Cape Split to receive facelift with help of provincial funding

SOUTH SCOTS BAY, N.S. — Cape Split Provincial Park, well-known for its challenging but rewarding hike to rugged costal cliffs jutting into the bay the park was named after, is about to get a facelift.

The provincial government is investing $400,000 to update Cape Split Park in Kings County and Burntcoat Head Park in East Hants – two prominent Bay of Fundy destinations.

The approved work will include an expansion of the Cape Split trail system.

The trails will be looped and truncated in places allowing for briefer hikes for those who’d prefer something more laid-back than a bracing hike up rocky, wooded slopes.

A new feature – curated coastal viewing platforms –  are also planned for the park, allowing for more dramatic Bay of Fundy viewsvbefore guests reach the high cliffs at the end of the trail.

Lisa Jarrett, a spokesperson for the Department of Lands and Forestry, said the new trail – the Southern Loop – will form a figure-eight with two main loops.

This will include attached short paths to the new lookoffs at certain intervals along the way.

The first loop will be an eight-kilometre stretch, and the back loop will be five.

“The new trail grades will be less challenging, while continuing to provide a quality outdoor recreation experience,” Jarrett said.

There aren’t many details available on the new viewing platforms, as the planning process is ongoing.
“Considerations when choosing look-off locations are the terrain, views and above all else, safety,” Jarrett said via email.

Upgraded signage will also be a part of the package as the new project unfolds.

The budget for the work planned for Cape Split includes $180,000 for planning and development of infrastructure enhancements and $220,000 for implementation.

The government’s investment in Cape Split is part of a $6-million Tourism Revitalization of Icons program.

[email protected]

DID YOU KNOW?

The Bay of Fundy and Annapolis Valley Regions are exceptionally popular tourist destinations in Nova Scotia, second only to Halifax.

· People visit the Valley and Bay of Fundy region for the pastoral scenery, world-renowned tides, historical sites, whale-watching and outdoor opportunities almost as often as they visit Halifax, Nova Scotia’s number-one tourist destination.

· Approximately four in 10 visitor parties include the Bay of Fundy and Annapolis Valley in their visit to Nova Scotia.

· Visitors are more likely to engage in the activities that the Bay of Fundy and Annapolis Valley regions are best known for; coastal sightseeing, hiking, nature observing and viewing the world’s highest tides.

· Visitors to the regions are also twice as likely as the average visit a winery.