Last Update March 3, 2005
Several years ago the Southwest Paddlers Association wrote a proposal for a paddle trail along our coast. It took us a couple of years to find funding but finally Human Resources Development Canada assisted our researcher Pat "Patty" Scott Hudson so that she could do the necessary field work to bring this idea to a reality.
Pat was an obvious choice for this work. She is an outdoor enthusiast living in Barrington, Shelburne County, Nova Scotia. She grew up along the river bank of the Barrington River where paddling a canoe with the rest of her family was a way of life. She has made the trek across the back country of Nova Scotia several times taking various routes, going by canoe and once from Kejimkujik by kayak.
In recent years she has become an avid kayaker and has her Flatwater Certificate in kayaking and Safety and Rescue Techniques Course. In the year 2002 she was one of the contact persons for the Gulf of Maine Expedition upon their arrival to Clark's Harbour. She had the adventure of paddling with the expedition for a week. This inspired her to take life in new directions and promote the sport of kayaking in South West Nova Scotia.
Pat took on this coastal water trail project in May 2003. She put over 7500 kilometers on her car, talked with hundreds of people along the coast, took photographs, filled several notebooks with observations, and covered her many maps with notations about our region. Her work has been summarized here to provide as clear a picture as we can of this coastal trail resource.
As Pat says whenever she gets to make a presentation: "I am amazed everyday at all of nature's treasures we have along our coast waiting to be discovered!" Yes, please come join us in Southwest Nova Scotia for a wonderful vacation and paddling experience.
The Southwest Coast of Nova Scotia is a paddlers paradise. It offers scenic bays and harbors and open stretches of sea. It is also demanding of sea kayak skills and the open waters are best left to those with experience. The inner bays and harbours offer an opportunity for beginner and intermediate paddlers to sharpen their paddling, safety and navigation skills. SAFETY is our prime concern. Planning a kayaking trip can be just as exciting as the adventure. By taking time to carefully plan your trip the chances of accidents or injury are lessened.
One of the main concerns of kayaking along our beautiful coast is the sudden onset of fog, it can come in very quickly and significantly reduce visibility. Be compass wise and always carry a map. We really mean it. Be prepared for fog. We hope you don't have any, but......
Beware of tides and currents in narrow passages, near islands (particularly the Tuskets), and around points and headlands. The underwater plant life or buoys will be bending in the direction of the current.
Tides occur a little over six hours apart, twice daily between high and low tide. A full moon will make tides higher or lower than usual. Know how to read your charts as many areas are mudflats at low tide. It is helpful to know if the tide is coming in or going out as paddling the tide can make a big difference in your speed and direction.
The sea itself can create problems. Make sure you have the skills to paddle into, with, and across swells and waves. Paddling too close to shore can be dangerous because of the backwash from the waves hitting on the rocks and ledges causing irregular wave patterns. Keep within a safe distance of the coastline but not too close to the edge.
Winds can change direction throughout the day so be conscious of this factor. You may have to change your kayak route during your trip to compensate for wind direction. If wind is a problem, you may also want to find the lee shore which is the shoreline protected by islands, hills and trees.
Use common sense, courtesy, and communication. Fishermen are our best friends! Ask for their advice. You will find them friendly. Respect their knowledge. Having a cell phone, marine radio and GPS on board and knowing how to use them is a good idea.
Always check the weather forecast in our area. Call: (902) 742-6464, press 41 for marine report.
We encourage No Trace Camping and stewardship of the land.
Slipways are mostly available at public wharfs. They are identified by a sloping grid of planks or wooden poles. These can be slippery and difficult to walk on so be extra careful when launching from a slipway.
Ramps can be identified by a sloping slab of concrete going from the waters edge. They make for an easy access. Some public wharves have nether of these above mentioned accesses but have a sloping gravel sloping access way.
The Persons talked to in our survey, Towns, Municipalities and Southwest Paddlers Association have no control of the launch points, services, kayak route or campsites listed on this web site and, therefore, assume no responsibility for the safety of the kayaker. Although the information on this web site is believed to be accurate, we assume no liability for errors or omissions or for changes that may occur after the web site postings.
It is our hope to keep the web site updated yearly and your help will be greatly appreciated. See other pages of this web site for contacts.
Towns and Municipalities of Shelburne /Yarmouth Counties
South West Shore Development Authority
South Shore Tourism Association
Human Resources Development Canada
Southwest Paddlers Association
Nova Scotia Sports and Recreation
Lockeport : (902) 656-3123
Shelburne : (902) 875-4547
Barrington: (902) 637-2625
ClarkÕs Harbour(902) 745-2586
WoodÕs Harbour (902)732-0123 (Samuel Wood Historical Society)
Pubnico :(902) 762-2530
West Pubnico: (902) 762-3380 (Acadian Museum & Archives)
Wedgeport : (902) 663-4345 (Wedgeport Sport Tuna Fishing Museum)
Yarmouth :(902) 742-6639
Fire, Medical, Police at 911
(902) 742-6464 for marine weather press 41
Check the daily tide schedule in the local paper:
Shelburne-Shelburne Coastguard
Yarmouth-The Vanguard
or purchase a tide book at a marine store or R. H. Davis on Main Street in Yarmouth
Sea Kayaking In Nova Scotia by Scott Cunningham
Paddling in Paradise (Sea kayaking Adventures in Atlantic Canada) by Alison Hughes
Both of these books have stories in them about kayaking in the Tusket Islands and other locations.
LC 4230 covers area from Little Hope Island-Cape Saint Marys
( Shelburne/Yarmouth Counties)
Marine chart # 4240 Liverpool-Lockeport
Marine chart # 4209 Lockeport and Shelburne Harbour
Marine chart # 4241 Lockeport-Cape Sable
Marine chart # 4210 Cape Sable-Pubnico Harbour
Marine chart # 4244 Wedgeport and vicinity
Marine chart # 4243 Tusket - Cape Saint Marys
Marine chart # 4245 Yarmouth Harbour and Approaches
20 p/15 and 20 p/10 (combined) Port Mouton
20 p/11 Lockeport
20 p/14 Shelburne
20 p/6 Baccaro
20 p/5 Cape Sable Island
20 p/12 Pubnico
20 p/13 Tusket
20-0/9 Comeaus Hill
20-o/16 Yarmouth