Facilities and services

The public can now access an Automated External Defibrillator (AED, used for cardiac emergencies) day or night at the Kejimkujik Visitor Centre, thanks to The Jordan Boyd Foundation and Emergency Health Services - EHS.

The civic address is 3005 Main Parkway, Maitland Bridge NS B0T 1B0.

May 17 to October 31, 2024

8:30 am to 4:30 pm (Sunday to Saturday)

902-682-2772

The public can now access an Automated External Defibrillator (AED, used for cardiac emergencies) day or night at the Kejimkujik Visitor Centre, thanks to The Jordan Boyd Foundation and Emergency Health Services - EHS.

Begin your visit at the Visitor Centre! Talk with staff about what to see and do.

Find a special keepsake at the By the Mersey Gift Shop, operated by the Friends of Keji.

Explore Mill Falls Trail that begins right outside the doors and leads to the Ukme'k Trail. More information.

What to expect:

• wheel-chair accessible parking lot
• button-operated exterior doors to Visitor Centre
• male and female washrooms with hand rails and motion-sensor lights
• water fountains in each washroom
• free WiFi

Parking is available at the following locations:

• Visitor Centre
• Mill Falls
• Mersey River Trail
• Farmlands Trail
• Rogers Brook Trail
• Jake’s Landing
• Merrymakedge (P1 to P4)
• Grafton Woods Trail

Jeremy's Bay Campground:

Parking is available for two cars at each campsite.

The Big Dam Road (to the north) and the Eel Weir Road (to the south) are gated, which affects distance to access the trails. These gates will be locked until the spring.

Accessible parking is available at:

• Visitor Centre
• Jake's Landing
• Kedge Beach
• Merrymakedge P1
• Merrymakedge P4

Open year-round.

Pit privies are available at the following locations:

• Mill Falls Trail
• Big Dam Road parking lot
• Mersey River Trail (accessible)
• Jim Charles Point
• Jake’s Landing
• Merrymakedge P1 (accessible) and P4

Not all pit privies are serviced during the winter months, so please bring your own toilet paper and hand sanitizer.

Accessible pit privies located at:

• Mersey River trailhead
• Merrymakedge P1

What to expect:

• crushed stone path, level with the door entrance
• hand rails in the pit privies

Merrymakedge pit privy:

• doorway is 34.5 inches wide
• threshold has a small 1 inch lip
• door handle is 41 inches from the ground

Flush toilets are available at the following locations:

• the Visitor Centre
• Mill Falls
• Merrymakedge Beach (P4) — closed until May 2024
• Merrymakedge (P1) (accessible)
• Jake’s Landing
• Kedge Beach

Each of the ten new facilities at Jeremy’s Bay campground has:

Washrooms (gender inclusive):

• 2 accessible family washrooms (only 1 family accessible washroom at Jim Charles Point)
• 3 standard washrooms (4 standard washrooms at Jim Charles Point)

Showers (gender inclusive):

• 1 accessible shower
• 2 standard showers

Common area with:

• accessible water fountain
• sitting bench
• charging station

Accessibility features of the building include:

• level and barrier-free concrete walkways to the washrooms
• push-button operated interior and exterior doors
• motion activated interior lights
• exterior lights

Each accessible washroom at Jeremy’s Bay campground has:

• push-button operated door and lock
• accessible flush toilet
• hand rails at the toilet
• baby change table
• motion-activated interior lights
• universal symbol and braille labeling on the door
• electrical outlet

An adult change table is available at Jim Charles Point only.

Each accessible shower at Jeremy’s Bay campground has:

• push-button operated door and lock
• accessible shower fixtures including hand rails and height adjustable controls with a detachable wand
• fold down seat and handrail
• adult sitting bench
• motion-activated lights and exhaust fan
• universal symbol and Braille labelling on the door

What to expect:

• concrete walkway to the washroom
• Larger washrooms and hand rails
• stall doorways are 32 inches wide

Hours of operation: Please check Facebook

Open May 17, 2024 to June 20, 2024 on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only.

Open June 21, 2024 to October 14, 2024, daily

Located at Merrymakedge Beach (P4).

902-809-0359

Hours of operation:

• May 19 to June 29, 2023: 10 am to 3 pm
• June 30 to September 4, 2023: 9:30 am to 4:30 pm
• September 5 to October 9, 2023: 10 am to 3 pm

Located at the Visitor Centre.

Find books about Kejimkujik, field guides, souvenirs and keepsakes, children’s books, clothes, warm jackets, and something fun to do on a rainy day.

Operated by the Friends of Keji Cooperating Association. All profits support programs and amenities at Kejimkujik.

Accessibility:

The gift shop is located in the Visitor Centre. There is a small ramp to the entrance.

