Mill Falls Trail

Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site

Big hemlocks calm the mind and Mill Falls lifts the spirit on the Mill Falls Trail. This shared-use trail for hikers and bikers is also a gateway to the Beech Grove Trail and the Ukme'k Trail.

On this page

Overview

This is a shared-use trail so please be mindful of other trail users. Start behind the Visitor Centre and travel downstream along the bank of the Mersey River. Observe the sheer power of Mill Falls in the spring from the viewing area near the picnic shelter. Enjoy the Mill Falls picnic shelter year-round. Hike to the end of the trail to enjoy the quieter places along the river and find the Parks Canada red chairs.

More details
Permitted activities: Hiking
Biking
 Picnicking
 Geocaching
Difficulty (trail rating guide)

Easy
Length

1.3 km one way (2.6 km return)
Time (estimated) 20 min one way
Profile

31 m elevation gain/22 m elevation loss
Pets Dogs allowed on leash

Highlights

  • Observe the sheer power of Mill Falls in the spring
  • Enjoy the Mill Falls picnic shelter year-round
  • Cross the Mill Falls pedestrian bridge to join the Beech Grove and Ukme'k Trails

 

Mill Falls in autumn.

 

Cross the Mill Falls Bridge to join the Ukme'k Trail.

 

Mill Falls.

 

Follow the trail to find a set of Parks Canada red chairs.

 

Enjoy an iconic view from the Parks Canada red chairs.

 

Mill Falls Trail is a shared-use trail so please watch for bikers.

 

Mill Falls Trail is a shared-use trail so please watch for bikers and hikers.

 

Relax outside the picnic shelter in any season.

 

The Mill Falls picnic shelter is available for day use year-round.

Explore the trail with Google Street View (July, 2013)

Conditions, advisories, warnings, and closures

Fall, winter, and spring conditions

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.

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

Emergencies: Call 911 and be prepared to have to wait for help to arrive.

Weather forecast

Current advisories, warnings, and closures

Important bulletins for Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site

Map of Mill Falls Trail

Map legend and text description

This map shows the Mill Falls Trail at Kejimkujik, including: trailheads, access trails, and facilities and services.

The Mill Falls Trail goes along the southern bank of the Mersey River and passes by Mill Falls near the half-way point of the trail.

There are three trailheads:
  • Trailhead 1 is upstream behind the Visitor Centre.
  • Trailhead 2 is near the half-way point of the trail and closest to Mill Falls and the picnic shelter. There are four access trails at Trailhead 2.
  • Trailhead 3 is downstream, and begins with descending a staircase.

Facilities and services

The Mill Falls picnic shelter and washrooms are located near Trailhead 2 access trail A2.

There is an outhouse near the Trailhead 2 parking lot near access trail A1.

There is a pedestrian bridge near the half-way point of the trail, allowing access to the Ukme'k and Beech Grove shared-use trails on the north side of the river. The shortest way to access the Mill Falls Bridge is Trailhead 2 access trail A3.

Legend

Trail slope

 Dashed blue line 10-12%

 Blue line  5-9%

 Double blue lines 0-4%

Standard ramp grade is 8.3%

Facilities and services

 Bench

 Look-out

 Outhouse

 Parking

 Pedestrian bridge

 Picnic shelter

 Picnic table

 Stairs

 Visitor Centre

 Gender-specific washrooms

Map of Kejimkujik day-use area (summer) 

How to get here

The Visitor Centre and washrooms are closed from November 1 to Victoria Day weekend.

Trailhead 1 – Visitor Centre
More details
Topic Details
Location

Mill Falls Trailhead 1 is located at the Visitor Centre parking lot

3005 Main Parkway, Maitland Bridge, Nova Scotia

Geographic coordinates (GPS): 44°26'18.7"N 65°12'31.9"W
Parking
  • Visitor Centre parking lot
  • 44 paved parking spots total
  • 4 electronic vehicle charging stations
  • 3 accessible spots
Services and facilities
(distance from Trailhead 1)

 Visitor Centre (0 m)

 Bench (587 m)

 Gender-specific washrooms at the Visitor Centre (0 m) and picnic shelter (721 m) 

 Picnic shelter (721 m)

 Outhouse in the Trailhead 2 parking lot (726 m)
Access

Start behind the Visitor Centre and travel downstream along the Mersey River.
Trailhead 2 – Mill Falls and pedestrian bridge to Beech Grove and Ukme'k Trails
More details
Topic Details
Location

