From a 30-minute coastal stroll to a full-day backcountry adventure through 1,030 hectares of wilderness, the Peggys Cove area offers some of the most spectacular hiking in Atlantic Canada.
Trail Safety — Read Before You Go
Most trails in this area are completely unmarked and unmaintained. Waterproof hiking boots are essential. Coastal weather changes rapidly — always bring a windproof layer. Practice Leave No Trace principles. Do not approach cliff edges. Rogue waves can occur even on calm days.
Suitable for all fitness levels, families, and casual walkers.
Peggys Cove Village
Distance
1.8 km
Duration
30 – 45 min
Elevation
~16 m
Type
Loop
A short, accessible loop trail along the rocky coastline north of the lighthouse. This is the perfect introduction to the Peggys Cove landscape — easy enough for families and casual walkers, yet still offering spectacular ocean views and the chance to explore the granite shoreline away from the main crowds.
Highlights
Indian Harbour (near Peggys Cove)
Distance
1 km
Duration
20 – 30 min
Elevation
~18 m
Type
Out & Back
A short, solemn walking trail (160 m paved section) leading to the memorial for the 229 victims of Swissair Flight 111, which crashed into the ocean near here on September 2, 1998. The memorial overlooks the crash site and offers a peaceful place for reflection. Stunning ocean views make this a moving and memorable stop on any Peggys Cove visit.
Highlights
Some navigation skill required. Waterproof boots strongly recommended.
Polly's Cove / Peggys Cove Preservation Area
Distance
4 km
Duration
1.5 – 2 hrs
Elevation
~60 m
Type
Out & Back
The most popular route at Polly's Cove, leading past the foundation of a former radar station to the spectacular views at Barbara Basin and Burns Cove. Sandy coves, coastal cliffs, and rocky inlets make for a rugged, rock-scampering adventure through a delicate coastal barrens landscape scattered with ancient glacial boulders.
Highlights
Trail Notes
Polly's Cove / Peggys Cove Preservation Area
Distance
3.9 km
Duration
1 – 1.5 hrs
Elevation
~74 m
Type
Loop
A loop trail that takes you around a small pond and boggy area on a less-trafficked route with spectacular coastal views. Less well-defined than the Basin Trail, making it a more adventurous option for experienced hikers comfortable with unmarked terrain.
Highlights
Trail Notes
Polly's Cove / Peggys Cove Preservation Area
Distance
7.7 km
Duration
1.5 – 2 hrs
Elevation
~125 m
Type
Loop
The longest and most scenic loop at Polly's Cove, hugging the coastline for extended stretches with dramatic ocean views. This trail takes you through the full range of what the Peggys Cove Preservation Area has to offer — barrens, bogs, coastal cliffs, and hidden coves.
Highlights
Trail Notes
Experienced hikers only. Navigation skills, proper gear, and extra time required.
West Dover Provincial Park
Distance
5 km
Duration
2 – 2.5 hrs
Elevation
~90 m
Type
Loop
A rugged backcountry trail through West Dover Provincial Park (1,030 hectares) adjacent to Long Lake. Features a spectacular lookoff plateau with a bench and iconic perched boulder offering unique perspectives of both Polly's Cove and Peggys Cove in the distance. The park contains rare Dragon's Mouth Orchids and other sensitive flora.
Highlights
Trail Notes
Peggys Cove has a rich geocaching community with caches ranging from simple virtual finds to educational EarthCaches that teach you about the area's 380-million-year geological history. Download the Geocaching app before you visit.
Geocaching is a real-world outdoor treasure hunt. Players use GPS coordinates to hide and seek containers (called "caches") at locations around the world. There are over 3 million caches hidden in 190 countries. At Peggys Cove, you'll find several types:
Traditional
Physical container hidden at given coordinates
Virtual
No container — complete a task at the location
EarthCache
Learn about geology or natural features
Mystery/Puzzle
Solve a puzzle to find the coordinates
GC9P584
A virtual cache at one of Nova Scotia's most photographed locations. Visit the lighthouse area, complete a simple task, and log your find online. Perfect for first-time geocachers — no physical container to find.
Learn about the history of Peggys Cove and the lighthouse.
GCZJP4
An educational EarthCache focused on the spectacular glacial erratic boulders scattered across the Peggys Cove Preservation Area. Learn about the geological history of these rocks deposited by retreating glaciers thousands of years ago.
Geology of glacial erratics — boulders deposited ~12,000 years ago by retreating glaciers covering Nova Scotia.
GC1XDZR
Explore the ancient granite geology of Peggys Cove — rock that began as molten magma 380 million years ago during the Devonian Period. Answer geological questions about the rock formations to log your find.
The granite at Peggys Cove formed ~380 million years ago from an 800°C mass of molten rock (magma) during the Devonian Period.
GC85VK9
A traditional cache hidden among the granite outcrops of the Peggys Cove area. Explore the fascinating geological veins (intrusions of lighter rock) running through the ancient granite formations.
Learn about the geological veins — lighter-coloured intrusions of pegmatite and aplite that cut through the older granite.
GCP5P2
A traditional cache near the lighthouse area. This cache also shares the local legend of how Peggys Cove got its name — recently confirmed that it was named after Margret, the only survivor of a schooner that ran aground and sank in the early 1800s.
The origin story of the name 'Peggy's Cove' — named after Margret, sole survivor of an early 1800s shipwreck.
A family-friendly 2.2 km guided trail adventure at Polly's Cove where you uncover the symbols, patterns, and gems that nature has hidden in stone. Step-by-step instructions and a route map are available at earthadventures.ca. Approximate time: 1 hour 30 minutes. Perfect for children and geology enthusiasts.
Download the Rock Hounds Guide at earthadventures.caEssential gear for hiking the Peggys Cove area trails.
Mandatory for all trails. Muddy, boggy sections are common even in summer. Ankle support is important on uneven granite.
Coastal weather changes rapidly. Even on sunny days, wind and fog can develop quickly on exposed headlands.
Download the AllTrails app with offline maps before you go. Most trails are unmarked — GPS is essential for confident navigation.
No facilities or water sources on any trail. Bring more water than you think you need, especially on warm days.
Highly recommended for Polly's Cove and West Dover trails. Protects legs from prickly brush and keeps mud out of boots.
Pack out everything you pack in. No garbage facilities on any trail. The ecosystem here is extremely sensitive and fragile.
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