connect with natureHike in an area that remains one of the last old-growth forests in Nova Scotia. The St. Mary’s River area is home to many species, such as Canada warbler and endangered mainland moose, that benefit from older forests.
Be in the company of 37 rare species, including seven listed under the Endangered Species Act. This includes turtles, moose, lichens, and songbirds. It’s a haven for photographers and bird watchers. |
ARCHIBALD LAKE
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HIKING trails
Find perfect trail day hikes in the St. Mary's area.
Pioneer Park
TYPE: Easy
LENGTH:
Located at the back of the public parking area on Main Street the entrance to the park features a walking bridge over the brook. The park has over 190m of river frontage and offers beautiful views of the St. Mary’s River and Historic Sherbrooke Village. With several picnic tables, a gazebo and an open field it is a nice place to stop and enjoy a sunny day by the river.
LENGTH:
Located at the back of the public parking area on Main Street the entrance to the park features a walking bridge over the brook. The park has over 190m of river frontage and offers beautiful views of the St. Mary’s River and Historic Sherbrooke Village. With several picnic tables, a gazebo and an open field it is a nice place to stop and enjoy a sunny day by the river.
St. mary' nature trail
TYPE: Moderate
LENGTH: 19.5 km
Try this point-to-point trail near East River St. Mary's. Generally considered a moderately challenging route. It takes an average of 4 hour 14 minutes to complete. This trail is great for mountain biking, hiking, and running, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring.
LENGTH: 19.5 km
Try this point-to-point trail near East River St. Mary's. Generally considered a moderately challenging route. It takes an average of 4 hour 14 minutes to complete. This trail is great for mountain biking, hiking, and running, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring.
Sherbrooke Provincial Picnic Park
TYPE: Easy
LENGTH:
Located at 8407 Highway #7 in Sherbrooke, this small picnic park sits on the bank of St. Mary's River. The park has several tables scattered under towering softwood trees and features a look off allowing visitors to take in beautiful scenic views of the St. Mary’s River.
LENGTH:
Located at 8407 Highway #7 in Sherbrooke, this small picnic park sits on the bank of St. Mary's River. The park has several tables scattered under towering softwood trees and features a look off allowing visitors to take in beautiful scenic views of the St. Mary’s River.
Stonewall park
TYPE:
LENGTH:
Stonewall Park is located across from Sherbrooke Provincial Park next to the St. Mary's River Association building. It is the perfect place to get outside and experience nature in the heart of the community of Sherbrooke. The park has graveled walking trails, boardwalks, platforms over-looking the beautiful rapids of the St. Mary's River and picnic tables. Stonewall Park is a great trail system for beginners or families with small children. It can also accommodate strollers, mountain bikes and snowshoes. The stone wall was constructed by hand many years ago and can be seen along the trail throughout the park.
LENGTH:
Stonewall Park is located across from Sherbrooke Provincial Park next to the St. Mary's River Association building. It is the perfect place to get outside and experience nature in the heart of the community of Sherbrooke. The park has graveled walking trails, boardwalks, platforms over-looking the beautiful rapids of the St. Mary's River and picnic tables. Stonewall Park is a great trail system for beginners or families with small children. It can also accommodate strollers, mountain bikes and snowshoes. The stone wall was constructed by hand many years ago and can be seen along the trail throughout the park.
Archibald Lake WILDerness Area
THE HIKE TO ARCHIBALD LAKE IS AN EASY/MODERATE DIFFICULTY WALK 1.4 KM ALONG A BACKROAD, FOLLOWED BY ABOUT 1 KM ON A CLEARED TRAIL. THE HIKE PASSES THROUGH A SPECTACULAR OLD GROWTH FOREST GROWING ON TOP OF A DRUMLIN, AND A PRETTY WATERFALL BETWEEN ROCKY AND ARCHIBALD LAKES. IT ENDS AT A SANDY BEACH ON ARCHIBALD LAKE. THE ELEVATION CHANGE OVER THE HIKE IS AROUND 50 METERS. SOME OF THE BACKROAD CAN BE FLOODED, WHICH REQUIRES SHORT EXCURSIONS AROUND IT. (WATERPROOF BOOTS ARE RECOMMENDED AFTER A RAIN.) MUCH OF THE ROUTE IS COVERED BY A MATURE TREE CANOPY, SO IT IS COOL EVEN ON A HOT SUMMER DAY. MOBILE PHONE RECEPTION ON THE TRAIL IS GOOD.
DIRECTIONS: FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS TO THE TRAILHEAD USING THE MAKER ON GOOGLE MAPS. WE RECOMMEND PARKING CARS ON THE INDIAN RIVER ROAD AND WALKING THE SHORT DISTANCE TO THE TRAILHEAD. FOLLOW THE NARROW BACKROAD DOWN THE HILL AT THE TRAILHEAD. KEEP WALKING UNTIL AN INTERSECTION IS REACHED (400 M - ALL DISTANCES MEASURED FROM THE TRAILHEAD) AND FOLLOW THE ROAD ON THE LEFT. THE OLD GROWTH FOREST WILL APPEAR AT ABOUT 1 KM. CONTINUE TO THE BOAT LAUNCH ON ROCKY LAKE (1.4 KM). FROM HERE, THE BACKROAD ENDS AND THE HIKE FOLLOWS A CLEARED TRAIL. BLUE TRAIL MAKERS HAVE BEEN ADDED, BUT THE ROUTE IS OBVIOUS. THE WATERFALL CAN BE HEARD OFF TO THE LEFT AT 1.7 KM - IT IS A SHORT WALK THROUGH THE WOODS. A VERY ROUGH TRAIL TO THE WATERFALL CAN BE FOUND OPPOSITE A PINK TRAIL MAKER. THE LAST 100 METERS OF THE HIKE PASSES CLOSE TO THE EDGE OF WETLAND BETWEEN ROCKY AND ARCHIBALD LAKES. THE BEACH IS 2.2 KM FROM THE TRAILHEAD. ON THE SIDE OF THE LAKE OPPOSITE THE BEACH WATER FLOWS OUT OF THE LAKE AND DOWN A BROOK INTO THE ST. MARY’S RIVER. LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT RIVER SYSTEM HERE.
