Winter hikes fend off cabin fever

Pandemic or not, fighting boredom and inactivity has always been a challenge in winter. Hike Nova Scotia says that one way to fend off cabin fever is to hike or snowshoe.

“We can glue ourselves to screens this winter or we can get off the couch and do something good for our bodies, minds and souls,” says Janet Barlow, Hike NS Executive Director. “Getting out for a hike or a snowshoe is something most folks can do close to home on a local trail.”

Event Details

Date: January 16 to March 27, 2021

Location: Province-wide

The full schedule with registration details and directions is found at www.hikenovascotia.ca. Hikes are listed by date and region. Hikes include the following areas:

Cape Breton
Highland (Guysborough County, Antigonish County, Pictou County)
Fundy (Municipality of East Hants, Cumberland County, Colchester County)
Annapolis Valley (Municipalities of Hants West and Clare, Counties of Digby, Annapolis and Kings)
South Shore (Counties of Yarmouth, Shelburne, Queens, Lunenburg and District of Argyle)
Halifax (Halifax Regional Municipality)

Fast Facts

Hike NS and 15 host organizations partnered to offer the guided hike series from January to March.
There are over 35 guided hikes scheduled province-wide. Many are snowshoeing events or just regular hikes if there’s no snow.
Hikes are led by local folks and participants qualify to win trail prizes.
All of these free or low-cost hike or snowshoe events require pre-registration and will follow public health protocols, including social distancing.
The series includes hikes of various lengths and difficulty levels.
For some of the guided hikes, snowshoes are provided.
For those new to snowshoeing, there’s an Intro to Snowshoeing webinar coming up on January 26. Register at www.hikenovascotia.ca
If you need snowshoes, easily find some to borrow, rent or buy using Hike NS’s online guide, with over 65 listings. There are over 40 venues where you can borrow them for free. Learn more at www.hikenovascotia.ca.
Hike NS thanks its local partners for organizing the hikes on the ground as well as The Trail Shop, Goose Lane Editions and the NS Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage for their support.
Hike NS encourages and promotes a growing hiking culture throughout the province, striving to be the voice for those who hike, walk and snowshoe.