Nordic Skiing in New Scotland

Just one of the beautiful look off points at North Highlands Nordic XC Ski Trails.

Nova Scotia is getting hit with SNOWMAGEDDON 2013 so what better way to brace Mother Nature with a nice relaxing trek in the woods. Am I crazy? No not really but I do believe that something has to be said about the numerous trails and pathways around the province for those outdoorsy people – Welcome to the wonderful world of Nordic Skiing in New Scotland.

I’m not really the athletic type. I have jigglies where there should be muscle, I get short of breath if I run for the bus and my idea of a good meal includes cheese, gravy and potatoes. But when it comes to an adventure, I throw caution to the wind and jump on it. This time it was trekking to the far north of Cape Breton to check out the trails at NorthHighlands Nordic XC Ski Trails. It wasn’t my first time on cross country skis but it was my partner’s but it didn’t matter to the regulars, they skied with us to the first turn off on the trails, gave us a brief lesson on tackling the hills (he was a pro, I on the other hand had a very sore ass the next day) and told us where the best photo ops could be found. Three hours in the wilderness and both of us were hooked. It was a great afternoon of fresh air, great people and beautiful scenery.

If you’re not able to get up to Cape North in the middle of Snowmageddon, I completely understand – the Cabot Trails isn’t for the faint of heart in the middle of winter – but have no fear, there are tonnes of places across the province to check out and I’ve listed some below. My advice to you if it’s your first time is to take it slow, relax your body especially on those hills otherwise you’ll fall, and don’t forget to stop and take in the sights because unlike downhill skiing, you have the ability to just stop and admire it without worrying you’ll get taken out by some jerk face on a snowboard going way too fast.

Kejimkujik National Park has a number of trails for every level of skier.

Martock Cross Country SkiPark is a great place near the city. If you get tired of xc skiing, there’s a biathlon ring and of course, downhill skiing and snowboarding.

Beaver Mountain ProvincialPark is officially closed during the winter but people are still encouraged to visit for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. There are some beautiful trails, just no rentals available.

Ski Ben Eoin has a similar set up to what you’ll find at Martock but has some great views over looking the Bras d’Or Lakes.

So don't let Snowmageddon 2013 get you down, hit the trails at one of Nova Scotia's many cross country skiing spots and let us know about your experiences!