Easy hikes and walks around Halifax County

This small waterfront park sits on the shores of Bedford Basin, with open views across the water toward the hills on the opposite side of the harbour. Benches, picnic tables, and a playground make it a pleasant place to pause, while the adjacent Bedford Outdoor Pool adds to the park's community feel during the summer months.

Stretching along the harbour and Lake Ontario shoreline, Admiral Harry DeWolf Park combines waterfront paths, marina views, and open green space. The park is named after Vice Admiral Harry DeWolf, one of Canada's most decorated naval officers and a key figure in the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. Benches along the shoreline provide a place to watch sailboats moving through the harbour, while the mostly level paths make this an easy stop on a longer waterfront walk.

Sheltered from the open waters of Lake Ontario, Mill Cove offers a quieter stretch of shoreline where sailboats, marina traffic, and waterfowl are often found. The cove sits at the mouth of Sixteen Mile Creek and provides pleasant views across Oakville Harbour and the surrounding waterfront parks. Benches and lakeside paths make it a good place to pause during a walk, especially when boats are moving through the harbour or the sun is setting over the water.

The Prince of Wales Tower stands on the highest point of Point Pleasant Park. This imposing Martello tower (a name given to small, defensive British fortresses of the 19th century) is characterized by its thick walls. It was the first of its kind built in North America. Interpretive panels provide further information.

The Halifax Memorial, located on the shores of Pleasant Point, commemorates the 3,267 Canadian and Newfoundland sailors and soldiers who lost their lives during the First and Second World Wars. The monument replaced an earlier memorial on Citadel Hill in Halifax.

The Bonaventure Anchor Memorial, also known as the Canadian Peacetime Sailors’ Memorial, is located on a site that once housed a searchlight battery used for harbour defence during the Second World War.

A small forest river near Fall River that flows through mixed woodland before dropping over Johnson Falls. Along the approach to the falls, the river runs through a shallow, rocky corridor with sections that widen into quieter pools. It’s visible from short side paths near the end of the Johnson Falls Trail, especially where the terrain begins to narrow into the ravine. The river adds a scenic element to the hike, offering brief viewpoints before reaching the waterfall itself.

A short forest trail near Fall River that follows a mix of old road and narrower footpath to reach Johnson River Falls. The route is mostly level with some uneven sections of dirt, roots, and mud, especially after rain. It leads gradually through mixed woodland before narrowing as you enter the small ravine. The trail works well as a quick out-and-back, with clear forest surroundings and easy navigation from the end of Perrin Drive.