15 Places to Go Cross-Country Skiing Around Halifax

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Walking around in the winter can get difficult with snowdrifts and ice, so you need to get creative about outdoor exercise. And if you want a versatile way to get your blood pumping, cross-country skiing is a great thing to try out. With the Halifax Nordic Ski Club there to support you with equipment, trails, and advice, all that’s stopping you is the amount of fallen snow. The moment there’s enough powder, the Halifax Regional Municipality is full of opportunities to get your ski on!

Beechville-Lakeside-Timberlea (BLT) Trail

The BLT Trail is an excellent trail all year round for a variety of activities, but if you want to enjoy it at full speed in the winter, cross-country skiing is available and accessible. One of Nova Scotia’s Rails-to-Trails, the terrain is flat and takes wide curves, making it a great place for beginner cross-country skiers. You’ll find plenty of places to access the trail along its 13 kilometres, and it connects on to other trails if you want to take a longer trip.
Address: Main trailhead is on Lakeside Drive, next to the Coca Cola Plant

Belcher’s Marsh Park Trail

If you’re just starting out as a cross-country skier, it helps to get a varied view of terrains so you can enjoy all the possibilities this hobby has to offer. It’s also useful to make sure that the trail is short, because then it doesn’t seem quite so daunting. Belcher’s Marsh Park Trail fulfills both of those requirements. The trail crosses through the woods and wetlands of the park, so you get to see varied winter beauty, and it’s 2.5km one way, which makes it much more approachable than some other entries on this list. If you live in Clayton Park, this may very well become your new favourite ski destination.
Address: Parkland Drive (near #429)

Chain of Lakes Trail

This is one of the trails that connects onto the BLT Trail, so you can easily extend your ski adventure past the Chain of Lakes 7.25 kilometre length. Another rail trail, the Chain of Lakes is long and flat, passing close to several city centres. Since it begins just across the street from the Joseph Howe Superstore, you can pick up trail snacks before you head out…and/or you can pick up celebration snacks once you get back.
Address: Main Trailhead: Joseph Howe Drive, across from the Superstore