Trails allow for improved physical and mental health as well as the social well-being of a community. Overall, trails enhance the quality of life for local residents in our communities.
Rails to Trails
Did you know that there are approximately 110 kilometres of abandoned rail line in the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg?
Trail maps can be downloaded by using the links here: Trail Map Side A and Trail Map Side B. You can also pick up a hard copy of the brochure at our Municipal Office at 10 Allée Champlain Drive, Cookville
These rail-trails are managed by seven active community groups in various stages of trail development and are “shared-use”. Expect to see pedestrians, bicyclists, Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs) and horses.
- Bay to Bay Trail Association - 10 km between the Towns of Mahone Bay and Lunenburg – 1 km between Sawpit Road and Garden Lots. Download the Bay to Bay Trail Map. Learn more on Facebook
- Dynamite Trail – 10 km from Martin's River to the Town of Mahone Bay. Learn more on Facebook
- Adventure Trail – 15 km from Mahone Bay to Bridgewater. Learn more on Facebook
- South Shore Annapolis Valley Recreational Trail – approximately 35 km within the District – 125 km overall. Download the trail map.
- LaHave River Trail Association - 15 km completed, 6 km to go! Sections are still under development (no through connection), from the Town of Bridgewater to New Germany. Learn more on Facebook
- Bull Run Trail Association – 27 km from Bridgewater to the Region of Queens. Learn more on Facebook
- Gold Mines Trail - This 18 km shared-use trail runs along the former rail line from Colpton to Caledonia. Along the route you will see farms, marshlands, rivers and picturesque bridges. Managed by the Brookfield Mines Trail Association, learn more on Facebook. Download the Gold Mines Trail Map.
Councillor Martin Bell has created a comprehensive trail guide, Exploring South Shore Rail Trails - check it out to learn more about the many features of our trails and trails in neighbouring municipalities.
Thank you to all our community trail volunteers! Without your interest and hard work, these trails would not be available to the public! Your efforts have created opportunities to improve physical and mental health in our communities, enhancing the quality of life for many of our residents and visitors.
Each volunteer trail board has representation from a variety of trail enthusiasts – OHV users, equestrians, bicyclists, walkers, etc. All trail volunteers have spent significant time working together to ensure these proposed trail developments provide accessible outdoor recreation opportunities for all trail users in an area where none currently exist.
These volunteers have committed a lot of personal time to make sure that the trails are well-maintained and cared for over a long period of time. Concerns can be addressed on a community level, and each community is unique, so solutions to trail issues may be different for each community trail.
Other Multi-use Trails
Other multi-use trails in the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg exist outside of the "rails-to-trails" program.
The Osprey Connector Trail is a 0.9 km trail linking the South Shore Annapolis Valley Trail, Arthur Young Trail, and the LaHave River Trail to the broader trail network. This is a shared-use trail, expect to see pedestrians, bicyclists, and Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs).
The Arthur Young Trail - Connecting from the Osprey Connector Trail, The Arthur Young Trail joins the Centennial Trail, connecting to the Town of Bridgewater on both sides of the LaHave River. Heading north, users can connect to the LaHave River Trail, which leads to the Cookville Provincial Park, and to the South Shore Annapolis Valley Trail.
Please leash your pet. Hunting, trapping and overnight camping are prohibited on all Municipal parks and green spaces.