Hours of operation: June 30 to September 3, 2023: 1 pm to 8 pm.

Located in Jeremy's Bay campground.

Enjoy ice cream, drinks, and slushies.

Operated by the Friends of Keji Co-operating Association. All profits support programs and amenities at Kejimkujik.

Accessibility:

There is a small wooden deck beside the Tuck Shoppe order window. The wooden deck is 7" high and 48.5" wide.

Victoria Day weekend to October 31
8:30 am to 4:30 pm

To borrow the chair, inquire at the Visitor Centre or call ahead (902-682-2772)

Available for free to allow visitors with reduced mobility to access beaches and trails.

It can easily be disassembled for transportation by van.

Our model is intended for people between 4’7” and 5’5” and has a maximum weight capacity of 286 lb.

Reserve online

From Victoria Day weekend to Thanksgiving weekend: May 17 to October 14, 2024

Hours of operation

Online reservations 24 hours in advance are recommended.

Located at Jake's Landing.

Whynot Adventure requires all rentals and reservations to be accompanied with either a Visa or MasterCard as security.

A waiver and release of liability document must be signed by each participant (19 years old) before receiving rental equipment.

Underage renters must have their waiver signed by a parent or legal guardian (this can be done in advance of arrival, online).

Canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, and bicycles.

Camping equipment and gear, including tents, sleeping bags, stoves, mess kits, waterproof bags, barrel packs, and backpacks.

Daily 2-hour and 4-hour guided tours (by advance reservation).

Complete outfitting packages which include all canoeing and camping equipment and camping permits.

Equipment shuttles are available but must be booked in advance online. Prices vary depending on the point of departure and arrival.

What to expect:

• paved access to the canoe-rental building at Jake's Landing
• paved access near (within 10 m) the docks
• unpaved path to the washrooms

What to expect:

Access to the docks can be affected when the water is high.

 

Available in the campground by the Tuck Shoppe, Visitor Centre, and Merrymakedge Eatery.

Please note that bandwidth is limited given Kejimkujik's remote location.

From Victoria Day Weekend to October 31

Two three-pronged power outlets are available in the common area of the accessible washrooms.

Open 24 hours/day year-round

Located at the Visitor Centre parking lot.

There are two stations:

• one plug for Tesla vehicles only
• one plug for all other EVs

Consult PlugShare for details.

What to expect:

The plugs are located in an area of mulch, about 5 feet from the edge of the pavement. The access is level.

The area can become very wet and muddy.

The height of the plug is 100 cm.

Open year-round, weather permitting.

Note that trails are not maintained or patrolled between November 1 and Victoria Day weekend.

You may encounter washed out or flooded sections and/or downed trees.

Emergencies: Call 911 and prepare to wait for help to arrive.

What to expect:

Kejimkujik’s front-country trails are designed to be relatively flat and are mostly less than < 8% grade, except in large elevation gain areas (e.g., Beech Grove).

They offer a 4-feet wide, mixed-terrain surface (mostly Class A gravel and boardwalk).

Trail surfaces vary; exposed rocks and tree roots should be expected, with some sections of the Ukme’k trail composed of cobble and coarse gravel.

Trail descriptions

From Victoria Day Weekend to October 31

All beaches at Kejimkujik are unsupervised.

Enjoy beautiful sandy beaches in the campground and at Merrymakedge beach on the shores of Kejimkujik Lake.

Meadow Beach, Slapfoot Beach and Kedge Beach offer excellent swimming. They are close to the campsites, connected by the Slapfoot Trail, and have beautiful views of Kejimkujik Lake.

Pets are welcome at the pet-friendly area at Merrymakedge Beach. Pets are not allowed on all other public beaches.

Map of beaches and day-use areas.

What to expect:

Wheelchair access to the edge of the sand.

No mobi-mat for the sandy area of the beach.

What to expect:

• paved path from parking lot to beach with clearly marked accessibility parking
• charcoal BBQ available from paved path
• wheel-chair accessible picnic tables by the path on the beach
• paved path and ramp to canteen
• extended picnic table
• wheel-chair accessible change room, with a ramp

Year-round: Mill Falls and Merrymakedge (P1) picnic shelters are available for day use year-round.

Victoria Day Weekend to October 31: Kedge Beach picnic shelter is open.

Fall and winter: There is no electricity in the shelters.

Quiet dining retreats along the Mersey River at places like Mill Falls, Mersey River trailhead, or Jake's Landing.

Pleasant shady spots right next to the river off of the main park road.

If you are out for a paddle there are picnic sites with tables and privies at Luxie Cove and Nancy Cove on Kejimkujik Lake. These picnic sites do not have fireplaces so you will have to bring a portable stove if you wish to cook food.

Map of picnic spots in day-use areas

Available from July to October 31.

