Explore Nova Scotia’s National Parks and Historic Sites
From a star-shaped fort in the middle of the capital city to a remote island inhabited by wild horses, Nova Scotia’s national parks and historic sites include two large national parks, one remote national park reserve, and numerous museums, nature spots, and military reconstructions. They are all operated by Parks Canada.
Kejimkujik National Park
Best national park in Nova Scotia for camping and canoeing
Kejimkujik National Park, one of Nova Scotia’s greatest treasures, is a large forested inland park with dozens of freshwater lakes, rivers, and ponds, including the largest and best-known lake, Kejimkujik Lake. It is approximately a 2.5-hour drive from Halifax.
“Keji,” as it is known locally, is famous for its remote back-country sites, accessible only by canoe and portage (carrying a canoe overland). However, it also offers fantastic family camping options. Unique Parks Canada accommodations at Keji include yurts, rustic cabins, oTENTiks (canvas-sided cabins), and the Ôasis – a red, raindrop-shaped treehouse.
These lands are an important historic site for Nova Scotia’s Indigenous population, the Mi’kmaq. Along the shores of these traditional waterways, there are valuable rock drawings, or petroglyphs, which narrate the history of contact between European and Mi’kmaw cultures.
Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site
Nova Scotia’s tribute to Alexander Graham Bell
Alexander Graham Bell is most famous for the invention of the telephone, yet he had various passions including medicine, flight, and a symbolic system called “visible speech” – a written language he developed to teach the deaf to “speak.”
In the late 1800s, Scottish-born Bell established his residence in Baddeck, on Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island, where he conducted experiments, notably achieving a marine speed record with his HD-4 hydrofoil on the expansive Bras d’Or Lake.
After his death, the Bell family generously donated Bell’s work and many of his possessions to the Alexander Graham Bell Museum, which is now regarded as one of Parks Canada’s finest historic sites. The building itself is designed after a tetrahedron, a shape that influenced many of Bell’s flight experiments.
Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site
Nova Scotia’s best immersive historic experience
When the French constructed Louisbourg in the mid-1700s to safeguard their colony and fishing grounds in what is now Atlantic Canada, the town was a grand endeavor. As they constructed, the French meticulously recorded details of every structure, plot of land, and the 4000 inhabitants.
However, it wasn’t long before the British attacked Louisbourg on three occasions, ultimately demolishing the entire town in the 1760s.
Fortunately, those original French plans and architectural drawings, stored in Europe, enabled Nova Scotia to recreate the town 200 years later as a tourism initiative. The result: the largest reconstructed site in North America, providing a truly immersive experience in one of the most picturesque areas of Nova Scotia.
Halifax Citadel National Historic Site
Halifax’s most popular national historic site
Known as Fort George, everyone refers to it as the Halifax Citadel – a colossal star-shaped stone fort built to protect Halifax and its harbour from the mid-1700s until the early twentieth century. Presently, the Citadel functions as a military museum and historic site, offering plenty of hands-on experiences such as musket firing, becoming a soldier for the day, or exploring information about Citadel ghosts.
The Halifax Citadel features one of the few remaining noon guns of the British Empire. Every day at precisely noon, a cannon is fired, resonating like a thunderous boom across the city.
Moreover, Citadel Hill itself showcases a prominent geological feature known as a drumlin, a remnant from the last ice age – a favorite location for Haligonians (Halifax residents) to jog, sunbathe, fly kites, and toboggan. At the base of Citadel Hill, visitors can explore the Halifax Public Gardens, a beautiful formal Victorian garden complete with a coffee and ice cream shop in the center.
Cape Breton Highlands National Park
Nova Scotia’s best national park for a road trip
Cape Breton Highlands National Park spans approximately 367 square miles (950 square kilometers) in the northern region of Cape Breton Island, northeast Nova Scotia, roughly a 4 to 5-hour drive from Halifax. Notably, one-third of the world-renowned Cabot Trail traverses the park. To travel this trail, purchasing a park pass is necessary; this investment is worthwhile, as Parks Canada diligently maintains roadways, hiking trails, and lookout points.
This national park is celebrated for its lush mountain views and 26 well-kept hiking trails. Set up camp and take time to explore the pristine beaches, breathtaking waterfalls, and diverse wildlife, including moose in this wilderness.
Georges Island National Historic Site
Nova Scotia’s newest Parks Canada experience
Fort Charlotte on Georges Island played a crucial role in Halifax’s defense from the late 1700s until WWII – a formidable system of military forts and weaponry that ensured Halifax was never attacked. The visitor experience is among the latest in the Parks Canada network, following decades of research and reconstruction.
Visitors can access Georges Island via any watercraft; however, the easiest way is to book a tour through the local tour company, Ambassatours, in advance. Once there, anticipate exciting tunnel walks, a grassy parade area perfect for picnics, and stunning photo opportunities overlooking Halifax.
Fort Anne National Historic Site at Annapolis Royal
Canada’s first national historic site
Fort Anne National Historic Site is located in the center of Annapolis Royal on the western edge of Annapolis Valley, about a 2-hour drive from Halifax. Following Confederation in 1867, the Dominion of Canada began safeguarding its parks and historic sites, with Fort Anne designated as a “Dominion Park” in 1917.
The history of Annapolis Royal includes narratives from Mi’kmaq, Acadian, European, and African Nova Scotian cultures, highlighting both conflict and reconciliation stories. Inside the officer’s quarters, which were transformed in 2017, an excellent museum awaits exploration. On the grounds, several large grassy ramparts provide perfect viewpoints or a place to roll down. After your visit, enjoy the shops, restaurants, and historic gardens in this charming town.
Sable Island National Park Reserve
The most remote place in Nova Scotia
For those who seek wild and distant experiences, consider a tour to Sable Island, a tiny crescent of sand amidst the Atlantic. With no permanent human inhabitants, Sable Island’s waters are home to 18 shark species; its beaches host a colony of wild horses, and its shores rest above over 350 shipwrecks.
The only access to this remote Parks Canada site is by sea or air, and visitors must request approval to visit the island in advance; casual drop-ins are not permitted. To safeguard the delicate Sable Island ecosystem, visitors must follow biosecurity measures, such as sanitizing shoes and ensuring clothing is fresh and stored for at least five days before arrival. Sable Island is one of Nova Scotia’s best national parks and promises a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The most effective way to plan an excursion to Sable Island from Nova Scotia is to contact Parks Canada’s partner, Kattuk Expeditions.
Need to Know: Entry Fees and Passes
National parks and historic sites in Nova Scotia typically require a day entry fee, except for youth aged 17 years or under. Recent Canadian citizens may also access free entry. The optimal way to explore the finest national parks and historic sites in Nova Scotia is to acquire a Discovery Pass, granting access to over 80 locations throughout Canada.
One of the highlights of any Parks Canada experience is engaging with friendly staff, known as “interpreters” (not rangers). Selected for their passion for nature and unique expertise, you may encounter actors, artisans, geologists, historians, Mi’kmaw guides, and even the occasional fiddler among the staff in Nova Scotia.
