International Trails Day is an annual celebration of trails to promote trail development, the use of trails and the healthy lifestyle they encourage. It is celebrated each year on the first Saturday in June. This year we celebrate International Trails Day on June 6, 2009.
Interest is growing world wide, and international trail groups are promoting events in their own countries. We invite and encourage the public and the world's trail groups to celebrate and help develop an awareness of trails by posting events in their communities to this site. If you have an event you would like to post, please email the details and your contact information to NS Trails: nstrails@sportnovascotia.ca.
2009 International Trails Day Events:
In Nova Scotia, Canada:
Join the Ramblers and Halifax Regional Trails folks!
Date: Saturday, June 6th
Assemble at 9:45am, both rides start at 10am. BBQ at half way point at French Village, just off the trail – this is where both groups will meet.
Group A – Meet at the BLT trail head by the Coke Plant, Lakeside and go west on the BLT, arriving in French Village at 11:45am – distance 44k return (or start / end somewhere in the middle for a shorter ride)
Group B – Meet in Hubbards at the Scotiabank parking lot and go east to French Village, arriving 11:55am – 54ks (can be shortened by starting somewhere in the middle).
Questions email bikebob@eastlink.ca or call Bob White at 434-1388
OFFICIAL OPENING of the Shearwater Flyer Trail!
Date: Saturday, June 6th, 2009
Time: 12:00 noon
Location: 12 Wing CFB Shearwater
Everyone Welcome ~ Guided 6 km Walk ~ 12 Wing Pipe and Drums ~ Special Guests ~ Light Lunch
10:00 am - Registration for 6 km Guided Walk led by members of the Dartmouth Volksmarch Club
10:30 am - 6 km walk starts with Dartmouth Volksmarch Club
Light refreshments will be served following the official opening/speeches.
Directions: Take Corsair Avenue (left) off Pleasant Street, right on Banshee, right on Swordfish Dr. to parking lot.
Contacts: Michael 902-435-3952 Lionel 902-466-4421
Hiking the Headlands - Gaff Point Nature Preserve
Date: Saturday, June 6th, 2009 /9:00am-4:00pm
Closest Town: Kingsburg, NS
Join us for a partnership event with the Kingsburg Coastal Conservancy and the Nova Scotia Nature Trust for the stewardship workday on the 124-acre Gaff Point Nature Preserve. This coastal headland is situated between two beaches and contains barren, forests, and spectacular ocean views.
Activities will include trail maintenance of the 3.5 kilometre Gaff Point Hiking Trail as we prepare for the upcoming hiking season, and a talk on the flora and fauna of the area by biologist Dr.Bill Freedman, NCC National Chair and professor of Ecology at Dalhousie University in Halifax.
Volunteers should be in good physical shape and wear sturdy footwear. Volunteers can sign up online at http://www.conservationvolunteers.ca/
The Bluff Trail Nature Walk- Saturday June 6th
At 10:00am volunteers will hand out maps of The Bluff Trail at its trailhead. Dr.David Patriquin (Retired Professor of Biology at Dalhousie) will lead a nature walk to identify vegetation on the first loop of the trail.
WRWEO encourages all hikers to be respectful of the trails and its flora and fauna by not wandering off trail or picking flowers. Hikers are advised to bring a compass and plenty of water.
Click on the Bluff Trail link at http://www.wrweo.ca/ for directions to The Bluff Trail parking lot located at 2890 Margaret's Bay Road (Exit 4 off Highway #103 to the South Shore) There is also a map available for further directions.
There will be a free hot dog and drink (12:15-1:15pm) at St.Andrews Anglican Church, located near km5 of the Bay Road; everyone is welcome.
Celebrate International Trails Day with a hike on The Bluff Wilderness Hiking Trail, named one of the eight best "urban escapes" in Canada by the prestigious, Explore: Canada's Outdoor Magazine.
