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The Musquodoboit Trailway

Record #: NST0055
Last Modified: 25 Apr 2019
Last Full Update: 12 Mar 2019

Location

Located In Musquodoboit Harbour
Where To Find Us
Trailhead:

Contact

Social Media Facebook
Website www.mta-ns.ca/

Description & Services

Information The Musquodoboit Trailway begins at the Caboose Information Centre at the Musquodoboit Railway Museum, crosses highway 357, passes the arena and ball fields and links up with the official trailhead by the parking lot on Park Road. The 130 foot trestle bridge offers a scenic view of the Musquodoboit River and its broad flood plains. After passing the end of Bayer's Mill Road, the jutting crag of Skull Rock is visible and can be accessed off of the Admiral Lake Loop at km 1.7. 
 
The Trailway continues along the rocky eastern shore of Bayer Lake passing between scenic cliffs and glistening water. A picnic shelter is situated at the 2.5 km mark and a washroom at the 2.6 km mark. Leaving Bayer Lake behind, the trail passes through mixed coniferous and deciduous forest. Occasionally the river with its overarching oaks and maples can be glimpsed through the meadows. Here cattle once grazed and some fence posts are still visible. Now waterfowl and beaver can be observed in this rich habitat. At the 5.1 and 6.3 km marks, the trail crosses the McDougall and Trail bridges and continues offering views of the most spectacular of several ridges overlooking the trail. Here the trail forms the western boundary of the White Lake Wilderness Area. Keep an eye out for bald eagles who make their nests the niches in the crags. 
 
The river winds closer to the trail again and reaches a picnic shelter and toilet at 7.3 km. The nearby Kelly Meadow bridge affords a view of the expansive Kelly Meadow. The trail continues through low birch, fir, and alder woods, crosses a pheasant preserve, and reaches a third picnic shelter at 11 km and toilet at 12.3 km. For the last 2 km the trail parallels highway 357 under the Gibraltar cliffs, a favorite bouldering spot. 
 
Distance: 15 km from Museum, 14.5 km from Park Road. 
 
Minimum elevation is 6 m 
 
Maximum elevation is 30 m 
 
Total Elevation Gain is 185 m with elevation loss being 182 m
Trail or Water Route Map

Special Information