Perhaps it’s not all that surprising that a community at the heart of the beautiful Annapolis Valley makes the most of the stunning landscapes around it! Kentville’s parks and trail systems are some of the best in Eastern Canada, and include marsh lands, ravines, and urban green spaces. Come on out for bird watching, connecting with nature, picnicking, sledding, skating, and simply playing.

How do you like to get moving? There’s an amazing variety of trails in Kentville, from challenging mountain bike terrain to easily-traveled active transportation routes, wetland sites, bird sanctuaries, and more. Kentville is perfect for walkers and bikers of all skill and ability. Come check it out for yourself.

SPECIAL NOTICE: All Trails in Nova Scotia are currently closed and off limits to the public.  Public access to the woods / wooded areas is also restricted.  These measures are in place to protect from wildfire risk during the current drought in NS.  Read more about and get the details here. 

Guidelines and tips

To help you discover all the parks and trails in town, Kentville has installed special blue signage to point the way. Maps are located at each park and trail head, and also on the individual webpages.

All trails in Kentville are shared-use and open to all forms of non-motorized active transportation (walking, biking, scootering, skateboarding, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, etc). For the safety of trail users and to preserve the quality of our trails, motorized vehicles (with the exception of mobility aids such as motorized wheelchairs or scooters) are prohibited on all Kentville trails.

Leashed dogs are allowed in all parks and on all trails. Owners are required to clean up after their pets and many of our parks and trails have pet waste stations with bags.

Roots and Routes Podcast

Roots and Routes is a brand new educational and promotional podcast delivered by the Town of Kentville Recreation Department. Every episode we discuss a different space in Kentville and what’s been going on- whether it’s keystone species, cultural history, land development, conservation efforts, invasives, or other recreational opportunities. Roots and Routes is the podcast where we chat about your favorite parks and trails—and all the cool stuff that makes them special. We dig into the stories that are hiding just off the beaten path. Whether you're a weekend hiker or just love learning about nature, this show is your guide to exploring the outdoors in a whole new way!

Episode 1: In this pilot episode of Roots and Routes, join Lauren and Lucy as they explore Kentville’s Ravine Trail—an ecological and historical gem in the Wabanaki-Acadian forest. Discover towering Eastern Hemlocks, traces of Acadian settlement, and the growing threat of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid. Learn how community members, scientists, and volunteers are working together to protect this special place. Whether you're a regular on the trail or new to it, this episode invites you to connect, learn, and help protect local biodiversity.

A huge thank you to our online research sources – CBC, Medway Community Forest Cooperative, Asitu’lisk and Ulnooweg Education Centre, Blomidon Naturalists Society, Agriculture Canada, Acadia University Archives Digital Collection and the Nova Scotia Hemlock Initiative.

If you’d like to learn more and get involved with upcoming volunteering opportunities, visit www.kentville.ca/hemlock.