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Click on the following link to view/download the guidebook published by Walton Watt in 1995. Nova Scotia by Bicycle
“Where to Cycle in NS” Guidebook
Welcome! This is the place to download routes from the Where to Cycle in Nova Scotia guidebook. It is also the best place to learn about any important route updates. Haven’t purchased a copy of the book yet? Here are some reasons why you might want to:
The book includes:
- 106 cycling routes around all parts of Nova Scotia, mostly on low-traffic country roads and rail trails
- 38 detailed maps, with full-colour fold-out map
- Tips on how to pack and prepare for cycling adventures, including packing checklists
- Kid-friendly rides and tips for cycling with children
- Features on the Cabot Trail and the Destination Trails (Rum Runners, Harvest Moon Trailway, Celtic Shores)
- Regional overviews
- Each ride includes: route descriptions, ride considerations, side trips/variations, points of interest (with kilometre markers), cue sheet (turn-by-turn instructions), and map.
Buy local! It supports our local economy in so many ways. Please consider visiting your local bookstore. Also, most bike shops will have the book available. But if you are from out of province and need to order online, click on the button below to order directly from Nimbus.
Visit the links below to:
- Read about any important updates to the route
- Explore the routes interactively
- View the elevation profile
- Download the route to use on your device
- Read comments from other users
- Provide comments about the route. (To make a comment you will need to sign up to Ride w/ GPS, which is free.)
Downloading Routes
To find the route you are looking for, refer to the map below or scroll down to the spreadsheet that includes all of the routes in the book.
** If there are specific issues with the route (bridge out, road work happening, etc.), please be sure to contact us so we can add this to the ‘updates’ in the list below. If you have a comment about the route, please feel free to add it on the Ride w/ GPS site.
All the routes are available to download in various file formats to use on your device of choice. To download the routes:
- Follow the link in the spreadsheet (route name); you will be redirected to RidewithGPS.com.
- In the left-hand sidebar, hit the drop down menu in the top right-hand corner labeled “More”.
- Click on “Export as File”. Choose to download your file of choice.
|
Name |
Distance (km) |
