A summary of an article called Walk The Line, first published in The Coast Hot Summer Guide, June 2007, researched and written by Tim Bousquet
BLT Trail Buses 21, 23. Off Highway 3 or St. Margaret's Bay Road, turn into the Lakeside Industrial Park to the trail parking lot next to the Coca-Cola building. The trail goes (9.25km) to Hubley, first along Governors Lake and crossing (4km), roughly parallel to St. Margaret's Bay Road, then under Highway 103 (6km), past the John A. MacDonald High School and back to St. Margaret's Bay Road. A great trail for everyone from beginners to hardened hikers.
Canada Trail through Dartmouth Bus 54, 62. Sullivan's Pond in downtown Dartmouth, or along Lake Banook, or from Shubie Park. Hike, bike, run or wheelchair. The trail stretches along and between Sullivan's Pond, Lake Banook and Lake Charles. A really nice trail for all users. Plan a picnic, or a swim.
Spider Lake Trail Bus 55.Take Waverly Road to Portobello, turn right on Spider Lake Road, follow it to the end of the pavement, where the trail starts, which is good for hiking and mountain biking. The trail system wanders near and through the Lake Major Watershed
Sackville River Trail Bus 80, 82, 66. Bedford Highway to the Chickenburger. Or, get to the official trailhead by turning left on Highway 1 and travelling about a kilometre to Range Park on the left. Hike, bike, run or wheelchair useable. Opened in 2006, following a community clean-up of the Sackville River, the trail is the only way to get between the communities of Bedford and Sackville without getting in a car.
Mainland North Trail Bus 21, 52. Access the trail from Main Avenue in Clayton Park, or from Lacewood Drive, or at Kearney Lake Drive just east of the Bi-Hi. Good for hiking and mountain biking, the trail connects Wedgewood to Clayton Park. It provides a much-needed green respite from the uninspired apartment blocks of Clayton Park. It is heavily used, and becomes something of a community centre at times, as residents meet and pass time together.
Shearwater to Cole Harbour Trail Bus 60. From the Woodside ferry terminal travel down Pleasant Street past the oil refinery and the Shearwater air base. Turn left on Hines Road. The trail starts a block and a half up, to your right. This trail is appropriate for hiking, biking and running. The trail stretches 7.2 kilometres to Bissett Road and the start of Salt Marsh Trail. It passes through a completely undeveloped stretch of forest between the suburban areas of Cole Harbour and Eastern Passage. Bridges cross streams draining Morris and Bissett Lakes. One of the bridges crosses a stream that opens up into a nice wide water hole. Bring the swimsuits. Like the rest of the Musquodoboit Railway trails, this is a wonderful running trail.
