Discover the Pennant Point Hiking Trail in Nova Scotia
The Pennant Point Trail is a 10.5km loop around the peninsula of the Crystal Crescent Provincial Park near Halifax, Nova Scotia. The trail starts at Crystal Crescent Beach, a popular spot in Halifax for folks to swim, walk along the beach, or enjoy a breathtaking sunset.
For the first kilometre or so, hikers can enjoy an easy walk on the front country boardwalk. The trail then leads into a short stint of the wooded area before reaching the beautiful look-off at Crystal Crescent Naturist Beach near Mackerel Cove.
Difficulty:Â Moderate
Length: 10.5km loop
Suggested Duration:Â 2-3 hours
Signage:Â None
Facilities: Parking and outhouses
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Key Features Of Pennant Point
- A scenic coastal hiking trail with beach access
- Offers picturesque views of the Atlantic Ocean
- Passes through a mix of forested sections and coastal terrain
- Suitable for hikers of various skill levels
Before You Start Hiking Pennant Point
Before hiking the Pennant Point Trail, it’s important to note that the trail is within a provincial park. The Crystal Crescent Provincial Park is open between May 17 and October 14 each year, daily from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Note that there is no entrance fee to get into the provincial park. However, there is a gate located at the beginning of Crystal Crescent Beach Road, roughly half a kilometre from the first parking lot and a little over a kilometre from the trailhead.
To complete the full trail around the peninsula, we suggest you give yourself 4-5 hours.
To hike in and out to the Crystal Crescent Naturist Beach near Mackerel Cove, give yourself about 1 hour.
We recommend bringing water with you to stay hydrated. It’s also a good idea to bring a snack if you need an extra boost in energy at any point during the hike.
The hike starts on a mix of groomed gravel trails and boardwalks before transitioning into a woodsy trail. This wooded section is sometimes a bit swampy, so waterproof hiking shoes/boots are recommended.
Beyond the Crystal Crescent Naturist Beach look-off, much of the trail is along the coastline and requires hiking over relatively large rocks.
We saw a few hikers along the trail with hiking poles, which could be useful for hikers with weak knees or if the rocky terrains cause knee pain.
The differences in terrain are important to plan for before heading to hike Pennant Point!
Last but not least, there is always a chance of ticks whenever you are outdoors. It is important to check yourself and your pets. We recommend always having a tick removal tool kit on you. For more tips, check out our article How To Avoid TIcks When Hiking.
Our Experience Hiking Pennant Point
It was a bright and sunny Spring day when we hiked Pennant Point. We got up early and drove from our home in Halifax to Sambro. We were on the trail no later than 8:30 a.m.
After parking the car and taking the small hiking bag out, we walked to Crystal Crescent Beach to enjoy the view while we warmed up and stretched.
The first kilometre of the hike (roughly speaking) was on a well-crafted boardwalk. This first part of the trail is easily accessible and makes for a great warm-up before the relatively rough parts of the trail to follow.
It wasn’t long before we got to the more wooded area of the trail. In our experience, this section of the trail was a bit damp. We figured this was likely because of the time of year, sun coverage, and proximity to the ocean.
However, many fellow hikers have had swampier experiences with this portion of the trail. Perhaps it was relatively dry for us due to the good weather before our hike. All that being said, proper water-resistant footwear is always recommended!
We got through the wooded portion of the trail relatively quickly and were soon at the main look-off at Crystal Crescent Naturist Beach. Here, we took in the fresh ocean air and the view of the passing boats and distant horizon.
At this point, the sun was getting high in the sky, and we started feeling the effects of both the sun and the wind on our faces.
Beyond this point, the “trail” became a mixture of overgrown pathways and rocky passages. Personally, we found these large rocks to be hard on our knees. There were many large steps, drops, and climbs to make to continue around the peninsula.
Needless to say, our pace slowed significantly.
There is also no signage beyond the main look-off point, though the trail simply follows the coastline.
We hiked a bit past halfway (unknowingly) before we decided to turn around. This was one of those hikes where we felt we had seen what was to be seen and decided to spare our knees (though it would have been faster, upon review, to have kept trekking clockwise around the peninsula).
We kept our heads down and eventually went back to the look-off point. By late morning, there were plenty of people on the trail enjoying the view.
We took in the views of the ocean once more and cherished the relatively easy hike back to the car. It would only be a few months before we’d be laying on Crystal Crescent Beach, soaking up the summer sun!
Checklist And Recommended Gear
Even though this is a short hike, we’d still recommend bringing some supplies with you.
- Water Bottle
- Hiking boots – Women’s // Men’s
- Snacks
- Camera/Phone to take photos
- Sunscreen
- Long socks
- Cascade Hiking Poles (optional)
- Atlantick Tick Removal Tool Kit
