Cape Chignecto Provincial Park
Encyclopedia
Cape Chignecto Provincial Park is a Canadian
provincial park
located in Nova Scotia
. A wilderness park, it derives its name from Cape Chignecto
, a prominent headland which divides the Bay of Fundy
with Chignecto Bay
to the north and the Minas Channel leading to the Minas Basin
to the east. The park, which opened in 1998, is the largest provincial park in Nova Scotia.
The park's landscape is renowned for spectacular shoreline with extensive backpacking trails and scenic day hikes. The highest cliffs in Mainland Nova Scotia
are located along the park's southern coast, measuring 200 metres (600 ft). The park occupies 42 square kilometres (16.2 sq mi) and has 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) of wilderness coastline with unique geological features such as raised beaches
, caves and sea stacks
. The spectacular coastal landscapes of the park make it popular for hikers and kayakers. It also contains several abandoned logging camps, saw mills and the ghost towns of Eatonville
and New Yarmouth
. A secluded ravine named Refugee Cove was the site where Mi'kmaq sheltered fleeing Acadians during the Expulsion of the Acadians.
The mixing of warm summer temperatures with the cold tidal waters of the Bay of Fundy create frequent fogs resulting in moist rain forest like conditions which nurture "fog forests" of large red spruce
and many unique and endangered species of lichens. The park's high southern cliffs support species of vetch and primrose
with Alpine
characteristics which are unique in Nova Scotia. Cape Chignecto also provides shelter for Nova Scotia's endangered mainland moose
herd.
The park maintains over 50 kilometres of trails, both for day use hikers and overnight backpackers. An interpretation centre, picnic area, washrooms and giftshop are based at the trailhead at Red Rocks near the community of Advocate Harbour
. In addition to 51 back country campsites and 28 walk-in sites, an overnight cabin and bunk house on the trail system may be rented by hikers. A fire tower is staffed seasonally by the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources at the highest point of the park in New Yarmouth
. A new, off-grid interpretation centre and day use trails at Eatonville
were constructed in 2008-2009. Partially funded by a federal-provincial contribution of $350,000 announced in July 2008, the centre's completion was delayed by bad weather but opened on July 30, 2009 The Cape Chignecto Trails are part of the 400 km Cape to Cape hiking trail system under construction to connect Cape Chignecto with Cape George
, Antigonish County. The park is accessible from Route 209
and is one of the features on the Fundy Shore Ecotour
.
The Government of Nova Scotia purchased the land currently comprising the park in 1989 and added it to the Crown land reserve, administered by the Department of Natural Resources. This land was redesignated for a provincial park in the mid-1990s and Cape Chignecto Provincial Park opened to the public in 1998 after several years of planning and trail and campsite development. By area, Cape Chignecto is the largest provincial park in Nova Scotia.
Ruth Allen, a former Deputy Warden Cumberland County and resident of Port Greville, was instrumental in the founding and development of the park. She worked for 18 years to gather support for the park through bodies such as the Community Economic development Board and received several awards for her contributions..
Unique among other provincial parks administered by Nova Scotia's Department of Natural Resources, this park is managed by a local community organization and the Cumberland Regional Economic Development Association. This means that, while owned by the provincial government, the park is operated by a very small seasonal staff. It is open from mid-May to mid-November.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
provincial park
Provincial park
A provincial park is a park under the management of a provincial or territorial government in Canada.While provincial parks are not the same as national parks, their workings are very similar...
located in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. A wilderness park, it derives its name from Cape Chignecto
Cape Chignecto
Cape Chignecto is a headland located on the Bay of Fundy coast of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.Cape Chignecto is located at the westernmost tip of Cumberland County and is the western limit of the Cobequid Hills, a low mountain range that is part of the Appalachian Mountains and extends...
, a prominent headland which divides the Bay of Fundy
Bay of Fundy
The Bay of Fundy is a bay on the Atlantic coast of North America, on the northeast end of the Gulf of Maine between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, with a small portion touching the U.S. state of Maine...
with Chignecto Bay
Chignecto Bay
Chignecto Bay is an inlet of the Bay of Fundy located between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and separated from the waters of the Northumberland Strait by the Isthmus of Chignecto. It is a unit within the greater Gulf of Maine Watershed...
to the north and the Minas Channel leading to the Minas Basin
Minas Basin
The Minas Basin is an inlet of the Bay of Fundy and a sub-basin of the Fundy Basin located in Nova Scotia, Canada. It is known for its extremely high tides.- Geography :- Boundary :...
to the east. The park, which opened in 1998, is the largest provincial park in Nova Scotia.
The park's landscape is renowned for spectacular shoreline with extensive backpacking trails and scenic day hikes. The highest cliffs in Mainland Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia peninsula
The Nova Scotia peninsula is a peninsula on the Atlantic coast of North America.-Location:The Nova Scotia peninsula is part of the province of Nova Scotia, Canada and is connected to the neighbouring province of New Brunswick through the Isthmus of Chignecto...
are located along the park's southern coast, measuring 200 metres (600 ft). The park occupies 42 square kilometres (16.2 sq mi) and has 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) of wilderness coastline with unique geological features such as raised beaches
Raised beach
A raised beach, marine terrace, or perched coastline is an emergent coastal landform. Raised beaches and marine terraces are beaches or wave-cut platforms raised above the shore line by a relative fall in the sea level ....