Rogart Mountain Leisure Hike and Pot Luck/BBQ
Friday, June 5th 6:00pm @ Sugar Moon Farms, Earltown
Directions:
Coming from New Glasgow/ Salt Springs, from the 104, take exit 18A. After a short drive over to old 4, take route west (left) (There is a large beautiful sign). Go 2.3km on that road and turn right onto "Loop Old HWY 4", 1.6 km up take road take a right onto the Kemptown Road. The road will tee in Earltown 12.3 kilometers from its origin in Kemptown. Take a right on highway 311 in the Tatamagouche direction and immediatly leave 311 and turn left up the Alex MacDonald Road.
Coming from Halifax-Truro on route 102 take the Onslow exit 14A just after the Truro exit. Take a right at the top of the ramp and drive east 3.7km to flashing lights then turn left on highway 311. Drive 26.1km to Alex MacDonald Road. Turn left onto Alex Macdonald Road and drive to Sugar Moon Farm.
Anyone is welcome to spend the night at Norris' before going to the International Trails Day Trail Building Blitz on June 6th in Scotsburn the next morning.
This is a leisurely hike and is not a trail building event ; work gloves,tools, and other trail building gear is not needed. It is recommended that you bring sunscreen,water,snacks,rain gear, sturdy footwear, first aid kit, and any pot luck/BBQ food.
Contacts:
Norris (902) 657-3476
Garnet (902) 890-0771
Sugar Moon Farm (902) 657-3348
Pictou County Cape to Cape Trail Building Day
Saturday, June 6th at 9:00am Rain or Shine.
We will be meeting at the John P Gammon Recreation & Community Centre in Scotsburn, Pictou County.
Schedule for the Day:
9:00am-Sign-In/Refreshments
9:30am-Welcome/ Objectives for the Day
10:00am- Trail Building Begins
12:00pm- Picnic Lunch on Trail
12:30pm- Continue Trail Building
2:00pm- Ice Cream at John P Gammon Centre
Childcare is available at the hall for volunteers during the hours of 9:30am until 2:00pm. Children should bring their own snacks & lunch. The associated cost is $3.00/child and $5.00/family. Those requiring childcare should contact Rae Gunn at 485-4636.
Volunteers should bring appropriate clothing for the trail, a picnic lunch, snacks, water, first aid kit, sturdy footwear, bug spray, sun screen, rain gear, work gloves (if possible), and tools if you have them (shovels,rakes,hoes, etc.)
The scheduled task involves moving scrubs & branches, lopping branches, moving rocks etc... The location and length of the trail to be cleared is approximately 4km from the "rock cut" on Route 376 heading into Scotsburn to the top of Stewart Road.
Contact Information:
Email- info@capetocapetrail.ca
Website- http://www.capetocapetrail.ca/
Gordon Young , C2C Project Leader: (902) 485-5404
Rae Gunn, Scotsburn Recreation: (902) 485-4636
Leave No Trace and Hiking Workshop
Dartmouth June 6th
In honour of Trails Day, Hike Nova Scotia and the Fairbanks Centre present Leave No Trace and Hiking workshop in Shubie Park , Dartmouth at 1:30pm June 6th.
www.hikenovascotia.ca For Details and Directions
Leave No Trace and Hiking Workshop: Cape Breton
June 13th 1:00pm
In honour of Trails Day, Hike Nova Scotia and Parks Canada present a Leave No Trace and Hiking workshop on the Jack Pine Trail, Cape Breton Highlands National Park.
Leave No Trace builds awareness, appreciation, and respect for our wildlands.
Leave No Trace and Hiking Workshop: Annapolis County
In honour of Trails Day, Hike Nova Scotia, Annapolis County Recreation Services, and the Annapolis Field Naturalist Society present a Leave No Trace and Hiking workshop on June 24th , 7:00pm at the Mickey Hill Pocket Wilderness Trail Near Annapolis Royal.
Leave No Trace builds awareness, appreciation, and respect for our wildlands.
