The best walks and hikes around Region of Windsor and West Hants Municipality

Minas Basin is the wide inner reaches of the Bay of Fundy, with a daily tidal range of 15 to 16 metres, among the highest in the world. The water takes on a unique reddish-brown colour from the large amounts of suspended silt churned continuously by the tidal currents, giving the basin a picturesque, ever-shifting character that changes with the tide. The area was designated a Hemispheric Shorebird Reserve in 1988, and the mudflats and shoreline attract hundreds of thousands of migrating shorebirds in season, making it as rewarding to stop and watch as it is to walk beside.

Avonport trail is an easy out-and-back that follows a dirt road along the shoreline of Minas Basin. The path is relatively straightforward and easy to follow, with the open water never far from your view and a lovely breeze off the basin. It’s a quiet trail that sees little foot traffic, making it an ideal route for enjoying some solitude. Just be sure to check tide times before you head out.

This trailhead, situated at the end of Avonport Road in the small community of Avonport, is your entry point to the Avonport shoreline trail overlooking Minas Basin. There is plenty of free parking in the cul-de-sac, and the trail is unlikely to be busy. From here, an easy dirt road takes you out along the coast, with beautiful views of the basin opening up ahead.

The Meadow Pond Trail begins at a small, signed gravel parking area off Highway 14. There is space for several vehicles here and the trailhead leads you to a packed dirt trail ending at Meadow Pond. There are no washrooms or services here, so plan ahead before starting your walk.

Meadow Pond was once a quarry in the early 1900s and is now a wetland surrounded by forest and exposed gypsum outcrops. The pond is stocked for fishing, and is a great place to birdwatch for local waterfowl.

Moses Mountain is a forested hill near Upper Vaughans in Hants County, offering a short but steady climb along ATV-style and forest paths. The route moves through mixed woodland and gradually rises to an open vantage point on the upper slope. The summit area provides partial views over the surrounding hills and rural landscape. Terrain is natural and uneven, with roots, mud, and rocky patches typical of backcountry access roads. It’s suitable for a short hike if you’re exploring the outdoor areas north of Windsor.

The Avon River flows through Hants County toward the Minas Basin, passing farmland, dykelands, and forested riverbanks along its course. In the upper stretches near Windsor and Newport, the river is calm and winding, while closer to the tidal zone it’s influenced by Bay of Fundy tides.