Directions:

From Halifax's Armdale Rotary, travel to Sambro on highway 349 (Herring Cove Road). From Sambro follow the signs to Crystal Crescent Beach. There are two parking lots to choose from. As long as you head to the beach then turn right (southwest), you will find the coastal trail.

Description:

This is one of the most beautiful beaches in Nova Scotia with white sand and views of the rugged granite islands and a light house on Sambro Island is the entrance to the Halifax Harbour. Don't get your hopes too high though, from the parking lot the beaches may look tropical but the water is far from it. For the entire 8.5km (5.25mi) walk, the trail follows the edge of the ocean as the trail heads over barrens, bogs, and massive boulders to the headland. Only 20 minutes from Halifax with boarwalk access between the beaches this is a great treasure to enjoy on a warm summers day.

To access the trail you follow the boardwalk away from either of the parking lots behind the beaches. The trail turns into a gravel path up over a hill; on the other side of the hill you will see what is probably the nicest beach in the province. There is a catch, however, the beach is generally accepted to be a nude beach, it is not entirely legal and in an effort to drive the naturalists out, the province has groomed the path over the hill and added a boardwalk behind the beach but the increased foot traffic has had little, if any effect on the nudity. The trail starts on the other side of this last beach and follows the shore line. There are still naked people scattered about for the first part of the trail but they taper off quite quickly. This is a great piece of coastline and an easily accessible hike from Halifax so don’t let some naked people get in the way.