Discover River Views, Trails and Recreation in Stewiacke

Explore Stewiacke through its rivers, trails and recreational activities. When choosing an outing, consider the different trail lengths, routes and landscapes, as well as the viewpoints along the way. There are also activities with distinct focuses—from mini golf to a water feature and horseback riding lessons. By sorting through your interests, you can decide whether you’re looking for a trail, views of rivers and tides, or a particular recreational activity.

Trails and River Landscapes

The Stewiacke River Country Trail offers views of the Stewiacke River as it passes through wilderness. It is 1.8 km long, or 2.3 km with the extension. It also connects Mastodon Ridge with the Stewiacke Recreation Grounds. The trail also offers views of the daily rise and fall of the tides flowing in from the Bay of Fundy. River and tide views give this trail a different focus from the forest and wetland sections of the other trails.

The John Crawford Trail is 1.9 km long overall. Its first section is a 350 m loop from the parking lot and back; the second section passes through forested areas and a wetland. The 350 m therefore refers to the first section, not the trail’s total length. Unlike the Stewiacke River Country Trail, where an extension is described as a longer route, the description of the John Crawford Trail gives both an overall length and a specific section length. The trails also differ in their landscapes: forest and wetland on the John Crawford Trail contrast with river and tide views on the Stewiacke River Country Trail.

The Meadows Two Rivers (Fish Shack) Trail is a 0.5 km walking trail that ends at the confluence of the Shubenacadie River and the Stewiacke River. At the end is a gazebo overlooking the confluence. A small area along the trail is set aside for a short picnic or birdwatching. If you’re considering the trail based on its route, the confluence is its named destination; the picnic area and birdwatching spot refer to the small area along the trail. This makes the trail description different from routes that focus primarily on route options or landscape.

More Recreational Activities

Mastodon Ridge offers views of the Shubenacadie River and the Stewiacke River, as well as an 18-hole mini golf course for all ages. You can see real mastodon bones there, along with Marvin the Mastodon, a life-size replica. Mastodon Ridge is also a destination on the Stewiacke River Country Trail. This brings together a named trail stop, river views, mini golf and mastodon displays in one place.

The Stewiacke SplashPad, an outdoor water feature, opened at Dennis Park in June 2022. TF Show Horses offers horseback riding lessons in Stewiacke. These activities differ in nature: the trails focus on routes and landscapes, TF Show Horses on riding lessons, and the SplashPad on a water feature. Mastodon Ridge also offers mini golf and mastodon displays. This gives you options to weigh when choosing between nature trails, river views and different recreational activities.

Discover more destinations: Tatamagouche, Brookfield, Truro, Eastville, Five Islands, Shubenacadie East, Alton, Riverside.

Return to the main travel guide: Colchester County.