Hikers Guide To Polly’s Cove Trail In Nova Scotia
Polly’s Cove is the lesser-known sister of Peggy’s Cove, located on the east coast of Nova Scotia. Unlike Peggy’s Cove, a famous tourist destination, Polly’s Cove offers a short but sweet hike before reaching the characteristic shoreline of Nova Scotia and the breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean.
The Polly’s Cove hiking trail is a groomed trail that spans roughly 1 km long from Prospect Road to the Atlantic Ocean. Our favourite parts of the hike were on the many “off-road” trails that spanned outward from the main trail and reached far along the coastline and through the highland terrain of the coast.
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Length: 3.9km (loop)
Suggested Duration: 2-3 hours
Signage: None
Facilities: Minimum parking, no public washrooms, no benches or picnic tables
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Key Features Of Polly’s Cove
- Similar view to Peggy’s Cove without the tourist attractions and crowd
- Beautiful view of Peggy’s Cove from the shoreline
- Offers striking coastal views of St. Margarets Bay
- Accessible year-round and suitable for hikers of various skill levels
- Part of the Peggy’s Cove Boat Tour (the boat passes by Polly’s Cove, travelling between the islands)
- Features a mix of rocky coastline, forests, and meadows
- Many auxiliary trails spread out from the main trail, offering varied terrain and views
Before You Start Hiking Polly’s Cove
Before getting to Polly’s Cove trail, there are a few things you may want to know. First, there is only a small designated “parking lot” along the side of Prospect Road. Also, unlike Peggy’s Cove, the Polly’s Cove Trail is not overly marked with signage.
Although it’s relatively easy to find (it’s right next to Peggy’s Cove and starts on the main road), using a GPS would help get to the trail.
If you plan on hiking in the series of ungroomed trails, it may be worth bringing long pants, high socks, and tick repellent. Though we haven’t seen too many ticks on our Nova Scotia hiking excursions, they are certainly in this part of the world and carry Lyme disease.
Nonetheless, it is important to take precautions and carry a tick removal tool kit whenever outdoors.
Note that the groomed trail is shorter (about 1 km each way) and relatively flat throughout. This makes it an easy and accessible trail to hike with a fantastic payoff at its end.
The Polly’s Cove trail is not a provincial or national park trail. Therefore, it is free to use and does not have hours of operation. This also means the trail is dog-friendly!
The waves along this coast can get huge. Stay safe, and do not approach the edges of the rocks when the waves are crashing in. There have been multiple cases of injuries at Peggy’s Cove from visitors encountering the violent waves of the coastline.
Our Experience Hiking Polly’s Cove
We arrived at Polly’s Cove with a good friend of ours at 11 am on an incredibly calm Summer weekend. The small parking lot was full, so we parked on the side of the road.
After hiking the groomed trail for roughly 500 metres, we noticed several smaller trails leading off the main path.
Knowing how short the main trail was, we decided to follow these alternative trails for a longer, more challenging hike. We had driven out from Halifax and wanted more than a short 2 km hike before driving back.
The alternate trails provided a more adventurous hike through steep rock faces and bushes.
Before long, we were at the shoreline, standing atop the large rocks that had a Nova Scotian coastal signature. I (Arthur) and our friend headed toward the water on this calm day while Julia ventured further along the coastline on the bushy trail to capture more photos.
The rocky shoreline provided some opportunity to climb over rocks, though it was possible to walk around them. As we approached the water, our view of the shoreline grew, and the light ocean breeze became more apparent.
While near the shore, we saw many boats, including a boat that was part of the Peggy’s Cove Boat Tour.
After taking in the views and enjoying the more challenging terrain, we hiked back to the main trail to complete the hike.
The trail ends near an old foundation (what for, I’m not sure).
At the end of the groomed trail, we are back at the oceanfront with an amazing view of the Atlantic. Extending from the main trail are even more ungroomed trails that lead along the coastline.
We decided at this end that we had experienced the essence of the Polly’s Cove trail and decided to turn back.
Hiking the main trail back to the car, we noted how smooth and accessible the trail was.
Checklist And Recommended Gear
Even though this is a short hike, we’d still recommend bringing some supplies with you.
- Water Bottle
- Comfortable hiking shoes or boots – Women’s // Men’s
- Snacks
- Camera/Phone to take photos
- Sunscreen
- Long socks
- Cascade Hiking Poles (optional)
- Atlantick Tick Removal Tool Kit
