Pipeline Loop Hike, Nova Scotia
The Pipeline Loop is one of many interconnected loops around Long Lake in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Whether you stick to the short loop itself or throw in a variation of Long Lake Wilderness Trails, the hike is certainly worth checking out, especially as a quick getaway without having to travel far from the city.
Enjoy dog walking, swimming, and hiking all in one trip. Stick to the main loop or explore the interconnected trails and have yourself an adventure!
Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 3.7 km
Suggested Duration: 1 hour +
Signage: Some signage throughout
Facilities: none
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Key Features Of The Pipeline Loop
- Located in the Long Lake Provincial Park
- One of multiple interconnected trails in the park
- Dog friendly
Facilities And Services
- Parking lot
Before You Start Hiking The Pipeline Loop
As usual in Hikers’ Movement articles, we’d like to discuss a few things we think you should know before embarking on a hike. In this section, we’ll share a few of our insights about the Pipeline Loop.
The first thing to note is where the actual loop is. To start the Pipeline Loop and complete it in its entirety, park at the main (but small) Long Lake parking spot off at St Margarets Bay Road (near the Prospect Road junction).
Side note. We like to remind folks not to leave any valuables in their cars, especially out in the open. Unfortunately, this parking lot is prone to car break-ins.
From there, hike toward the lake, and once you reach the lake, begin hiking “around it” in the counterclockwise direction. The trail should be pretty self-explanatory and will split about 700 metres in. This is the beginning of the loop section.
About 1.5 to 2 kilometres in, you’ll come to a crossroads at the border of the official park. There will be signs. Stay in the park, and you’ll loop back to where you came from.
That’s the most direct way of hiking the Pipeline Loop. However, if you’re willing to park on the side of the road, there are access points to the Long Lake Wilderness trails along both St Margarets Bay Road and Dunbrack Street. These starting points can add significant length and enjoyment to the overall hike so long as you can maintain your sense of direction throughout the many interconnecting trails.
When we did this hike, we parked on Dunbrack Street and made it a 10 km hike overall. To skip down to our experience, click here.
This trail is dog-friendly and is a popular spot for dog walkers. It is asked that dogs remain on a leash.
As is the case with many trails in Nova Scotia, the Long Lake Pipeline Loop is best enjoyed during the Spring, Summer, and Fall months, though it is certainly possible to do it during the Wintertime as well.
Here’s a picture from our Wintertime hike in the Long Lake trails (taken near one of the Dunbrack Street entrances).
These trails are relatively easy without much elevation change. So long as you keep yourself oriented, the hike should be delightful. There are plenty of lake access points throughout the trails. Whether you’re a swimmer or enjoy admiring scenic lakes, this trail is for you.
Here’s a shot, again, from the wintertime:
The official rules of the Long Lake Provincial Park include the following:
- No fires
- No tree cutting
- No hunting
- No trapping
- No unauthorized vehicles
Our Experience Hiking The Pipeline Loop
As was mentioned previously, our experience of the Pipeline Loop was included in a longer trek through the Long Lake Wilderness Trails and took place in the Winter. We chose to park on the side of Dunbrack Street and make it a 10-kilometre hike on a beautifully mild day in early March.
Having completed the Nine Mile River Hiking Trail just days prior (which was completely frozen over), we decided to bring our hiking poles for this hike, too. However, there was significantly less ice in the city, and we didn’t end up using them for most of the trail.
For the first kilometre or so, we regularly checked our All Trails app to help navigate the many interconnecting trails. However, once we reached the lake, our path became quite clear. We ended up taking the trail closest to the lake to ultimately reach the Pipeline Loop.
On this day, there were parts of Long Lake that were frozen solid, allowing us to inch out and gain a superb view of the surroundings. In other places, the ice was too thin to walk on safely, and in some other places, there was no ice at all.
And so we made our way through the lakeside trails, stopping regularly to catch a glimpse of Long Lake from new vantage points.
At one point, it was necessary to cross the lake over dry rocks. This crossing, in Winter or Summer months, also offers a great view of the lake. Here’s a picture to show the crossing. To see the view, well, you’ll have to check it out for yourself!
After following the trail near the lake, we came to familiar territory. Having lived for several years in Halifax, we had been to Long Lake many times with friends and family. Parking at the St Margarets Bay Road parking lot would bring us to the Pipeline Loop, and so too did our hike from Dunbrack Street.
However, unlike our previous visits, which involved relaxing by the lake, this trip moved us further past the usual spot to the main portion of the Pipeline Loop.
Much of this section of the trail is wide and relatively well-groomed. Though ATVs are prohibited, this trail is certainly wide enough for motor vehicles.
The Pipeline Loop makes its turn at a brook. Following the water up from the lake brings hikers first to a small picturesque pool (pictured below) and then to the aforementioned crossroads at the border of the Provincial Park.
After stopping for a snack at this location, we made our way back to where we parked, following the lake once again.
Checklists And Recommended Gear
Though it’s nice to hike light every once in a while, we generally will bring gear with us. In this section, we’ll share our recommended gear for the Pipeline Loop Trail near Long Lake.
- Water Bottle
- Hiking shoes – Women’s // Men’s
- Camera/Phone
- Map and/or GPS
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Cascade Hiking Poles (optional)
- Atlantick Tick Removal Tool Kit