Pick up a perfect picnic lunch on your way to Kejimkujik and Kejimkujik Seaside!

More information.

What to expect:

• extended picnic tables outside all shelters and day-use areas
• door width into the shelters is 32 inches
• doorway into the shelter is not barrier free and has a slightly raised threshold (sill)

From Victoria Day Weekend to October 31:

Firewood is available for purchase at the Visitor Centre and campground kiosk.

Wood supply may vary through the year and visitors should be prepared to cook on a camp stove.

Fall and winter:

Firewood for the wood stove is available at the Mills Falls shelter by donation to the Friends of Keji.

Note that kindling, matches, paper, and an axe are not provided. Please bring what you need to start a fire.

To prevent the spread of invasive pests, bringing in firewood or kindling from outside of Kejimkujik is prohibited, except kiln dried wood in a sealed plastic bag.

Firewood purchased in Kejimkujik is kiln dried and bug free. More information.

Visitors require a Firewood Permit from the Campground Kiosk.

A fireplace is provided for evening fires at each campsite. Open fires may be built in these fireplaces only.

Please build small fires to conserve firewood.

No open flames or cooking is permitted inside the roofed accommodations.

Fires are allowed outside the roofed accommodations, using the fire pit provided. Please build small fires to conserve firewood.

From Victoria Day Weekend to October 31

Camping is one of the best ways to experience Kejimkujik.

Kejimkujik offers a variety of camping experiences:

• campsites for tents, trailers, and RVs. Some sites are serviced with electricity
• backcountry camping
• roofed accommodations: oTENTik, Ôasis, rustic cabin, yurt

Six campsites in Meadow Loop are accessible: four with electricity and two without electricity.

What to expect:

• wheel-chair accessible terrain and washrooms

Two wheel-chair accessible oTENTik at Jim Charles Point include:

• doorway width: 830 mm
• ramps
• extended picnic tables
• parking next to units and is accessible by car for passenger/gear drop-off
• a pit toilet with ramp, approximately 30 m away
• an accessible flushable toilet and shower located 70 m away on a gravel roadway

One wheel-chair accessible oTENTik at Jim Charles Loop includes: 

• ramp
• extended picnic table
• parking for one vehicle next to the unit
• flushable toilet located 60 metres away on a gravel roadway

Washrooms have water taps and tap water is tested regularly to ensure it is safe for drinking.

Never assume that any water source in the backcountry is safe to drink.

Always bring drinking water or water purification (tablets, pump filter) into the backcountry with you.

What to expect:

• accessible by a compacted granular gravel trail to the ramp

From Victoria Day Weekend to October 31

What to expect:

• path is mulch, not granular compact

Adjacent to the parking area, at the trailhead, you will find

• wheelchair accessible washroom facilities,
• a pay phone,
• a trail map, and
• around the corner, a picnic shelter.

Due to its small size and sensitive habitats, the Seaside is a day-use park so camping and open fires are not permitted.

See the Kejimkujik Seaside page for more information.

Open year-round.

Parking lot and Harbour Rocks.

June 1 to October 31, 2024

What to expect:

• Accessible washrooms are located adjacent to the parking area, at the trailhead.
• Granular compact entrance and hand rails.

Trails allow you to explore Kejimkujik Seaside on foot, by wheelchair, on skis, or snowshoes.

The trails at the Seaside are for hiking only. Please leave your bicycles in the rack at the trail entrance.

Trail descriptions

Open year-round.

One of the Kejimkujik Seaside’s residents is the endangered piping plover. During the April to August nesting period, part of St. Catherine’s River Beach is closed to public access.

White sand beaches stretch along the Atlantic coastline at Kejimkujik Seaside.

This beautiful beach makes for a great walk, reached by hiking a 2.2 km trail.

No swimming. Swimming is not recommended due to dangerous currents, strong undertows, and cold water temperatures.

Due to its small size and sensitive habitats, the Seaside is a day-use park so camping and open fires are not permitted.

Open year-round.

At Kejimkujik Seaside, there are sheltered picnic tables near the trailhead.

You may also stop to eat along the trail or on the beach; just remember to pack out everything you bring in with you.

No open fires are permitted at the Seaside, so if you wish to cook a meal you will need to bring a portable stove.

Learn more about Leave No Trace principles.

Available from July to October 31.

Pick up a perfect picnic lunch on your way to Kejimkujik and Kejimkujik Seaside! 

More information

Due to its small size and sensitive habitats, the Seaside is a day-use park so camping and open fires are not permitted.

There is no camping at Kejimkujik National Park Seaside.

There is camping at nearby Thomas Raddall Provincial Park.

Tourism Nova Scotia offers information about other places to stay. Call 902-742-0511 or 1-800-565-0000 (toll free in North America).