Explore the Three Shores in Fall

Fall here is fabulous. It’s our glorious long, lingering season marked by stunning foliage; bright sunny days with cool weather calling you to come outdoors and play; and a menu of festivals and events that celebrate the colourful, plentiful, riches of our harvests from apples, to wine, to seafood. Fall is full of music, food, and all kinds of outdoor adventure opportunities to embrace.

With hundreds of kilometres of hiking and cycling trails crisscrossing Three Shores, there’s probably no better way to enjoy the colours of leaf season than under your own steam. You’ll find hiking trails or cycling routes suited to all kinds of activity and ability levels. Consider the Trans Canada Trail system for hiking or cycling. The Jitney Trail, a short partially paved trail that starts on the Pictou waterfront is both part of the Trans Canada Trail and the International Appalachian Trail System and is perfect for walking or cycling, and rated easy. You can find maps and descriptions of this and other more challenging autumn hiking options, like the 21 km Gully Lake Wilderness Trail , or the Eldridge Settlement Road Trail that mountain bikers especially enjoy in autumn, on Trails of Nova Scotia .

Fall is also the time to embrace rural traditions of the harvest season. Visit a farm market as you tour the back roads and small towns of Three Shores. You can put together a picnic lunch with fresh local pies or blueberry scones with berries from Canada’s wild blueberry capital, or a pint of blackberries picked by local kids. Stop in at Jost Vineyards for tastings and recommendations on award-winning local wines to go with your autumn repast. Restaurant menus will feature the finest of the harvest season as well. Look for the Taste of Nova Scotia logo as a signpost to the dishes that will feature fresh, seasonal treats. Fall means county fairs are in full swing as well. Stop in at one of the four county exhibitions that grace our autumn season and see all kinds of traditional competitions featuring everything from heavy horses to huge pumpkins.

The festival essence of autumn just starts with rural fairs. With so much colour all around us, the calendar is chock full of special events. From the Fall Wine Festival to the annual Studio Rally Weekend encompassing the region to a journey through a corn maze , there are all kinds of amazing ways to experience and explore the Three Shores in autumn.

For information on other seasonal festivities, activities, and attractions, check out our full listing of Things to Do.