Mill Falls Trailhead 2 is at the Mill Falls picnic shelter

Kejimkujik Main Parkway, Maitland Bridge, Nova Scotia

Geographic coordinates (GPS): 44°26'17.1"N 65°12'59.2"W
Parking
  • Follow the Kejimkujik Main Parkway past the Visitor Centre to the first gravel road on the right
  • Unlined gravel parking lot
  • 1 accessible parking spot
Access

At Trailhead 2 there are four access trails shown on the map: A1, A2, A3, A4.
A1 services and facilities
(distance away)

 Outhouse in the parking lot (28 m)

 Gender-specific washrooms at the picnic shelter (29 m) and the Visitor Centre (691 m) 

 Picnic shelter (29 m)

 Picnic table (72 m)

 Bench (113 m)

 Visitor Centre (691 m)
A2 services and facilities
(distance away)

 Outhouse in the parking lot (34 m)

 Picnic shelter (48 m)

 Gender-specific washrooms at the picnic shelter (48 m) and the Visitor Centre (727 m) 

 Visitor Centre (727 m)
A3 services and facilities
(distance away)

 Outhouse in the parking lot (73 m)

 Bench (114 m)

 Pedestrian bridge (149 m) to connect with Beech Grove Trail (195 m) and Ukme'k Trail (359 m) 

 Picnic shelter (199 m)

 Gender-specific washrooms at the picnic shelter (199 m) and the Visitor Centre (805 m) 

 Visitor Centre (805 m)
A4 services and facilities
(distance away)

 Outhouse in the parking lot (150 m)

 Gender-specific washrooms at the picnic shelter (463 m) and the Visitor Centre (1002 m) 

 Picnic shelter (463 m)

 Visitor Centre (1002 m)
Trailhead 3 – Stairs
More details
Topic Details
Location

Mill Falls Trailhead 3 is a little further along Kejimkujik Main Parkway, Maitland Bridge, Nova Scotia

Geographic coordinates (GPS): 44°26'12.4"N 65°13'18.8"W
Parking
  • 8 paved parking spots
Services and facilities
(distance away)

 Picnic table (30 m)

 Bench (82 m)

 Pedestrian bridge (583 m)

 Gender-specific washrooms at the picnic shelter (732 m) and the Visitor Centre (1323 m) 

 Picnic shelter (732 m)

 Outhouse in the Trailhead 2 parking lot (770 m)

 Visitor Centre (1323 m)
Access:

Descend a staircase and travel upstream along the Mersey River.

The staircase has two flights of 14 steps, with a small landing in the middle.

Ground cover is grass and gravel between the parking lot and Trailhead 3.

Technical and accessibility details

Description

  • Mostly flat, with maximum slope of 23.9% in the area near Mill Falls and the pedestrian bridge (31 m elevation gain/22 m elevation loss).
  • In the spring, the trail can be soft and muddy due to higher water levels.
  • Trail obstacles include multiple instances of roots, rocks, and pinch points (narrow parts of the trail), one rock crossing, and a set of stairs (two flights of 14 steps with a small landing in between).

Trail details

Topic Details
Surface

Aggregate / gravel 

93% of trail is hard, 7% of trail is firm
Width

144.8 cm

Minimum: 90 cm
Obstacles

The first obstacle you will encounter:

  • Trailhead 1: pinch point (trail narrows to 114 cm across) at 86 m
  • Trailhead 2:
    • Access trail A1: roots at 97 m
    • Access trail A2: pinch point (trail narrows) at 55 m
    • Access trail A3: no obstacles to reach Mill Falls, rock crossing to reach the pedestrian bridge at 123 m
    • Access trail A4: roots (at 31 m) and two pinch points (trail narrows) at 70 m and 82 m
  • Trailhead 3: Two flights of stairs with a small landing in between (28 steps total) at the beginning of the trail and roots at 20 m
Rest areas Distance between rest areas varies
Grade

Typical: 4.1%

Maximum: 23.9%

(Note: Standard ramp grade is 8.3%)
Cross slope

3.2%

Maximum: 15.3%

Trail assessed on 2022-06-22. Trail details may have changed.

