the winter months. Families of ducks can be seen here regularly. Mainland Common Loop and Linear Trail
Mainland Common Loop and Linear trail are both located in Clayton Park, Nova Scotia. The Linear trail extends all through Clayton park, offering a fairly quiet multi-use pathway frequented by a variety of bird species. Along the pathway visitors can detour to Mainland Common Park, featuring a baseball field and dog park, as well as the mini Mainland Common loop trail, which offers a short woodchip pathway through the surrounding woods. Fox Lake Trail Fox Lake trail is a short wilderness hike through the Blue Mountain Birch Cove Wilderness Area in Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia. The trail ventures through the woods and over rocky look-off points, to the main look-off over Fox Lake. The site offers incomparable views of the Blue Mountain Birch Cove area, and is short enough to accommodate most levels of recreationalists and supervised children. Hemlock Ravine Park Trails  Hemlock Ravine Park is a perfect escape from traffic and the busy city. Located in Bedford the park offers numerous short looping trails with giant old growth trees. There’s even a secret look off with views of the Bedford Basin below! Mainland Common Loop and Linear trail are both located in Clayton Park, Nova Scotia. The Linear trail extends all through Clayton park, offering a fairly quiet multi-use pathway frequented by a variety of bird species. Along the pathway visitors can detour to Mainland Common Park, featuring a baseball field and dog park, as well as the mini Mainland Common loop trail, which offers a short woodchip pathway through the surrounding woods. SS Atlantic Heritage Park Loop  SS Atlantic Heritage park is a short boardwalk trail located in Prospect, Nova Scotia. The site of a historic shipwreck the short trail is excellent for sunsets and short escapes to the ocean. In the summer tours are held, and there are a number of spots to stop and sit to read, watch the ocean, or have a snack. MacCormack’s Beach Trail  Located in Eastern Shore, MacCormack’s beach trail is a short boardwalk loop offering views of Fishermen’s Cove. The trail offers incomparable sunset views, along with beach access, water access for swimming and fishing, and proximity to a nearby old-school candy store! Herring Cove Bluffs
Located in the Herring Cove Provincial Park, the Herring Cove Bluffs are a gorgeous and short trek along the ocean. Offering views of the Atlantic Ocean, along with wilderness paths and wildflowers, the trail is hard to beat. Best part is you can easily stray form the trail and do some rock hopping and exploring, without getting lost! Cabin Lake and Fleetview Trails
Located in the Ravines of Bedford, Cabin Lake and Fleetview trail are two adjoining short gravel trails that wind through the woods, alongside Cabin and Fleet lake. The area is quiet and relatively unused, and offers views of numerous wildflower species and wildlife such as ducks and deer. Oak Hill Lake Trail
Oak Hill lake trail is a tiny lakeside out and back trail located in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. The trail winds behind residential houses along Oat Hill lake. A variety of wild flowers can be seen along the trail, which is frequented by swimmers and recreational fishers in the summer months. Susie’s Lake Loop  Susie’s Lake loop is a short hiking trail located in the Blue Mountain Birch Cove Wilderness Area. The loop begins behind the Kent Bulding Supplies store, works it’s way into the heart of the wilderness area, and takes visitors to a central look-off offering gorgeous views of the whole of Susie’s lake. It is an ideal place for sunset views and lakeside swims in the summer, and is the perfect remedy when you only have a short amount of time, but want to do a wilderness hike.
Now It’s Your Turn I hope this mini guide encouraged you all to get out and explore, and know that there are many ways to be outside, even if your time or ability is limited. If you live here in the HRM, please reach out and let me know if you’ve done any of these trails and share your trail experiences with me! For those of you outside the HRM, tell me about what your home has to offer! As always, Stay Kind <3 Niki
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