For Details and Directions visit www.hikenovascotia.ca
Trails Day and Colchester Bike Week Ride in Tatamagouche
Saturday, June 6th,2009 @ 10:00am
Family ride on the scenic Butter Trail (Trans Canada Trail) through Tatamagouche: flat trail, easy pace, suitable for all ages. Meet at Patterson Wharf Park, King Street (off Main). There is limited parkingn at the park, but plenty of parking available on Main Street.
Bring your bicycle,helmet,water,sunscreen, and a picnic lunch to enjoy at the park after the ride. Children 18 years and under must be accompanied by an adult. Kids, check out the Tatamagouche Bike Festival from 9:00am-10:00am before the ride!
For more information, visit www.colchester.ca/bike-week or phone Colchester Recreation at (902)-897-3155.
BioBlitz- Blue Mountain Birch Cove Lakes
Halifax North West Trails invites you to celebrate the new wilderness area. Take a hike on International Trails Day and meet the scientists! Bring the family and become familiar with this new location located close to HRM's urban growth area.
Halifax North West Trails invites you to celebrate the new wilderness area. Take a hike on International Trails Day and meet the scientists! Bring the family and become familiar with this new location located close to HRM's urban growth area.
Learn more about one of Nova Scotia's newest wilderness areas by attending BioBlitz 2009 events on June 5th, and 6th.
Sponsored by Saint Mary's University and its community partners, BioBlitz is designed to increase awareness of biodiversity and the valuable service that animal and plant species provide to improve the quality of our lives.
BioBlitz will provide a snapshot of Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes Wilderness Area as more than 80 scientists converge on this unique protected area to survey the plant and animal species.
The public is invited to take part in several BioBlitz activities:
On Friday June 5th at 7:00pm learn more about BioBlitz at a presentation at the Cornerstone Wesleyan Church located at 1215 Hammonds Plains Road (opp Kingswood Tim's).
Dr.Hugh Broders, a biology professor at Saint Mary's will reveal the secrets of Nova Scotian bats, and Oliver Maass of the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Chris Miller of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society will provide insight into the ecological riches of the Blue Mountain- Birch Cove Lakes Wilderness Area.
On Saturday June 6th from 10:00am-4:00pm Talk to scientists about their discoveries at the Lebanese Cultural Centre, Kearney Lake Rd. Then take part in guided public hikes and geocaching in the wilderness area sponsored by community groups including the HNWTA.
These activities will be centered at Maskwa Aquatic Club, located off Kearney Lake Road at the end of Saskatoon Dr. The hikes along Kearney Lake will be leaving Maskwa Boat House at 11:00,12:00,1:00,and 2:00pm.
For more information on how to get involved visit www.smu.ca/bioblitz
Baille Ard Nature Trail Walk and Talk
Sydney, Cape Breton
What lies beneath…and above! There’s more going on in Baille Ard Nature Trail than first meets the eye. To mark International Trails Day, Baille Ard Recreation Association is hosting a walk on Sunday, June 7th at 10:00AM. Join ACAP Cape Breton specialists, Wayne Williams and Stephanie Johnstone, as they talk about life in the Trail’s streams and the vibrant ecology of this beautiful 14 acre mixed forest trail located in the south end of Sydney.
Meet in the parking lot at the end of Terrace Street, adjacent to the SPEC soccer field (far end).
Contact:
Baille Ard Nature Trail Walk and Talk
Sydney, Cape Breton
What lies beneath…and above! There’s more going on in Baille Ard Nature Trail than first meets the eye. To mark International Trails Day, Baille Ard Recreation Association is hosting a walk on Sunday, June 7th at 10:00AM. Join ACAP Cape Breton specialists, Wayne Williams and Stephanie Johnstone, as they talk about life in the Trail’s streams and the vibrant ecology of this beautiful 14 acre mixed forest trail located in the south end of Sydney.
Meet in the parking lot at the end of Terrace Street, adjacent to the SPEC soccer field (far end).
Contact:
Joe MacKinnon (902) 562-3117
