The best walks and hikes around Halifax County

The Prince of Wales Tower stands on the highest point of Point Pleasant Park. This imposing Martello tower (a name given to small, defensive British fortresses of the 19th century) is characterized by its thick walls. It was the first of its kind built in North America. Interpretive panels provide further information.

The Halifax Memorial, located on the shores of Pleasant Point, commemorates the 3,267 Canadian and Newfoundland sailors and soldiers who lost their lives during the First and Second World Wars. The monument replaced an earlier memorial on Citadel Hill in Halifax.

The Bonaventure Anchor Memorial, also known as the Canadian Peacetime Sailors’ Memorial, is located on a site that once housed a searchlight battery used for harbour defence during the Second World War.

The World War II bunker at Gill Cove Head is part of the former coastal defence system built along the Chebucto Peninsula to protect the approaches to Halifax Harbour during the war. The structure sits on exposed granite above the Atlantic and formed one of several observation and fire-control points tied to the larger Chebucto Head Battery nearby, which once included gun emplacements, searchlights and a concrete director tower. The bunker today stands as a weathered concrete shell on the headland, reachable by a short detour from the coastal path. It offers a quiet look at the area’s military history and wide ocean views from the surrounding barrens.

The Duncans Cove Trail winds through the Duncans Cove Nature Reserve along the granite headlands south of Halifax. The path begins at the road access near Chebucto Head and continues through coastal barrens and forest into the headland terrain. The surface is natural and uneven — exposed rock slabs, narrow footpaths, roots and occasional boggy patches. Though the distance is manageable, the terrain shifts frequently and is not mostly level — so good footwear is important. Along the route you’ll pass dramatic ocean viewpoints, fissures in the rock, and remnants of WWII bunkers. The trail offers a rugged, evocative coastal hike and works best as an out-and-back or short loop depending on how far you wish to go.

Duncans Cove Nature Reserve is a rugged coastal protected area south of Halifax, known for its granite headlands, coastal barrens, and sweeping Atlantic views. The terrain is uneven and rocky, with sections of bog and exposed slab common along the shoreline approaches. There are no formal facilities or marked trails, and access is informal from the road near Chebucto Head. The reserve offers a raw coastal experience with open ocean viewpoints and natural terrain typical of the Halifax backlands, best suited for hikers comfortable with navigating unmarked, rough ground.

A small forest river near Fall River that flows through mixed woodland before dropping over Johnson Falls. Along the approach to the falls, the river runs through a shallow, rocky corridor with sections that widen into quieter pools. It’s visible from short side paths near the end of the Johnson Falls Trail, especially where the terrain begins to narrow into the ravine. The river adds a scenic element to the hike, offering brief viewpoints before reaching the waterfall itself.

A short forest trail near Fall River that follows a mix of old road and narrower footpath to reach Johnson River Falls. The route is mostly level with some uneven sections of dirt, roots, and mud, especially after rain. It leads gradually through mixed woodland before narrowing as you enter the small ravine. The trail works well as a quick out-and-back, with clear forest surroundings and easy navigation from the end of Perrin Drive.