The best family-friendly hikes and walks in First Lake Regional Park

The Sackville River runs alongside much of the greenway before emptying into Bedford Basin. The trail crosses it twice and stays close to the water through several sections, so you get plenty of chances to stop and look down at the river as you go. It’s also an important salmon river, with ongoing restoration work focused on improving fish habitat and water quality.

The Bedford-Sackville Connector Greenway is a 3.5-kilometre multi-use trail following the Sackville River between Bedford and Lower Sackville. It continues from the Fort Sackville Walkway at Range Park and crosses the river twice before reaching the Fultz House Museum. The mostly gravel route also has benches and interpretive signs along the way, with several access points if you don’t want to walk the full length.

Bedford Bay forms the northwestern end of Bedford Basin, where the Sackville River meets the sheltered waters of Halifax Harbour. The shoreline here is quite developed, but public paths and boardwalks keep you close to the bay around Bedford’s waterfront. It’s also a good place to watch boats moving through the basin and waterfowl around the quieter edges of the shore.

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.

Jack Lake is a quiet spot tucked within the forest of Sandy Lake Park, reached by a short trail through mixed woodland and wetlands. Surrounded by mature trees and marshy shoreline habitat, it’s an ideal setting for birdwatching, and the water often reflects the surrounding forest on calm days. There is a small clearing near the shore that’s a great place to pause and enjoy this beautiful natural setting.

This trail is a flat route that follows an old logging road through pockets of mature Acadian forest and wetlands to the quiet shoreline of Jack Lake. The trail is generally easy to follow but can be muddy and uneven, with rocks, roots, and wet sections, so plan accordingly before you head out. Along the way, you’ll see plenty of birds and other wildlife, making it an ideal path for a peaceful walk to immerse yourself in nature.