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Atlantic View Trail: Hike Part Of The Trans Canada Trail

ByHikers Movement

Formally an old railway trail, the Atlantic View Trail is a groomed, crushed gravel trail that is part of the Great Trail (formerly the Trans Canada Trail). Over the years, it has become a popular spot for hikers, dog walkers, cyclists, and snowshoers. You can enjoy the views from the coastal greenway of various flora and fauna, salt marshes, beaches, and woodland areas on this trail.

The trail spans 10 kilometres (one-way) with the option to continue onto additional stints of the Great Trail at either end. On the west end of the Atlantic View Trail is the Salt Marsh Trail, while on the east end is the Blueberry Run Trail. The Great Trail is the largest recreational trail globally, with 27,000 kilometres of trails that spread through Canada’s 13 provinces and territories.

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Length: 10 km (one-way, 20 km out and back)
Suggested Duration: 3-4 hours
Signage: Signs throughout
Facilities: Washrooms, parking lot, picnic shelters and benches

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Key Features Of The Atlantic View Trail

  • A scenic coastal hiking trail along the Atlantic Ocean
  • Offers stunning panoramic views of the coastline and Lawrencetown Beach
  • Passes through a mix of coastal terrain, meadows, and forests
  • Part of the larger Trans Canada Trail network in Nova Scotia
  • Dog-friendly (on-leash)
  • Accessible and stroller-friendly
  • Connects to the Salt Marsh Trail and Blueberry Run Trail
  • Leads to Lawrencetown Beach and Porter’s Lake Canal Bridge

Facilities And Services

  • Parking lot
  • Benches
  • Picnic Shelters
  • Garbages
  • Washrooms

Before You Start Hiking The Atlantic View Trail

Before you begin hiking the Atlantic View Trail, there are a few things to note.

This is a superb trail for those who enjoy the Salt Marsh Trail but are looking for something a little less crowded. Since the Atlantic View Trail is a bit further from the city than the Salt Marsh Trail, traffic is almost cut in half, making it worth the extra minutes added to the commute.

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There are a few different parking lots that provide access to the trail. Parking can be found on either side of the Atlantic View Trail and at the halfway point near Lawrencetown Beach. This is arguably the best parking spot.

This relatively easy trail features numerous lookout points with views that make it well worth the visit. There are plenty of spots to take a break and decide whether to continue or turn around. Remember that the Atlantic View Trail continues at either of its ends.

From the Salt Marsh Trail connection, the Atlantic View Trail takes hikers passed by Conrad Road (where you might even see horses frolicking at Sambea Farm beside the trail); to Lawrencetown Beach, over the Rocky Run and Porter’s Lake Canal Bridge and finally, to the end of the trail section at the Blueberry Run Trail section.

Below is a photo to display the kilometres to each point from the trailhead as well as the entrance of the Atlantic View Trail via the West Lawrencetown Road parking lot:

The trail is both stroller and accessibility friendly.

This is also a popular cyclist trail due to the length, groomed trail, and little to no inclines or declines. Cyclists should keep an eye out while on the trail for pedestrians and be sure to share the trail.

Though the trail is open year-round, there is no winter maintenance. This makes it a great spot for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing after a snowfall.

Though the Atlantic View Trail is not as popular as the connected Salt Marsh Trail, it can still potentially get busy. Be sure to practice proper trail etiquette, including:

  • Keeping pets on a leash.
  • Staying to one side of the trail while walking, snowshoeing, skiing, etc.
  • Cyclists should use a bell.

Lastly, even on sunny days, it can be quite windy on the Atlantic View Trail, especially as you make your way toward Lawrencetown Beach. We recommended bringing a windbreaker or other wind-resistant clothing.

Our Experience Hiking The Atlantic View Trail

We hadn’t frequented the Atlantic View Trail as much as we ought to have (though we completed the connect Salt Marsh Trail plenty of times).

Like the Salt Marsh Trail, the Atlantic View Trail is an excellent and relatively easy walk that’s perfect for a go-at-your-own-pace kind of walk. The fresh air is always welcomed, and the trail itself is well-groomed, making it easy to walk, run or cycle through.

The pictures in this article come from an excursion in January. Yes, it was cold, and the wind was a bit unbearable at times! We’d recommend going during the warmer months, but on this bright and sunny winter day, we were set on a walk along this trail.

As an additional tip, we recommend wearing some headgear covering the ears to help block the wind. Earaches are not fun! We nearly always bring toques on our oceanside adventures for this reason.

On this day of hiking, we took our time and only walked through the Atlantic View part of the Great Trail. Doing multiple sections of trail is totally possible, but we were only interested in completing one.

On this day, we parked at the West Lawrencetown Road entrance. Crossing the road from the small parking, we found ourselves at the entrance of the Atlantic View Trail entrance. The picture below is from this location.

After a short stint, the trail opens up to a 360º view as it extends onto the water. The trail is set on the bed of the former Musquodoboit railroad that has been transformed into a part of the Great Trail.

The beautiful trail is well-groomed with finely crushed rock. This is a breeze to walk on compared to many of the wilderness hikes in the area.

On this chilly day, there weren’t too many people on the trail. We passed a few dog walkers and their dogs and didn’t happen to come across any cyclists.

This trail crosses a few roads. The first of which (when starting at West Lawrencetown Road) is Conrad Road. At this crossroads, we passed Sambea Farm and had a good look at the beautiful horses on the property.

It’s also worth mentioning that Conrad’s Beach is one of our favourites to frequent in the summertime. This beach is at the end of Conrad Road. Parking is minimal, so show up early to get a close spot if you decide to check it out. Though, if you’re reading this blog, you’re likely unphased by having to walk a bit of distance!

The second (and third) road to cross is Lawrencetown Road. This brought us back onto a bar with water to either side. Passing it the second time brought us to the wildly popular Lawrencetown Beach, an esteemed spot for surfers and beachgoers. In January, of course, it wasn’t exactly teeming with people.

From the beach, we decided to make our way back on this cold and windy day, but we would return!

Our second time out on the Atlantic View Trail, we started at the parking lot of Lawrencetown Beach. It was an equally cold and windy day in February. We made it a bit further this time, but the cold and wind made the hike rather unenjoyable. We’d certainly recommend this hike in the warmer months as an easy walk along the water.

While this is an easy hike, we still recommend bringing some supplies with you regardless of how long you’ll be there. The following is our recommended gear:

TRANS CANADA TRAILS
CRUSHED ROCK TRAILS

Julia and Arthur are the owners, creators and writers of Hikers Movement, Homestead Fox and owners of Fox Media Tech Inc.. As seasoned hikers, Julia and Arthur don't just write about the great outdoors – they live it. Their firsthand experiences, shared through hiking adventures around the world, reflects their genuine commitment to inspiring a community of outdoor enthusiasts.

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