FOREST BIODIVERSITY: SOME VOLUNTEER MEMBERS OF THE ST. MARY’S RIVER ASSOCIATION HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTING THE RICH BIODIVERSITY IN THE FORESTS AROUND THE LAKE. PLEASE CONSIDER CONTRIBUTING TO THIS CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECT ON YOUR HIKE. THE BIODIVERSITY DATA ARE ARCHIVED ON A PROJECT USING INATURALIST: ARCHIBALD LAKE - GUYSBOROUGH COUNTY. IF YOU PLAN TO PARTICIPATE, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO LEARN IN ADVANCE HOW TO USE THE FREE APP. THIS WILL GREATLY ENHANCE THE VALUE OF YOUR OBSERVATIONS. PLEASE REVIEW SOME OF THESE VIDEOS.
DIRECTIONS: FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS TO THE TRAILHEAD USING THE MAKER ON GOOGLE MAPS. WE RECOMMEND PARKING CARS ON THE INDIAN RIVER ROAD AND WALKING THE SHORT DISTANCE TO THE TRAILHEAD. FOLLOW THE NARROW BACKROAD DOWN THE HILL AT THE TRAILHEAD. KEEP WALKING UNTIL AN INTERSECTION IS REACHED (400 M - ALL DISTANCES MEASURED FROM THE TRAILHEAD) AND FOLLOW THE ROAD ON THE LEFT. THE OLD GROWTH FOREST WILL APPEAR AT ABOUT 1 KM. CONTINUE TO THE BOAT LAUNCH ON ROCKY LAKE (1.4 KM). FROM HERE, THE BACKROAD ENDS AND THE HIKE FOLLOWS A CLEARED TRAIL. BLUE TRAIL MAKERS HAVE BEEN ADDED, BUT THE ROUTE IS OBVIOUS. THE WATERFALL CAN BE HEARD OFF TO THE LEFT AT 1.7 KM - IT IS A SHORT WALK THROUGH THE WOODS. A VERY ROUGH TRAIL TO THE WATERFALL CAN BE FOUND OPPOSITE A PINK TRAIL MAKER. THE LAST 100 METERS OF THE HIKE PASSES CLOSE TO THE EDGE OF WETLAND BETWEEN ROCKY AND ARCHIBALD LAKES. THE BEACH IS 2.2 KM FROM THE TRAILHEAD. ON THE SIDE OF THE LAKE OPPOSITE THE BEACH WATER FLOWS OUT OF THE LAKE AND DOWN A BROOK INTO THE ST. MARY’S RIVER. LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT RIVER SYSTEM HERE.
FOREST BIODIVERSITY: SOME VOLUNTEER MEMBERS OF THE ST. MARY’S RIVER ASSOCIATION HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTING THE RICH BIODIVERSITY IN THE FORESTS AROUND THE LAKE. PLEASE CONSIDER CONTRIBUTING TO THIS CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECT ON YOUR HIKE. THE BIODIVERSITY DATA ARE ARCHIVED ON A PROJECT USING INATURALIST: ARCHIBALD LAKE - GUYSBOROUGH COUNTY. IF YOU PLAN TO PARTICIPATE, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO LEARN IN ADVANCE HOW TO USE THE FREE APP. THIS WILL GREATLY ENHANCE THE VALUE OF YOUR OBSERVATIONS. PLEASE REVIEW SOME OF THESE VIDEOS.
Archibald Lake Wilderness Area: The trail takes participants into the Designated Archibald Lake Wilderness Area.
Social Media: Find us on Twitter and Instagram @ArchibaldLake. If you post photos of your hike on social media, please consider using the hashtags #ArchibaldLake or #SaveArchibaldLake.
We hope you enjoy the hike to Archibald Lake! Please don’t leave any garbage on the trail, but please do leave your comments (and photos) on Google Maps.
Social Media: Find us on Twitter and Instagram @ArchibaldLake. If you post photos of your hike on social media, please consider using the hashtags #ArchibaldLake or #SaveArchibaldLake.
We hope you enjoy the hike to Archibald Lake! Please don’t leave any garbage on the trail, but please do leave your comments (and photos) on Google Maps.
Nearby trails
Liscomb River Loop • Moderate
White Rock Loop • Moderate
Antigonish Landing Trail • Easy
Fairmont Ridge Hiking Trail • Moderate
Beaver Mountain Loop • Moderate
Summit Loop
The James River Falls • Moderate
Black Brook Falls • Moderate
White Rock Loop • Moderate
Antigonish Landing Trail • Easy
Fairmont Ridge Hiking Trail • Moderate
Beaver Mountain Loop • Moderate
Summit Loop
The James River Falls • Moderate
Black Brook Falls • Moderate
Get in Touch With Us
The St. Mary’s River, or Napu'saqnuk, was an essential waterway for the Mi’kmaq, who moved between seasonal hunting grounds and winter camping settlements. We acknowledge the Peace & Friendship Treaties signed in this Territory and recognize that we are all Treaty People.