, caves and sea stacks
Stack (geology)
A stack is a geological landform consisting of a steep and often vertical column or columns of rock in the sea near a coast, isolated by erosion. Stacks are formed through processes of coastal geomorphology, which are entirely natural. Time, wind and water are the only factors involved in the...
. The spectacular coastal landscapes of the park make it popular for hikers and kayakers. It also contains several abandoned logging camps, saw mills and the ghost towns of Eatonville
Eatonville, Nova Scotia
Eatonville is a former lumber and shipbuilding village in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia. It includes a large tidal harbour at the mouth of the Eatonville Brook beside several dramatic sea stacks known as the "Three Sisters". It was founded in 1864 and abandoned in the 1940s...
and New Yarmouth
New Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
New Yarmouth is an abandoned farming and forestry community which is now part of the Cape Chignecto Provincial Park in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia near the village of Advocate.- Geography :...
. A secluded ravine named Refugee Cove was the site where Mi'kmaq sheltered fleeing Acadians during the Expulsion of the Acadians.
The mixing of warm summer temperatures with the cold tidal waters of the Bay of Fundy create frequent fogs resulting in moist rain forest like conditions which nurture "fog forests" of large red spruce
Red Spruce
Picea rubens is a species of spruce native to eastern North America, ranging from eastern Quebec to Nova Scotia, and from New England south in the Adirondack Mountains and Appalachians to western North Carolina.-Physical description:...
and many unique and endangered species of lichens. The park's high southern cliffs support species of vetch and primrose
Primrose
-Botany:* Primulaceae, a family of flowering plants* Primula vulgaris, commonly known as the Primrose * Oenothera, commonly known as Evening Primrose, a plant genus...
with Alpine
Alpine climate
Alpine climate is the average weather for a region above the tree line. This climate is also referred to as mountain climate or highland climate....
characteristics which are unique in Nova Scotia. Cape Chignecto also provides shelter for Nova Scotia's endangered mainland moose
Moose
The moose or Eurasian elk is the largest extant species in the deer family. Moose are distinguished by the palmate antlers of the males; other members of the family have antlers with a dendritic configuration...
herd.
The park maintains over 50 kilometres of trails, both for day use hikers and overnight backpackers. An interpretation centre, picnic area, washrooms and giftshop are based at the trailhead at Red Rocks near the community of Advocate Harbour
Advocate Harbour, Nova Scotia
Advocate Harbour is a Canadian rural community located in Cumberland County, Nova ScotiaThe community is situated on Route 209 and has a small well-protected fishing harbour opening on the Bay of Fundy; the harbour dries at low tide....
. In addition to 51 back country campsites and 28 walk-in sites, an overnight cabin and bunk house on the trail system may be rented by hikers. A fire tower is staffed seasonally by the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources at the highest point of the park in New Yarmouth
New Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
New Yarmouth is an abandoned farming and forestry community which is now part of the Cape Chignecto Provincial Park in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia near the village of Advocate.- Geography :...
. A new, off-grid interpretation centre and day use trails at Eatonville
Eatonville, Nova Scotia
Eatonville is a former lumber and shipbuilding village in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia. It includes a large tidal harbour at the mouth of the Eatonville Brook beside several dramatic sea stacks known as the "Three Sisters". It was founded in 1864 and abandoned in the 1940s...
were constructed in 2008-2009. Partially funded by a federal-provincial contribution of $350,000 announced in July 2008, the centre's completion was delayed by bad weather but opened on July 30, 2009 The Cape Chignecto Trails are part of the 400 km Cape to Cape hiking trail system under construction to connect Cape Chignecto with Cape George
Cape George, Nova Scotia
Cape George is a headland and community of the same name located Antigonish County, Nova Scotia, Canada.It defines the northwestern limit of St. George's Bay....
, Antigonish County. The park is accessible from Route 209
Nova Scotia Route 209
Route 209 is a collector road in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.It is located in Cumberland County and follows the shoreline of the Bay of Fundy, connecting Parrsboro with River Hebert. The linked communities are known as the Parrsboro Shore....
and is one of the features on the Fundy Shore Ecotour
Fundy Shore Ecotour
The Fundy Shore Ecotour is a scenic drive in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia and encircles several sub-basins of the Bay of Fundy, which contains the highest tidal range on the planet....
.
The Government of Nova Scotia purchased the land currently comprising the park in 1989 and added it to the Crown land reserve, administered by the Department of Natural Resources. This land was redesignated for a provincial park in the mid-1990s and Cape Chignecto Provincial Park opened to the public in 1998 after several years of planning and trail and campsite development. By area, Cape Chignecto is the largest provincial park in Nova Scotia.
Ruth Allen, a former Deputy Warden Cumberland County and resident of Port Greville, was instrumental in the founding and development of the park. She worked for 18 years to gather support for the park through bodies such as the Community Economic development Board and received several awards for her contributions..
Unique among other provincial parks administered by Nova Scotia's Department of Natural Resources, this park is managed by a local community organization and the Cumberland Regional Economic Development Association. This means that, while owned by the provincial government, the park is operated by a very small seasonal staff. It is open from mid-May to mid-November.