Hiking Trails of Nova Scotia [Paperback]

Michael Haynes (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 10, 2002

Michael Haynes is Mr. Hiking in Nova Scotia. The 7th edition of his Hiking Trails of Nova Scotia sold 15,000 copies, and his eight-year series of CBC Radio spots has been so popular that people he meets on the trails recognize him by his voice. Eager to supply the best information about the delights (and possible hazards) of self-propelled excursions into the woods and mountains and along the shores of his province, he has now prepared Hiking Trails of Nova Scotia, 8th edition. The 8th edition of Hiking Trails of Nova Scotia is completely revised and updated. More than 30 of the 50 trails are new, and 25 of these new trails did not exist when the 7th edition was published. Haynes re-hiked and updated the descriptions of about 20 trails, and he charted the current condition of 7th-edition trails. Users will find the new 8th edition of Hiking Trails of Nova Scotia as trustworthy a guide as ever to hikes long and short, challenging and easy, in all corners of the province. As well as instructions for finding each trail and descriptions of the trails themselves, Hiking Trails of Nova Scotia, 8th Edition, includes maps and synoptic information on length, time, difficulty, other uses, facilities, and the correct topographical map to use. New to this edition are trailhead GPS listings for all hikes, and, for those who carry cellphones as safety devices, information about the often-uncertain reception in Nova Scotia’s mountains and woodlands. Also new to this edition are sidebars on plants, animals, historic sites, and other interesting features of the trails.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Hiking Trails of Nova Scotia, 8th edition, is an indispensable guide to hikes long and short, challenging and easy, in all corners of the province. Haynes has revised the descriptions of 20 favourite trails profiled in the 7th edition and added more than 30 completely new ones. Each trail description includes directions for getting there, details about the trail, photos, maps, GPS coordinates, and cellphone coverage.

About the Author

Michael Haynes is the author of Trails of Halifax Regional Municipality and Hiking Trails of Cape Breton, as well as the bestselling Hiking Trails of Nova Scotia, 7th Edition and 8th Edition. A familiar TV personality and CBC Radio commentator, Michael Haynes is now the director of TransActive Solutions. He was previously the TrailsCanada Coordinator of Go for Green and the executive director of the Nova Scotia Trails Federation.

Product Details

• Paperback: 331 pages
• Publisher: Goose Lane Editions; 8 edition (July 10, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0864922914
• ISBN-13: 978-0864922915
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #577,914 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Known as "Mr. Hiking" in Nova Scotia, Michael Haynes is considered one of the leading authorities of the outdoors in Eastern Canada. His titles include: Hiking Trails of Nova Scotia, Hiking Trails of Cape Breton, and Trails of Halifax Regional Municipality.

Most recently, Michael has published Hiking Trails of Ottawa, and he is currently working on Hiking Trails of Montreal, to be released in 2011.

Michael is the Director of TransActive Solutions, a company dedicated to improving the walkability and bikeability of Canadian communities. Previously, he was the National Active Transportation and TrailsCanada Coordinator of Go for Green and the Executive Director of the Nova Scotia Trails Federation.

Recently, Michael has worked on project teams developing a Pedestrian and Cycling Plan for the Regional Municipality of York Ontario, the Regional Trail Plan for Chatham-Kent Ontario, the Active Transportation Plan for the Halifax Regional Municipality Nova Scotia, the Hub Trail System for Sault Ste. Marie Ontario, and a rural trail development manual for the province of Alberta.

Michael has conducted workshops on Active Transportation more than 50 communities across Canada and regularly presents on trails across Canada and internationally. Michael is a member of the Province of Ontario's Trails Coordinating Committee and the Public Health Agency of Canada's Advisory Committee for Active Transportation. In Ottawa, he sits on the Steering Committee for the Ottawa Pathway Patrol.

In 2008, Michael completed The Climate Project training program, led by Nobel Laureate Al Gore and became a Certified Presenter for The Climate Project - Canada.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Reference - accurate, dead-on trail summaries, September 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Hiking Trails of Cape Breton (Paperback)

Included topo maps and very accurate trail head and actual trail notes. History and sidebar notes about the area and the trails added to the overall hiking experience. Only problem was our lack of time to do all the hikes we wanted to- what time we had was maximized with this reference.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best hiking guide of Atlantic Canada, February 23, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Hiking Trails of Nova Scotia (Paperback)

This book deserves more attention, because it is one of the best trail guides available in the country. It has everything an outdoorsperson looking for trails in Nova Scotia needs: GPS coordinates, cell phone coverage, maps, and accurate descriptions. This book is far superior to almost any other published hiking guide I have seen.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eight hikes in four days with this great guide., October 1, 2006

By 

C. B Collins Jr. (Atlanta, GA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hiking Trails of Cape Breton (Paperback)

This is an excellent guide that we found useful throughout our stay on Cape Breton Island. The maps are excellent and the descriptions of the trails and how to reach the trailheads is great. The topographical maps were also very useful. I will comment on some of the great hikes included in Haynes' book.

As you leave Cheticamp and enter the Cape Breton Highlands National Park, you are given three immediate trails from which to select. Because of intense rain, we had to skip these trails and move further north into the park. Along the way, the ocean views from the Cabot Trail were incredible, some of the most beautiful and dramatic scenery in the world.

Our first hike within the park was the Skyland Trail, a 3 hour hike on a high mountail plateau. The vegetation is naturally pruned and stunted by the ocean winds. The views of the Gulf of St. Lawrence are stunning from this height. We looked for moose but saw only pheasants.

Our second hike was to MacIntosh Brook, where the spruce trees create alpine odors as you hike and Aspen trees were turning gold. The old growth Sugar Maples were turning flame red in our September trip. The Sugar Maples are propagated by a root system that allows saplings to develope all around the parent tree. These small saplings may remain short for decades in virtual shadow, nourished by the root system of the parent tree.

Our third hike was to Lone Shieling, a short hike that offered a stone replica of an ancient Scotish hut, a short walk along a brook, and another short hike through Sugar Maple forrests.

Our fourth hike was very short since a dirt road will take you almost to the Chutes Beulach Ban Falls. Our fifth hike was cut short due to lack of time. We tried to hike to the Glasgow Lakes Lookoff but the round trip takes 4 hours. We turned back before completing the hike but we did reach an altitude to see vast vistas.

We spent the night at the Markham Resort cottages in Dingwall and had a gourmet dinner at the Morrison restaurant in Cape North. The Markham cottages allow for wetland or beach front hikes where the granite pebbles offer infinite varieties of colors and shapes. Here we saw a young bald eagle just getting the white feathers of the mature adult.

We drove to Bay St. Lawrence where we went for a whale cruise. We saw two pilot whales, hundreds of curious seals, and an adult bald eagle. We were late in the season so I suspect most of the whales had migrated to the Carribbean. While on the road we found the convenience stores offered many quick meal selections. In Cape North, I was able to get a lobster sandwich and chocolate milk. An odd combination, but it tasted great.

Our sixth hike to Broad Cove Mountain was short but offered great views above the treeline. However, our seventh hike, to Middle Head, was one of my favorite hikes. The trailheads start behind the impressive Keltic Lodge hotel. The hike offers high cliff hanging views of the Atlantic.

Our eighth hike was up Cape Smokey, a long hike but which has 3 vista points along the way with incredible views of the Atlantic ocean and the rocky wave battered cliffs and rocks below.

This book was a great resource by which to sxplore one of the most beautiful areas in North America.