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:
pdf
Trail Map Side A
(19.33 MB)
and
pdf
Trail Map Side B
(9.13 MB)
. 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 pdf Bay to Bay Trail Map (2.98 MB) . Learn more on Facebook or South Shore Connect
- Dynamite Trail – 10 km from Martin's River to the Town of Mahone Bay. Learn more on Facebook or South Shore Connect
- Adventure Trail – 15 km from Mahone Bay to Bridgewater. Learn more on Facebook or South Shore Connect
- South Shore Annapolis Valley Recreational Trail – approximately 35 km within the District – 125 km overall. Learn more on South Shore Connect or download the pdf trail map (4.39 MB) .
- LaHave River Trail Association - 15 km completed, 6 km to go! Sections are still under development (no through connection) Town of Bridgewater to New Germany. Learn more on Facebook or South Shore Connect
- Bull Run Trail Association – 27 km from Bridgewater to the Region of Queens. Learn more on Facebook or South Shore Connect
- 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 pdf Gold Mines Trail Map (563 KB)
Councillor Martin Bell has created a comprehensive trail guide pdf Exploring South Shore Rail Trails (2.06 MB) - 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 provided opportunities for improved physical and mental health within our own communities, enhancing the quality of life for so 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 of the trail volunteers have spent a significant amount of time working together to ensure that these proposed trail developments will provide accessible outdoor recreation opportunities to all trail users in an area where none currently exists.
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
There are other multi-use trails in the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg that exist outside of the "rails-to-trails" program.
pdf The Osprey Connector Trail (479 KB) 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.