Shaw Wilderness Park

Colpitt Lake in the Shaw Wilderness Park (Photo by Adam Cornick, Acorn Art & Photography)

Explore the Shaw Wilderness Park

The Shaw Wilderness Park is a sanctuary in the city, a haven for nature and for people. 

Thanks to many partners and donors, the park was established in 2020 by the Nature Conservancy of Canada, The Shaw Group and Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM). The Shaw Wilderness Park is a 153 hectare (380 acre) conservation area open to all for hiking, swimming and enjoying the outdoors. 

The park entrance is located at 2379 Purcell’s Cove Road. From the parking lot, it’s a short walk along an accessible trail to Williams Lake. A backcountry trail begins from there. Just follow the red markers! Explore the trail along the lake shore, through a forest of tall white and red pine. 

Further on, the trail winds through a jack pine barren with exposed bedrock and granite boulders left behind by glaciers. Watch and listen for the more than forty species of birds that nest in the park. 

With the return walk to the parking lot the total distance is approximately 3 km.  None of the other trails are considered “official” – so they are not marked and not maintained.

The park is owned and managed by Halifax Regional Municipality with NCC collaboration. It is being managed as a permanent wilderness area. 

To learn more about the Shaw Wilderness Park, visit KeepHalifaxWild.ca