Kejimkujik National Park - Kejimkujik Seaside

Kejimkujik Seaside

In 1985 Parks Canada acquired lands along the coast of Nova Scotia about 25 kilometers (16 mi) south of Liverpool. In 1988 these lands became part of Kejimkujik National Park to include coastal ecosystems within Kejimkujik National Park. The land acquisition was important for Canadian culture and heritage due to the expanding development along the East Coast of Canada. These properties are still the largest track of undeveloped coast in Nova Scotia.

Kejimkujik Seaside includes two sides, one of which contain trails and parking facilities at St catherines River Beach. The Little Port Joli Basin and Basin Lake side is accessible but not marked as a National Park with signage. The two barrier beaches each of which are nesting sites for the endangered Piping Plover. The lagoons are important migration stops for many species of birds such as Short-billed dowichers, Semipalmated plovers, sandpipers, Black-bellied plovers, and many others.

The Little Port Joli Basin and Basin Lake are being used for European green crab research. The removal of the green crabs are essential in research into the dwindling fish stocks on the East Coast.

Two trails exists at Kejimkujik Seaside. Port Joli Head Trail is a coastal trail that takes you along the rocky coast of Port Joli Head around berms, and ponds. Cormorants, deer, and the occasional black bear can be seen on this trail. Harbour Rocks Trail takes you straight to the beach through the upland barrens and bogs. The trail continues along the rocky shore to St Catherines River Beach where the clean white sand beach well greet you with its turquoise waters. Seals, cormorants, jellyfish, plovers, great blue heron, deer, mink, osprey and many other forms of wildlife are often seen in this area.