Five Islands Provincial Park

Directions:
Take Exit 11 to Glenholme from the 104 Highway, turn onto Highway #2 and follow it past Lower Economy. Road signs will mark the entrance to the Five Islands Provincial Park.

Description:
We were traveling from New Glasgow to Barss Corner, we had planned on just taking the highway but when we left we took a couple of off-beat roads. It wasn't long till there was nothing but a dirt road and trees all around. We drove for a long time ever wondering where we were actually going.

Estuary Trail

Directions:
Traveling in the park entrance road you will come across a gate; to the right there is a parking lot and the trailhead of the Estuary Trail.

Description:
A sign in the parking lot marks the entrance and the trail follows some red markers to get you going. Starting out on this trail you cross a footbridge and into a canopy of mixed forests providing a nice shade from a hot summers day. The trail soon splits heading left or right. Stay to your right and head down hill towards the mouth of the East River.

Once in view of the water, the trail follows the coastline over looking the tidal flats and the East River spilling out into the Minas Basin. This trail provides great views of the vast tidal flats and fishing boats tied up across the water. When you cross the next fork in the road continue left to loop back to the parking lot.

There is a road on the other side of the water (not part of the provincial park) provides access to a beach and a view of the Five Islands' Lighthouse.

 

Red Head Trail

Directions:
Traveling in the park entrance road follow the road through the park and into the campground area. There is parking avalible near the trail head next to the look-off of Moose Island.

Description:
Before starting on this trail, be sure to take in the view of Moose Island and grab a few pictures, you will have plenty of other look-offs to view this island but this is one of the best. The start of the trail climbs for a short period and is a short distance in from edge of the cliff tops. There are numerous short trails that will lead you down to the edge for a view of the Minas Basin and the islands.

As the trail heads closer to the cliffs it slowly turns downward as you head down to Red Head point. It only takes one look at the steep cliffs to know where the name came from. This trail boasts many look-offs over the Minas Basin and well-maintained fences, but the cliffs are very steep so please respect the guidelines and don’t venture to close.

This is a wide trail with footbridges and resting benches along the way. Once at Red Head point the trail continues on to join up with the Economy Mountain trail, or you can just turn around and trace the trail back to the parking lot.