The Salt Marsh and Shearwater Flyer Trails section of the Trans Canada Trail is a multi-use linked trails system on a former railbed.
The rail trail starts at Department of National Defence Shearwater (passing by the Aviation Museum) and travels out to join the Salt Marsh Trail and the Cole Harbour Heritage Park at 805 Bissett Road. The trails connect the urban core with the trails of the Eastern Shore, forming the Cole Harbour Lawrencetown Coastal Heritage Park system including the popular Lawrencetown Beach.
This is an ideal route for touring on bicycles – it is level, safe and linked to city bike routes and other destinations such as ferry terminals, Fishermen’s Cove and McNabs Island.
The trails are 10.3 km inland and 3.2 km on a causeway through the Cole Harbour salt marsh, offering wonderful views, interpretive signage, and abundant wildlife. Salt marshes are a graceful intermingling of land, freshwater and a twice-daily flood of salt water.
Trail activities include exploring the area’s wildlife, bird watching, hiking, cycling, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
