GENERAL INFORMATION

     Name:            Liberty Lake Trail 
     County:          Kejimkujik National Park
     Ownership:       Dept. of Canadian Heritage 
     Trail Length:    60.0 km
     Season:          


EMERGENCY INFORMATION

     Emergency:       911
     Special:         The nearest phone is at the Visitor Centre.


DIRECTIONS

Kejimkujik National Park off of route 8. 


ACTIVITIES

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


DESCRIPTION

The park's longest hiking trail is located between the Big Dam Parking Lot, in 
the northern section, and the Mersey River Bridge, or Peskowesk Parking Lot, in 
the south.  Peskowesk Road is closed from mid-June until Labor Day at the Mersey 
River Bridge. 

The trail is approximately 60 km in length from Big Dam Parking Lot to the lower 
Mersey River on the Peskowesk Road.  Although four days (three nights) is ample 
to complete the route, experienced hikers find that five days allows them to 
enjoy the natural environment to its fullest. Visitors should plan on bringing 
two vehicles so one can be left at both take-off and ending locations. 

Sweet and bracken ferns are plentiful along this trail as well as an abundance 
of bunchberries and blueberries.  There are many different fungi as well as 
areas of moss and lichens.  Watch for yellow or orange on white trail markers 
along the trail to keep your bearings.  Later on in the summer, water may be 
scarce so make sure you have plenty at all times. There is a well near the 
beginning at the patrol cabin, the Liberty Lake Cabin and at site #37. There is 
also a fresh water spring 10 minutes downstream from site #22 on the West River. 
Remember to boil all water before drinking it. 

The first part of the trail, for 5.1 km, is part of the Hemlocks and Hardwoods 
Trail and is maintained to a high standard for hiking.  Some of the hemlock 
trees on this trail are over 300 years old and it is one of the few stands of 
its kind left in Nova Scotia.  For the best view of the hemlocks hikers should 
take the back (east) loop of the trail.  Beyond these hemlocks the trail narrows 
to a simple footpath and continues to Thomas Meadow Brook.  Here the trail 
follows an esker which provides dry hiking conditions. 

The next section of the trail (4.9 km) which goes to Torment Brook follows an 
old logging road approximately 2.5 metres wide.  The road is scattered with 
rocks and hikers should exercise caution.  Big Dam Lake can be seen at several 
places at the beginning of the trail.  Sweet fern and bracken fern grow along 
the edge of this old road.  The trail narrows to a path as you approach Frozen 
Ocean Lake. From here on to Big Red Lake is 22 km with much of this trail being 
narrow and  not maintained regularly.  Hiking this section can be difficult and 
the second half is often very wet.  Near the beginning of this section the 
trail crosses a small boardwalk where water levels sometimes rise above the 
decking during the high waters of spring.  

About 2 km from Torment Brook the path follows an esker for nearly a half 
kilometre.  Up to this point hiking is good, however past campsite #44 the 
trail again narrows into a root and rock exposed hiking trail.  Near Liberty 
Lake the trail becomes extremely wet and muddy; a condition that exists in this 
area at all times of the year.  The trail then provides a nice view of West 
River as it follows an esker for about 1 km. The next 2 km of the trail to Big 
Red Lake is narrow and rocky but very pleasant. The next 4.2 km of this trail 
will take you to Lucifee Brook.  The first kilometre of the trail is wet and 
muddy. It then joins an old logging road for about 2 km where it is partially 
covered with sweet ferns and bracken ferns, thus making the hiking difficult.  
Bears have often been sighted in this area.  Evidence of their existence can be 
seen on the trail signs that have teeth and claw markings. 

Now there is 16 km remaining of the trail.  This section provides relatively easy 
hiking as it follows a well maintained service road.  Chances of seeing bears 
and moose are highest here.  From mid-June to Labour Day the road from the 
lower Mersey River to Peskowesk is closed which adds an extra 8 km to the trip. 
Aside from the campsites along the Liberty Lake Trail, there are several side 
trails that lead to other wilderness campsites.  These trails vary from 6 to 15 
km.  

It is very important to register at the Visitor Centre before taking an 
overnight trip within the park.  For more detailed information on other trails
ask for the back-country Guide at the visitor's center. 

To get to Campsite #22 is a 6.5 km hike that may be the nicest hike in the park.  
The trail begins by following an esker for about 3 km and provides nice views of 
the bogs and the West River itself. The trail then drops from the esker into a 
wet meadow where it crosses West River.  As it follows the river to campsite 
#22 it passes through other wet meadows and in places, the trail is rooty and 
rock exposed. 

Campsite #39 is also a 6.5 km hike from the Liberty Lake Trail.  The trail 
follows an old logging road.  Past site 38, the road becomes more difficult and 
the trail climbs uphill gradually.  Many boulders can be seen both along portage 
"N" and along the trail itself.  Before reaching Ben Lake the trail can be quite 
wet and muddy.  At Ben Lake the trail narrows and climbs again; 500 metres 
above Ben Lake being one of the highest points in the park.  From that point
the trail descends to Luxton Lake.  Luxton Lake was the site of a saw mill 
operation which shut down in the 1950s. It's ruins are easily in evidence.  

Kejimkujik is a National Park.  Phone the park Visitor Centre at (902) 682-2772 
for back-country maps, reservations (for regular and back-country sites), 
information on park regulations, and any additional information.  

Those intending to camp at a back-country site must first register at the park 
Visitor Centre.