Duration (22/15kmh) |
Max Grade + |
Elevation Gain (m) |
Unpaved |
|
|
| 1 | Halifax Peninsula | 15.0 |
0:40/1:00 |
5.4 | 149 |
— |
|
| 2 | Shearwater Flyer and Salt Marsh Trail (RT) | 37.3 |
1:41/2:29 |
1.9 | 146 |
100% (37 km) |
|
| 3 | Cow Bay | 31.7 |
1:26/2:06 |
4.6 | 230 |
— |
|
| 4 | Sambro Loop and City Swim Spots | 49.0 |
2:13/3:16 |
7.0 | 521 |
— |
|
| 5 | Peggys Cove | 82.1 |
3:43:5:28 |
6.6 | 722 |
— |
|
| 6 | Rum Runners Trail (RT) | 118.5 |
5:23/7:54 |
4.3 | 755 |
94% (111 km) |
|
| 7 | Aspotogan Peninsula | 50.1 |
2:16/3:20 |
6.5 | 425 |
— |
|
| 8 | Sea Side and Rail Trail (RT) | 28.7 |
1:18/1:54 |
5.8 | 231 |
35% (10 km) |
|
| 9 | Second Peninsula | 19.2 |
0:52/1:16 |
7.5 | 211 |
— |
|
| 10 | Blue Rocks (RT) | 19.5 |
0:53/1:18 |
4.3 | 136 |
20% (4 km) |
|
| 11 | Hirtles Beach | 47.6 |
2:09/3:10 |
7.1 | 386 |
— |
|
| 12 | Mahone Bay-Bridgewater-Lunenburg (RT) | 64.4 |
2:55/4:17 |
5.2 | 455 |
22% (14 km) |
|
| 13 | Bridgewater-Petit Rivière-LaHave | 50.8 |
2:18/3:23 |
6.7 | 391 |
— |
|
| 14 | Rissers-Liverpool | 54.7 |
2:29/3:38 |
8.2 | 382 |
— |
|
| 15 | Liverpool-Carters Beach | 46.7 |
2:07/3:06 |
6.7 | 388 |
— |
|
| 16 | Western Head | 15.4 |
0:42/1:01 |
4.6 | 99 |
— |
|
| 17 | Molega Lake | 79.3 |
3:36/5:17 |
4.6 | 543 |
— |
|
| 18 | Caledonia-Westfield | 21.0 |
0:57/1:24 |
3.4 | 153 |
48% (10 km) |
|
| 19 | Brookfield Mines Trail (RT) | 36.5 |
1:39/2:26 |
1.4 | 153 |
100% (36.5 km) |
|
| 20 | Jordon Bay | 36.4 |
1:39/2:25 |
4.3 | 254 |
— |
|
| 21 | Crow Neck | 50.9 |
2:18/3:23 |
2.3 | 212 |
20% (10 km) |
|
| 22 | Cape Sable Island | 40.7 |
1:51/2:42 |
2.9 | 181 |
— |
|
| 23 | Pinkneys Point-Morris Island | 87 |
3:57/5:48 |
4.8 | 484 |
— |
|
| 24 | Cape Forchu | 24.6 |
1:07/1:38 |
6.0 | 193 |
— |
|
| 25 | Port Maitland | 52.5 |
2:23/3:30 |
5.1 | 303 |
— |
|
| 26 | Mavillette Beach | 27.2 |
1:14/1:48 |
5.3 | 119 |
— |
|
| 27 | Church Point-Meteghan | 50.8 |
2:18/3:23 |
3.4 | 165 |
— |
|
| 28 | Weymouth-New Tusket | 67.1 |
3:03/4:28 |
3.8 | 421 |
— |
|
| 29 | Digby Neck | 72.4 |
3:17/4:49 |
8.1 | 586 |
— |
|
| 30 | Digby Lighthouse | 18 |
0:49/1:12 |
5.3 | 258 |
— |
|
| 31 | Kejimkujik: Fire Tower Trail | 35.9 |
1:37/2:23 |
6.0 | 326 |
100% (36 km) |
|
| 32 | Kejimkujik: Jakes Landing-New Grafton | 17.6 |
0:48/1:10 |
3.8 | 117 |
55% (9.7km) |
|
| 33 | Bear River | 21 |
0:57/1:24 |
6.6 | 247 |
— |
|
| 34 | Annapolis Royal-Milford | 58.8 |
2:40/3:55 |
8.1 | 635 |
— |
|
| 35 | Annapolis Royal: Fort to Fort | 52.1 |
2:22/3:28 |
3.4 | 347 |
— |
|
| 36 | Annapolis Royal-Bridgetown Loop | 47.2 |
