Discover Middleton

Middleton brings together nature experiences, trails along former railway lines and several clearly identified sites of railway history. The wider destination of Annapolis County also offers trail options that provide a distinct regional perspective.

Trails, the river and activities

The Wetland Trail has sections with boardwalks and interpretive signage. The trail also offers opportunities for birdwatching and photography. Riverside Park is on the Annapolis River and has a public boat launch.

The South Shore Annapolis Trail follows a former railway line for about 47 km from Middleton to New Germany. In Middleton, the trail can be used for hiking, cycling, ATV riding and horseback riding. Middleton’s annual Shad Fishing Derby celebrates the start of spring and the shad migration along the Annapolis River.

Church and railway history

Old Holy Trinity Church dates to 1791 and is designated a Nova Scotia Heritage Site. The Annapolis Valley Macdonald Museum is located in Middleton in Canada’s first consolidated school, built in 1903.

The Middleton Railway Museum is housed in a typical railway station from that era, built in 1917 for the Dominion Atlantic Railway. The museum’s outdoor exhibits include a 1905 steam locomotive, a tender car and a freight car. Together, the church and museums offer different points of historical interest: a designated heritage site, a school building and a railway station with railway exhibits.

More trails in the wider destination of Annapolis County

The wider destination of Annapolis County offers more opportunities for hiking and cycling. The Delaps Cove Wilderness Trail system includes the Bohaker Trail, a 2.2 km loop with an estimated walking time of about one hour, as well as the 1.9 km Charlies Trail. The 2.7 km Shore Road Trail connects the two as a one-way route.

At Bohaker Cove, the Bohaker Trail features a 43-foot waterfall; from a viewing platform, visitors can see basalt lava cliffs. The Delaps Cove Wilderness Trail also passes through a 130-acre wooded area along the wind-swept coast of the Bay of Fundy. In more remote sections, visitors may see stone walls, foundations and lilac bushes. Birdwatching and photography are also possible there.

The Harvest Moon Trailway is about 115 km long, officially opened in 2017 and connects communities in the Annapolis Valley between Annapolis Royal in Annapolis County and Grand Pré in Kings County. Much of it consists of multi-use trails for hiking and cycling; the historic route was known as the Dominion Atlantic Railway (CP). For comparison, the South Shore Annapolis Trail runs about 47 km from Middleton to New Germany, while the Harvest Moon Trailway, at about 115 km, connects several communities between Annapolis Royal and Grand Pré.

For cycling in Annapolis County, there is also the free printed and online guide Bicycle Annapolis County – A Cyclist's Guide to Outdoor Adventure. Its 22 colour-coded routes cover difficulty levels from easy to challenging.

Discover more destinations: Larrys River, Margaree Valley

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