| Cape Chignecto Provincial Park | |
|---|---|
 The cliffs of Cape Chignecto viewed from Red Rocks trailhead and visitor centre | |
 Interactive map of Cape Chignecto Provincial Park | |
| Location | Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Nearest city | Amherst, Nova Scotia,Truro, Nova Scotia |
| Coordinates | 45°21′01″N64°49′30.5″W / 45.35028°N 64.825139°W /45.35028; -64.825139 |
| Area | 42 km2 (16 sq mi), 4,200 ha (10,000 acres) |
| Established | 1989 |
| Governing body | Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources |
Cape Chignecto Provincial Park is a Canadianprovincial park located inNova Scotia. A wilderness park, it derives its name fromCape Chignecto, a prominent headland which divides theBay of Fundy withChignecto Bay to the north and the Minas Channel leading to theMinas Basin to the east. The park, which opened in 1998, is the largest provincial park in Nova Scotia. It also anchors one end of the UNESCO Cliffs of Fundy GlobalGeopark.[1]
The park's landscape is renowned for spectacular shoreline with extensive backpacking trails and scenic day hikes. The highest cliffs inMainland Nova Scotia are located along the park's southern coast, measuring 200 metres (600 ft). The park occupies 42 square kilometres (16 sq mi) and has 30 kilometres (19 mi) of wilderness coastline with unique geological features such asraised beaches, caves andsea stacks. The complex geology was created by continental collision along theCobequid fault. The spectacular coastal landscapes of the park make it popular for hikers and kayakers. It also contains several abandoned logging camps, saw mills and the ghost towns ofEatonville andNew Yarmouth. A secluded ravine named Refugee Cove was the site whereMi'kmaq sheltered fleeing Acadians during theExpulsion of the Acadians.
The mixing of warm summer temperatures with the cold tidal waters of the Bay of Fundy create frequent fogs resulting in moistrain forest-like conditions which nurture "fog forests" of largered spruce and many unique and endangered species oflichens. The park's high southern cliffs support species ofvetch andprimrose withAlpine characteristics which are unique in Nova Scotia.[2] Cape Chignecto also provides shelter for Nova Scotia's endangered mainlandmoose herd.
Tides rise and fall 12 metres along the park's coastline, producing rip currents and rapid flooding at certain points. Several hikers have been trapped and had to be rescued when rising tides trapped them against sheer cliffs, including a couple and a dog who had to be rescued from rising waters at Eatonville by a helicopter fromCFB Greenwood in July 2014.[3]
The park maintains over 50 kilometres of trails, both for day use hikers and overnight backpackers. An interpretation centre, picnic area, washrooms and giftshop are based at the trailhead at Red Rocks near the community ofAdvocate Harbour. In addition to 51 back country campsites and 28 walk-in sites, several overnight cabins and bunk houses on the trail system may be rented by hikers. A mothballedfire tower, closed since 2012, is located at the highest point of the park inNew Yarmouth.[4] A new, off-grid interpretation centre and day use trails atEatonville were constructed in 2008–2009. Partially funded by a federal-provincial contribution of $350,000 announced in July 2008,[5] the centre's completion was delayed by bad weather but opened on July 30, 2009. The Cape Chignecto Trails are part of the 400 km Cape to Cape hiking trail system under construction to connect Cape Chignecto withCape George,Antigonish County.[6] The park is open from mid June to mid October.[7] It is accessible fromRoute 209 and is one of the features on theFundy Shore Ecotour.
The Government of Nova Scotia purchased the land currently comprising the park in 1989 and added it to the Crown land reserve, administered by the Department of Natural Resources. This land was redesignated for a provincial park in the mid-1990s and Cape Chignecto Provincial Park opened to the public in 1998 after several years of planning and trail and campsite development. By area, Cape Chignecto is the largest provincial park in Nova Scotia.
Although Cape Chignecto is Nova Scotia's largest provincial park and is owned administered by Nova Scotia's Department of Natural Resources, it was created, and until 2012, run by a local community development organization, the Cumberland Regional Economic Development Association. The park was operated by a very small seasonal staff based in Advocate andAmherst, Nova Scotia. However, in the spring of 2012 the Department of Natural Resources took over management of the park and brought its fees in line with other provincial parks. In 2020, the Park was designated as part of the UNESCO "Cliffs of Fundy GlobalGeopark with the Three Sisters Day Use trails at Eatonville marking the beginning of the Geopark which stretches all around Cape Chignecto and down the coast toDebert.[8][9]
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