GENERAL INFORMATION

     Name:            Partridge Island Trail           
     County:          Cumberland County
     Ownership:       Private
     Trail Length:    2.7 km
     Season:          


EMERGENCY INFORMATION

     Emergency:       911


DIRECTIONS

From the Tourist Information Centre at the corner of Main St. and highway 2 in
Parrsboro, follow Main St. through the downtown toward West Bay. The road will "V",
make sure you stay left.  Travel on Main St (which turns into Whitehall Rd.) for
~3.5km.  At the bend in the road you will see a sign for Ottawa House on your left.
Turn left here and follow the driveway down to Ottawa House.  Take a few minutes if
the house is open to go in for a visit.  There are three interpretive panels on the
beach to the south of the house.  You can either park here and walk the gravel bar
to the trail head, or drive along the gravel bar and park on the right hand side of
it closer to the trail head.  



ACTIVITIES

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


DESCRIPTION

The trail begins at the southern end of the beach, and is impossible to miss. Here
you will find a large interpretive panel describing the geology of the island, as 
well as trail etiquette signs.  I encourage you to take a few minutes and read these
informative signs.

The first 100 feet (30.5m) are the hardest of the trail. This section is single - track
with natural dirt and litter as its surface.  There are stairs built into the side of 
the hill to ease your climbing.  The "Second Wind" bench is located at the end of this
major climb, so take a minute to rest here, take in your surroundings,and learn which 
animals and birds live on the island.

Please stay on the trail!  The cliffs are very unstable.  

As you hike on through a primarily spruce and birch forest, your next point of interest
will be a lookoff of the Upper Minas Bay coastline out to the east at 200 feet (61m).
From here you'll walk around the top of the island through many old fallen trees and
new young ones shading you from the sun.  The trail will go down the south western side
of the island and split into two paths that meet in a circle.  To the right is a man
madetower with 16 steps up to a wonderful look-off.  Below the tower is a nautical chart
of the area explaining where you are and what you can see from the lookoff.  A picnic
table is here as well as an outhouse and fire pit.  Please follow the posted regulations
for fires at the trail head.  Walk around the loop and you will be on the trail back to
the beach were you started.