Eatonville is an abandoned saw mill town that is now part of Cape Chignecto Provincial Park outside Advocate, Nova Scotia. The park has a day use area that is an easy and accessible access to some gorgeous vistas of the Bay of Fundy.
We tried to access this trail in early spring, before the park was officially open, and the road was completely washed out from the powerful tides. Park goers have found themselves stranded when visiting during some of the highest tides……check the tide charts to avoid getting caught!
The drive from Amherst, through River Hebert passes right by the Joggins Fossil Cliffs, a UNESCO world heritage site. The road is winding and mostly wooded, but every now and then you are awarded with a lovely view of the Bay. After about an hour, you arrive in picturesque Apple River. Keep an eye open for the signs directing you to Eatonville.
The parking area to the right when you enter is for Day Use visitors. The Visitor Centre is no longer open, but the trails are kept up and there are several outhouses on the property. There is a trail connecting to the Eatonville camping area, where you can reserve a walk in campsite for a longer visit of the park.
The trail is well marked, with information boards throughout. The 2.9 km trail to the left offers four lookoffs……..the old Eatonville mine site and the Three Sisters Sea Stacks being the highlights. This is an easy walk on a wide, gravelled path. Each of the look offs has ramp access……..I wouldn’t recommend a push wheelchair, but a motorized scooter could easily navigate the trail.
The Three Sisters is series of sea stacks that are a bit of a native legend. One day I would like to sea kayak the area for a better view.
The second loop is a bit longer……….3.2km from the visitor centre. Due to the high tide coming in, we skipped this part of the trail to avoid getting stranded.
Since we didn’t bring a picnic lunch, we visited The Wild Caraway, a quaint little restaurant right on the main road through Advocate. It’s a place we have dined at several times, and the food is always spot on delicious! This day was busy, but they had several picnic tables outside available.
After lunch we made our way to Cape D’Or lighthouse. It’s 5 kms off the main road, but the views are sensational, with views across to Fundy National Park (where I’m coincidentally writing this post from). There are a couple of short trails to walk from the parking lot, and and you can read about the Dory Rips which were also visible from the shore. You can walk down the road to the lighthouse, where there is also a small cafe that was not open on our visit.
We continued the drive along the shore to Parrsboro. It’s a much prettier drive than though Joggins, with a view of water most of the drive. The drive along the coast brings you to Great Village……..a new Mecca for antique collectors if that interests you. Maybe finish off the day with fish and chips or an ice cream cone from Masstown Market.
This part of our province is relatively unknown to tourists…..but a visit here will not disappoint nature lovers.