Fall, winter, and spring at Kejimkujik

Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site

Kejimkujik is a great destination (weather permitting) for late fall and winter hiking, biking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, picnicking, geocaching, or stargazing.

As most facilities and services are closed between November 1 and Victoria Day weekend, your visit to Kejimkujik will be very different from your summer experience.

Plan your visit

Map of day-use areas

Facilities and services available from mid-November to mid-April.

Facilities and services

Facilities and services, parking, washrooms, accessibility, rentals.

Important bulletins

Important announcements, fire bans, rules, notifications, and active superintendent orders.

Safety and guidelines

Weather, wildlife, drinking water, seaside, essential items, Seaside, Adventuresmart.

Be prepared

You are responsible for your own safety. Be prepared for changing weather conditions, be aware of hazards, and have adequate information and equipment to ensure a safe visit.

Emergencies

Call 911 in the event of an emergency. Be prepared to have to wait for help to arrive. Emergency response may be extremely delayed.

Maps

These maps show the different facilities and services that are available when the roads are covered with snow and ice and when the roads are clear at Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site in late fall, winter, and early spring.

When the roads are clear

Legend

Parking  Parking

Outhouse  Outhouse

Picnic Shelter  Picnic shelter

Pedestrian bridge Pedestrian bridge

Hiking trail: easy Hiking trail: easy

 Hiking trail: moderate

Hiking/biking trail: easy Hiking and biking trail: easy

Hiking/biking trail: moderate Hiking and biking trail: moderate

Hiking trail: difficult Hiking trail: difficult

Gravel road Gravel road 

You are responsible for your own safety.

Police, Fire, Ambulance: 911

What is closed

All campsites, including backcountry and roofed accommodations are closed from October 31 to Victoria Day weekend.

Jeremy's Bay Campground: Hike and bike only. Vehicles not permitted.

Visitor Centre building closed.

Gates closed.

Floating bridge removed for season.

When the roads are covered with snow and/or ice

Legend

Information  Visitor Centre (closed)

Parking  Parking

Outhouse  Outhouse

Picnic Shelter  Picnic shelter

Pedestrian bridge  Pedestrian bridge

Ski trail  Ski trail

Unmaintained trail  Unmaintained trail

Plowed road  Plowed road

Unmaintained road  Unmaintained road

Kejimkujik boundary  Kejimkujik boundary

Distance one way (km)  Distance one way (km)

Bridge  Pedestrian bridge (new!)

Seasonal activities

Hiking, biking, snowshoeing, and geocaching

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.

More information:

Cross-country skiing

The Big Dam Road will be groomed for cross-country skiing as of January 9 and when snow conditions allow.

Grooming updates: Friends of Keji Facebook page

Picnicking

Picnic shelters and wood stoves at Mill Falls and Merrymakedge P1 are available for day use. During the winter months, only the Mill Falls shelter will have plowed access and be maintained. 

Firewood for the wood stoves is available only at the Mill Falls shelter by donation to the Friends of Keji. Please stop at the Mill Falls shelter to purchase firewood.

Kindling, matches, paper, and an axe are not provided. Please bring what you need to start a fire, including an axe or hatchet to make kindling.

Bringing in firewood or kindling from outside of Kejimkujik is prohibited, to contain the spread of invasive pests.

There is no electricity in the shelters.

Paddling

When paddling in fall, winter, or spring, keep in mind the following seasonal hazards:

  • cold water, near-zero air temperatures and strong winds (risk of hypothermia)
  • higher than normal water levels and strong currents on the rivers

Note that navigational aids may not be in place (e.g. buoys, portage markers, etc.)

Stargazing

Experience the star-studded beauty of Nova Scotia’s only Dark-Sky Preserve!

Places to go:

  • Walk or bike to the Sky Circle. The campground is closed to vehicles from mid-November to Victoria Day weekend. 
  • When the Main Parkway is clear, Merrymakedge Beach provides a stunning view of southern skies.
  • When roads are icy or snow covered, park at the Visitor Centre and enjoy the big sky overhead.

No camping

While evening visits are welcome, camping and overnight stays are not permitted between October 31 and Victoria Day weekend. Camping, including backcountry and roofed accommodations, is only available from Victoria Day weekend to October 30.

The campground is closed to vehicles from mid-November to Victoria Day weekend.

Seasonal facilities and services

Most facilities and services are closed at this time of year. More information

Open:

Roads

When there is snow, the Main Parkway will only be plowed and open to the corner where the Big Dam Road meets the road to the campground. A locked gate will be in place at this corner from mid-November until spring.

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

Electric vehicle (EV) charging stations are available at the Visitor Centre parking lot. Consult PlugShare for details.

Pit privies

Pit privies are available at Mill Falls, the Big Dam Road parking lot, the Mersey River Trail (#10) parking lot, the Sky Circle, Jake’s Landing, Kedge Beach, Merrymakedge P1, and Merrymakedge P4.

Not all of these privies are serviced at this time of year, so please bring your own toilet paper and hand sanitizer.

Closed:

Visitor Centre

The Visitor Centre building is closed between November 1 and Victoria Day weekend.

Floating bridge

The floating bridge at Jake’s Landing is removed from mid-October until spring.

Washrooms

All washrooms are closed between November 1 and Victoria Day weekend.

More information

Email: kejimkujik@pc.gc.ca

Telephone: 902-682-2770, Monday to Friday, between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm

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