Guide to trail ratings and descriptions

Rest areas and points of interest

Distances to points of interest from trailheads and access trails

  Trailhead
1		 Trailhead 2
(A1)		 Trailhead 2
(A2)		 Trailhead 2
(A3)		 Trailhead 2
(A4)		 Trailhead
3 
Visitor Centre with washrooms 0 m 691 m 727 m 805 m 1002 m 1323 m
Mill Falls 650 m 169 m 120 m 199 m 404 m 713 m
Picnic shelter and washrooms 721 m 29 m  48 m  199 m 463 m 732 m
Bench  587 m  113 m    114 m   82 m
Parks Canada red chairs 1060 m 280 m
Pedestrian bridge to other trails 756 m 149 m 583 m
Outhouse near Trailhead 2 parking lot (open year-round) 726 m 28 m 34 m 73 m 150 m 770 m

Recommended routes

The easiest ways to access the trail include Trailhead 1 and Trailhead 2, follow access trail A1.

The easiest way to see Mill Falls is Trailhead 2, follow access trail A1 or A2 (right branch). Access trail A1 has the least slope. Access trail A2 (right branch) has a small slope and leads to the look-off area beside the falls. 

The most challenging ways to access the trail include Trailhead 3 (due to staircase) and Trailhead 2, follow access trail A4 (slope 10-12%).

Preview of features and related facilities

A wooden arbour over the gravel path that is covered with leaves.
A wooden arbour over the gravel path that is covered with leaves.

An arbour (45" across) creates a pinch point near the beginning of the trail at Trailhead 1.

A small section of the path is made of paving stones with gravel in between.
A small section of the path is made of paving stones with gravel in between.

The Volunteer Walk of Fame features a path of paving stones with the names of volunteers.

There is a small lip where the gravel path meets a wooden boardwalk without guard rails.
There is a small lip where the gravel path meets a wooden boardwalk without guard rails.

Trail transition to a boardwalk.

An accessible picnic table with an extended table on one side in the forest beside the trail.
An accessible picnic table with an extended table on one side in the forest beside the trail.

Accessible picnic table.

A wooden guard rail and information panels next to Mill Falls.
A wooden guard rail and information panels next to Mill Falls.

Mill Falls look off and interpretive panels.

A gravel and aggregate path leads up to the picnic shelter in the forest.
A gravel and aggregate path leads up to the picnic shelter in the forest.

Picnic shelter and outdoor seating area with picnic tables.

A small part of the trail passes over an area of flat rocks on a small rising slope.
A small part of the trail passes over an area of flat rocks on a small rising slope.

Trail passes over some rocks to the pedestrian bridge.

A 24% slope rises from the trail to the pedestrian bridge. This path is lined with large rocks.
A 24% slope rises from the trail to the pedestrian bridge. This path is lined with large rocks.

Small slope from the trail to the pedestrian bridge.

The gravel/aggregate trail weaves through trees and over gentle slopes.
The gravel/aggregate trail weaves through trees and over gentle slopes.

Trail.

A bench with a back rest in a clearing with a view of the river.
A bench with a back rest in a clearing with a view of the river.

A bench next to the river.

There is a small lip where the gravel/aggregate trail meets a small wooden bridge with wooden guard rails.
There is a small lip where the gravel/aggregate trail meets a small wooden bridge with wooden guard rails.

Small wooden bridge over a stream.

The trail is connected to the parking lot at Trailhead 3 by a staircase with two flights of 14 steps with a landing in the middle.
The trail is connected to the parking lot at Trailhead 3 by a staircase with two flights of 14 steps with a landing in the middle.

Two flights of stairs (28 steps total) to Trailhead 3 and parking lot.

A paved unmarked parking lot with the top of the staircase on the left.
A paved unmarked parking lot with the top of the staircase on the left.

Trailhead 3 parking lot.

A section of the trail is a crooked wooden boardwalk without guard rails; parts of the boardwalk are wet.
A section of the trail is a crooked wooden boardwalk without guard rails; parts of the boardwalk are wet.

Boardwalk without railings.

An accessible parking spot near the picnic shelter; the ground is covered with leaves.
An accessible parking spot near the picnic shelter; the ground is covered with leaves.

Accessible parking near picnic shelter at Trailhead 2.

Access to adaptive equipment

One hippocampe all-terrain wheelchair is available to borrow from the Visitor Centre. Available between Victoria Day weekend and October 31. More information about the wheelchair

Regulations, safety, and etiquette

Safety and guidelines

Hiking, biking, weather, wildlife, drinking water, essential items, AdventureSmart.

Regulations

Protected areas are unique places and require unique rules to protect them.

Pets

At all times, pets must be kept on a leash or in suitable confinement.

Other trails

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