2:08/3:08 |
5.2 | 423 |
— |
|
| 37 | Annapolis Royal: North Mountain | 62 |
2:49/4:08 |
10.1 | 824 |
— |
|
| 38 | Bridgetown: North Mountain | 49.2 |
2:14/3:16 |
7.3 | 576 |
— |
|
| 39 | Middleton: North Mountain | 50.9 |
2:18/3:23 |
8.2 | 610 |
— |
|
| 40 | Harvest Moon Trailway (RT) | 110.2 |
5:00/7:20 |
2.7 | 395 |
98% (108 km) |
|
| 41 | Berwick-Harbourville | 33.6 |
1;31/2:14 |
9.6 | 456 |
— |
|
| 42 | Canning-Scots Bay | 43.8 |
1:59/2:55 |
11.5 | 555 |
6% (3 km) |
Stewart Mountain Road is washed out and is impassable! (Aug 30, 2019) |
| 43 | Starrs Point Loop | 48 |
2:10/3:12 |
5.5 | 326 |
— |
|
| 44 | Starrs Point Loop Extension | 80.1 |
3:38/5:20 |
8.6 | 749 |
— |
|
| 45 | Wolfville Wine Tour (RT) | 29.4 |
1:20/1:57 |
9.5 | 362 |
17% (5 km) |
|
| 46 | Wolfville Area: Winery, Brewery, Distillery Tour (RT) | 76 |
3:27/5:04 |
10.1 | 755 |
11% (8km) |
|
| 47 | Gaspereau Valley | 43.5 |
1:58/2:54 |
8.8 | 629 |
62% (27 km) |
|
| 48 | Bishopville-Sunken Lake | 73 |
3:19/4:52 |
6.8 | 777 |
38% (28 km) |
|
| 49 | Windsor: Winery and Brewery Tour | 23.8 |
1:04/1:35 |
4.8 | 148 |
— |
|
| 50 | Avondale Peninsula | 21.7 |
0:59/1:26 |
3.5 | 208 |
— |
|
| 51 | Windsor-Avondale Peninsula | 54.3 |
2:28/3:37 |
5.6 | 465 |
— |
|
| 52 | Kempt Shore | 53.2 |
2:25/3:32 |
5.8 | 562 |
— |
|
| 53 | Noel Shore | 78.3 |
3:33/5:13 |
6.8 | 699 |
7% (5km) |
|
| 54 | Shubenacadie | 48.9 |
2:13/3:15 |
4.9 | 459 |
12% (6 km) |
|
| 55 | Cobequid Trail (RT) | 28.7 |
1:18/1:54 |
2.8 | 175 |
90% (26 km) |
|
| 56 | Blue Route: East Mountain-Pictou | 112.4 |
5:06/7:29 |
5.3 | 846 |
6% (7 km) |
|
| 57 | Cobequid Mountains | 84.8 |
3:51/5:39 |
5.4 | 855 |
33% (28 km) |
|
| 58 | Five Islands-Parrsboro | 94.6 |
4:18/6:18 |
6.7 | 847 |
16% (15 km) |
|
| 59 | Parrsboro-River Hebert | 93.4 |
4:14/6:13 |
6.4 | 562 |
10% (9 km) |
|
| 60 | Parrsboro-Cape Chignecto | 49.6 |
2:15/3:18 |
12.0 | 649 |
— |
|
| 61 | Amherst Shore | 75.1 |
3:24/5:00 |
4.5 | 527 |
— |
|
| 62 | Pugwash/Oxford | 51.2 |
2:19/3:24 |
5.6 | 432 |
— |
|
| 63 | Fox Harbour Loop | 37.6 |
1:42/2:30 |
2.8 | 207 |
— |
|
| 64 | Tatamagouche-Malagash | 56.2 |
2:33/3:44 |
4.8 | 347 |
— |
|
| 65 | Tatamagouche-Wentworth Valley | 69.9 |
3:10/4:39 |
5.7 | 503 |
— |
|
| 66 | Hippie Dippie | 51.9 |
2:21/3:27 |
3.8 | 331 |
— |
|
| 67 | Cape John | 52.6 |
2:23/3:30 |
2.9 | 271 |
— |
|
| 68 | Caribou Island | 74 |
3:21/4:56 |
4.4 | 537 |
— |
|
| 69 | Gully Lake Preserve | 82.1 |
3:43/5:28 |
9.5 | 870 |
46% (38 km) |
|
| 70 | Melmerby Beach | 37.6 |
