The beaches of the Sunrise Trail are situated on the Northumberland Strait. This narrow stretch of ocean is sheltered from both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It is also relatively shallow and has a small tidal range. These unique features of geography lead to sea temperatures that are reputedly the warmest summer water north of the the Carolinas.


Nova Scotia Provincial Parks
There are 14 beaches along the Sunrise Trail operated by the Province of Nova Scotia. Facilities vary from beach to beach, but may include picnic tables, toilets, change rooms, supervised swimming and camping. Check the website for map and details of each beach.

Supervised beaches

The following four beaches are supervised by the Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service:

Heather Beach
Heather Beach's most prominent feature is its red colored sand, which is characteristic of beaches on Northumberland Strait. There is a parking lot, boardwalks, washrooms, and maintenance staff keep the area clean. The supervised area is approximately 200 metres long. [map]

Melmerby park
A beautiful 3 kilometre sandy beach and one on Nova Scotia's finest. The beach park has always been one of Nova Scotia's busiest. Melmerby's facilities feature two main change houses which are approximately 400m apart, a canteen, showers, flush toilets, and abundant parking. [map]

Pomquet beach
Pomquet's facilities include a boardwalk, changehouses, and washrooms. It is a safe beach with a gentle slope and occasional sand bars. [map]

Bayfield Beach
A small supervised beach well protected by a bay, and therefore does not normally experience surf over 0.5 feet. The slope of the beach is very gradual, with extensive sand bars at low tide. [map]

Too many beaches to mention!

There are of course many other beaches accessible by the public, though they can be hard to find and are unlikely to have any services. Look for spots where public roads run close to the shore, or at wharves where it is often possible to reach the beach. The Nova Scotia Atlas is highly recommended for anyone on a driving tour of the Sunrise Trail.

One such example is Big Island beach. This long sand bar is easily accessible yet there is plenty of space for solitude or a long stroll along the shore. [map]

Please respect private property and park with care, especially at fishing wharves where transport trucks need access.

In the River John area a small guide map has been prepared showing the location of the local beaches that can be accessed by the public.