- Difficulty: Moderate (Rugged Terrain & Long Distance).
- Facilities: None. Not serviced, so please bring your trash with you & follow basic Leave No Trace Principles.
- Signage: Interpretive panels near the Hages Lane trailhead. No trail markings.
- Features: 40 minutes from downtown Halifax. Unmaintained, rugged 4.5km trail (9km up-and-back). Bench with a spectacular view (especially for sunsets). 164-hectare Bill Freedman Nature Reserve (tread lightly).
- Tags: Bird-Watching, Coastal, Nature-Reserve, Hiking, Peninsula.
Parking & Access Points
If you’ve ever been to Peggy’s Cove, you know the type of coastal views that Nova Scotia has to offer. High Head Trail in Prospect is on par with or perhaps exceeds Peggy’s Cove. A 40-minute drive from downtown Halifax, the scenic community of Prospect Village is every bit as beautiful as Peggy’s Cove, with an important distinction. This area does not have the infrastructure to accommodate floods of visitors, thus requiring careful consideration before you visit.
There are two access points: Hages Lane at the Northern end of the trail, and Indian Point Road at the southern part of the trail. Both have very limited parking. Disrespectful visitors have caused friction with the local community, so please keep noise to a minimum & keep these areas free from litter, as there are no garbage cans.
Land adjacent to the Indian Point Road entry trail has recently been sold, so it’s important to be mindful of residents by keeping noise levels down. Part of this entry trail goes by private land that the provincial government has been dragging its feet to purchase to secure the right of way on this trail. Until then, you must obey any no trespassing signs.
It’s better to do this trail during less popular times (weekdays or offseason) as it’s almost certain to be a popular spot during nice weather weekends. One of the main problems with the popularity of this trail is that the neighbourhood trailheads aren’t meant to accommodate a rush of cars. If you do arrive at a flood of cars, please don’t compound the problem and explore some places nearby (like SS Atlantic Park) instead.
Dr. Bill Freedman Nature Reserve
Keep in mind that this is part of a nature reserve. Avoid any disturbances to the environment and the local community. It’s important to follow the basic Leave No Trace principles. I suggest keeping the dogs at home, or on a short leash and not contributing to the bad reputation that some are putting upon all dog owners. This Nature reserve helps protect endangered ground-nesting birds, which can be easily disturbed. Porcupines also like these areas & their quills don’t mix well with dogs. Camping and campfires are not allowed here, or in any nature reserve.
Most of this area has been protected by the Nature Conservancy of Canada. It is thanks to their hard work that we are all able to enjoy this special place, so please consider donating. Remember that the Conservancy has protected this as a nature reserve first and foremost, so treat it kindly by treading lightly.
Established in 2015, and named in honour of local Dalhousie professor of Biology & staunch environmentalist, the late Dr. Bill Freedman. The Nature Conservancy recently expanded the nature reserve by purchasing 14 important hectares, bringing the total to 164 hectares protected forever. A biodiversity hotspot, over 400 different living organisms have been recorded in this area on iNaturalist, including some endangered species. Download the app to contribute your observations to what is the largest citizen science project in the world.
My High Head Trail Photos
High Head Hiking Trail
The trail is 4.5km from trailhead to trailhead (Hages Lane to Indian Point Road), making it a 9km return trip. Allow 3-4 hours to fully enjoy this hike if you plan on doing the entire thing up and back. Be prepared for a challenging hike as it is rough & rugged with all sorts of different terrain and trail conditions (muddy is a safe bet in some spots). Wear proper footwear (waterproof hiking boots) so you can stick to the most well-used trail and avoid contributing to ecosystem-damaging trail-braiding, caused by people creating unnecessary side-trails to avoid wet areas. Remember that conditions can change rapidly on coastal hikes like this, so prepare for sudden changes in temperature, visibility & unexpected precipitation. Fog banks often roll in quickly, even if you start the hike with clear skies.
The first few minutes of the trail from Hages Lanes used to be muddy from foot traffic, but have since had a narrow boardwalk installed to mitigate the damage, courtesy of the Nature Conservancy. It quickly opens into a vast expanse of granite outcrops overlooking the ocean and the many islands in the area (Top-notch area for ocean kayaking).
It only takes a few minutes to reach a great view from one of the most scenic benches you’ll ever sit on. The sun sets over the ocean directly in front of this bench, making it one of the best places to watch a sunset (bring a flashlight for the short walk back to the Hages Ln. entrance).
Entering via Indian Point Road is very scenic in its own right, as you walk by a narrow inlet, through varied terrain, until reaching the coast after roughly 500m. 1.5km from the Indian Point Road trailhead, you’ll find this little-known piece of maritime history, an impromptu memorial for HMS Phantome, a British Royal Navy ship which fought in the War of 1812 and wrecked at this location in 1814.
The entire area, including Prospect Village, is a spectacular display of Nova Scotia’s seafaring soul. A fascinating example of this history can be experienced by visiting the nearby SS Atlantic Heritage Park.
