GENERAL INFORMATION

     Name:            Thomas' Cove Coastal Reserve Trails 
     County:          Colchester County
     Ownership:       Harry McLellan -  Public Access
     Trail Length:    8 km
     Season:          Year Round

EMERGENCY INFORMATION

     Emergency:       911
     Special:         The nearest phone is at the Cobequid Interpretation Centre 

DIRECTIONS

From Truro, head toward Amherst on highway 104.  Take Exit 12 and follow signs to
highway 2 west.  Travel on highway 2 for ~35km.  Turn right onto the Economy Point
Road (which is ~500meast of the Interpretation Center). Travel on this road, and
look for the Thomas' Cove sign (~2.7km from the highway).  Turn right onto this
unpaved road.  Parking is at the end of this road. Parking lot is at the end of
the road.  Trailheads are marked.

ACTIVITIES

     Walking:             Y        Hiking:         Y
     Mountain Biking:     N        XCountry Ski:   Y
     ATV:                 N        Horse:          N
     Snowmobile:          N        Coastal:        Y
     Loop:                Y        Wheelchair:     N
     Wheelchair Assisted: N  

DESCRIPTION

This newly developed Economy trail follows the coastline from the parking lot in 
a north-westerly direction along an existing road and then veers off at Thomas' 
Cove proper in a westerly direction.  It follows the coastline through a 
predominantly spruce forest and over red sandstone cliffs characteristic of this 
region of Nova Scotia. This area provides habitat for a wide variety of wildlife 
as it combines coastal and forest landscapes (home to a family of great horned 
owls).

Another trail, the Cove Trail, is also found here. It is a short 1 km route to 
the shoreline and along a tidal estuary.  Watch for blue herons near the estuary 
as the shallow waters here provide a favorable feeding location for them. You 
may also see a Belted Kingfisher here. They sometimes make their homes in the 
vertical sand cliffs and banks nearby.  If you don't know exactly what a Belted 
Kingfisher looks like, just look at the back of a Canadian five dollar bill.  
Under development is the Headlands Trail which skirts a marsh and eventually 
leads to high sandstone cliffs with terrific views of the coastline of the Minas 
Basin, through dense spruce forest to the point of its beginning.
 
Access to the beach is available. A healthy respect of the tides must be adhered 
to at all times.  For more information on the area visit the Cobequid 
Interpretation Center on highway #2 in Economy. 
 
Public washrooms can be found at the center.