1:42/2:30 |
7.3 | 389 |
— |
|
| 71 | Museum of Industry (RT) | 6.0 |
0:16/0:24 |
5.3 | 39 |
— |
|
| 72 | Antigonish: Cape George | 75.4 |
3:25/5:01 |
8.7 | 833 |
— |
|
| 73 | Barneys River-Arisaig Loop | 81.6 |
3:42/5:26 |
5.6 | 606 |
— |
|
| 74 | Beaver Mountain-Addington Forks | 29 |
1:19/1:56 |
11.2 | 314 |
— |
|
| 75 | The Cabot Trail | 298.6 |
2-3 days |
14.0 | 3578 |
— |
|
| 76 | Big Baddeck Loop | 24.3 |
1:06/1:37 |
5.3 | 255 |
— |
|
| 77 | Big Spruce-Hunters Mountain | 18.7 |
0:51/1:14 |
6.9 | 226 |
— |
|
| 78 | Margaree Valley | 25.5 |
1:09/1:42 |
3.6 | 188 |
— |
|
| 79 | Acadian Loop | 29 |
1:19/1:56 |
6.7 | 286 |
— |
|
| 80 | Meat Cove | 56.9 |
2:35/3:47 |
7.3 | 825 |
25% (14 km) |
|
| 81 | White Point | 31.6 |
1:26/2:06 |
5.4 | 458 |
— |
|
| 82 | St. Anns-North River | 44.4 |
2:01/2:57 |
6.0 | 399 |
— |
|
| 83 | Celtic Shores Coastal Trail (RT) | 83.8 |
3:48/5:35 |
2.6 | 458 |
100% (84 km) |
|
| 84 | Lake Ainslie: Mabou-Nevada Valley | 77.2 |
3:30/5:08 |
5.9 | 557 |
19% (15 km) |
|
| 85 | Inverness-Margaree Beach Tour | 85.6 |
3:53/5:42 |
7.0 | 813 |
7% (6 km) |
|
| 86 | Washabuck Peninsula | 56.5 |
2:34/3:46 |
8.1 | 593 |
— |
|
| 87 | Boularderie Island | 80.6 |
3:39/5:22 |
5.1 | 677 |
20% (16 km) |
|
| 88 | Alder Point | 17.2 |
0:46/1:08 |
3.7 | 116 |
— |
|
| 89 | New Victoria | 37 |
1:40/2:28 |
3.8 | 241 |
— |
|
| 90 | Northern Coastal Industrial Loop | 93.8 |
4:15/6:15 |
7.0 | 706 |
— |
|
| 91 | Donkin Loop | 32.1 |
1:27/2:08 |
3.5 | 207 |
— |
|
| 92 | Hillside Loop | 49.2 |
2:14/3:16 |
5.9 | 353 |
— |
|
| 93 | Marion Bridge-Grand Mira | 50.4 |
2:17/3:21 |
3.6 | 318 |
23% (12 km) |
|
| 94 | Albert Bridge-Marion Bridge | 29.3 |
1:19/1:57 |
3.2 | 203 |
— |
|
| 95 | Fortress of Louisbourg | 42.9 |
1:57/2:51 |
8.0 | 377 |
— |
|
| 96 | Port Michaud | 41.7 |
1:53/2:46 |
7.7 | 363 |
— |
|
| 97 | St. Peters: Cape George | 64.6 |
2:56/4:18 |
8.0 | 663 |
— |
|
| 98 | Isle Madame | 67.3 |
3:03/4:29 |
6.5 | 503 |
— |
|
| 99 | Guysborough: Tickle Loop | 123 |
5:35/8:12 |
6.3 | 1250 |
— |
|
| 100 | Interval Loop | 33.3 |
1:30/2:13 |
4.0 | 229 |
3% (1 km) |
|
| 101 | Sherbrooke Loop | 39.5 |
1:47/2:38 |
6.9 | 320 |
20% (8 km) |
|
| 102 | Sober Island | 26.1 |
1:11/1:44 |
3.9 | 220 |
13% (3.5 km) |
|
| 103 | Clam Harbour | 44.3 |
2:00/2:57 |
4.4 | 357 |
— |
|
| 104 | Ostrea Lake | 39.7 |
1:48/2:38 |
4.5 | 322 |
8% (3 km) |
|
| 105 | Musquodoboit Harbour (RT) | 30.0 |
1:21/2:00 |
3.5 | 218 |
50% (15 km) |
|
| 106 | Three Fathom Harbour | 41.4 |
1:52/2:45 |
5.4 | 293 |
2% (1km) |