Best Photo Spots on Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore
The Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia stretches from the edge of the Halifax area all the way toward Canso, offering a wilder, more rugged coastline.
Discover some of the top beaches in Nova Scotia! With dozens of beaches all across the province we’d like to introduce you to some of our favourite spots for the perfect beach day. Bring your beach chair, sand toys, umbrella, pack a picnic, and set up for the ideal day at the beach.
Northumberland Shore
Melmerby Beach Provincial Park
Unique features: Warm waters average more than 19° C (66° F) during the summer months and has 2 kilometres of wide sandy shoreline.
Beach Type: Ocean
Supervised: Yes, during July and August
Change Room: Yes
Vault or Flush Toilets: Yes, flush
Picnic Area: Yes
Accessible Features: Yes, roll-out wooden beach mat and adaptive chair available from park staff.
Shower: Yes
Pomquet Beach Provincial Park
Unique features: Boardwalk leads to a 3 kilometres long, warm water beach
Beach Type: Ocean
Supervised: Yes, during July and August
Change Room: Yes
Vault or Flush Toilets: Yes, vault
Picnic Area: No
Accessible Features: Yes, Mobi-Mat and Mobi-Chair
Shower: No
Waterside Beach Provincial Park
Unique features: Sandy, warm water beach that is rarely crowded with boardwalk access; good for kayaking.
Beach Type: Ocean
Supervised: No
Change Room: Yes
Vault or Flush Toilets: Yes
Picnic Area: Yes
Accessible Features: No
Shower: No
Northport Beach Provincial Park
Unique features: Red sand beach accessible by stairs with wide sand flats at low tide. Warm water and gentle tide.
Beach Type: Ocean
Supervised: No
Change Room: Yes
Vault or Flush Toilets: Yes
Picnic Area: Yes
Accessible Features: No
Shower: No
Caribou-Munroes Island Provincial Park
Unique features: 2km sandy warm water beach, available for day use with campground also onsite.
Beach Type: Ocean
Supervised: No
Change Room: Yes
Vault or Flush Toilets: Yes
Picnic Area: Yes
Accessible Features: No
Shower: Not for day use, campers only
Blue Sea Beach Provincial Park
Unique features: Wide sandy beach with long sand flats at low tide. Good for kayaking.
Beach Type: Ocean
Supervised: No
Change Room: No
Vault or Flush Toilets: Yes
Picnic Area: Yes
Accessible Features: No
Shower: No
Bayfield Beach Provincial Park
Unique features: Sand and pebble beach supervised on weekends throughout July and August.
Beach Type: Ocean
Supervised: Yes, during July and August
Change Room: Yes
Vault or Flush Toilets: Yes
Picnic Area: Yes
Accessible Features: No
Shower: No
Heather Beach Provincial Park
Unique features: Small but popular warm water beach with broad sand flats at low tide.
Beach Type: Ocean
Supervised: Yes, during July and August
Change Room: Yes
Vault or Flush Toilets: Yes
Picnic Area: Yes
Accessible Features: No
Shower: No
South Shore
Bayswater Beach Provincial Park
Unique features: White sand beach that typically has little to no surf.
Beach Type: Ocean
Supervised: Yes, during July and August
Change Room: Yes
Vault or Flush Toilets: Yes, vault
Picnic Area: Yes
Accessible Features: No
Shower: No
Queensland Beach Provincial Park
Unique features: It’s a good idea to arrive early to this popular spot that’s just 40 minutes from downtown Halifax.
Beach Type: Ocean
Supervised: Yes, during July and August
Change Room: Yes
Vault or Flush Toilets: Yes, vault
Picnic Area: No
Accessible Features: No
Shower: No
Rissers Beach Provincial Park
Unique features: White sand beach with winding boardwalk and camping within the park.
Beach Type: Ocean
Supervised: Yes, during July and August
Change Room: Yes
Vault or Flush Toilets: Yes, flush
Picnic Area: Yes
Accessible Features: Yes, Mobi-mat at day-use beach
Shower: Yes
Stoney Island Beach
Unique features: A white sand beach that’s nearly 2 kilometres in length and a popular birder destination.
Beach Type: Ocean or Lake
Supervised: Yes, during July and August
Change Room: Yes
Vault or Flush Toilets: Yes, portable
Picnic Area: Yes
Accessible Features: Yes, Mobi-Mat available
Shower: No
Summerville Beach Provincial Park
Unique features: 1 kilometre white sand beach adjacent to The Quarterdeck Resort.
Beach Type: Ocean
Supervised: No
Change Room: Yes
Vault or Flush Toilets: Yes, vault
Picnic Area: Yes
Accessible Features: No
Shower: No
Carter's Beach Provincial Park
Unique features: A 97 hectare natural environment park featuring a white-sand beach backed by dunes, a salt marsh, and forest.
Beach Type: Ocean
Supervised: No
Change Room: No
Vault or Flush Toilets: Yes
Picnic Area: Yes
Accessible Features: No
Shower: No
Thomas Raddall Provincial Park
Unique features: White sand and rocky beaches available for day use with campground also onsite.
Beach Type: Ocean
Supervised: No
Change Room: Yes
Vault or Flush Toilets: Yes
Picnic Area: Yes
Accessible Features: No
Shower: No
Crescent Beach – Lockeport
Unique features: Over 1km of soft white sand and turquoise water
Beach Type: Ocean
Supervised: No
Change Room: Yes at Crescent Beach Centre
Vault or Flush Toilets: Yes at Crescent Beach Centre
Picnic Area: No
Accessible Features: Yes upon request
Shower: Yes at Crescent Beach Centre
Roseway Beach
Unique features: Expansive sandy beach ideal for swimming, beach walks and birdwatching with a fresh water outlet separating the shore into two beaches.
Beach Type: Ocean
Supervised: No
Change Room: No
Vault or Flush Toilets: Portable toilet available during summer months.
Picnic Area: No
Accessible Features: No
Shower: No
Cape Breton Island
Dominion Beach Provincial Park
Unique features: A beautiful white sand beach that’s 25 minutes from Sydney.
Beach Type: Ocean
Supervised: Yes, during July and August
Change Room: Yes
Vault or Flush Toilets: Yes, flush
Picnic Area: Yes
Accessible Features: No
Shower: No
Inverness Beach
Unique features: Warm, shallow water, boardwalk that leads to the beach, stunning sunsets, situated in front of Cabot Links golf course at Cabot Cape Breton
Beach Type: Ocean
Supervised: Yes, during July and August
Change Room: Yes
Vault or Flush Toilets: Yes
Picnic Area: No, but canteen on site
Accessible Features: Yes, Mobi-Mat, Mobi-Chair and beach access chairs available
Shower: No
Point Michaud Beach Provincial Park
Unique features: This sandy beach is backed by dunes and cranberry bogs with beautiful surfing opportunities depending on conditions.
Beach Type: Ocean
Supervised: Yes, during July and August
Change Room: Yes
Vault or Flush Toilets: Yes, vault
Picnic Area: Yes
Accessible Features: No
Shower: No
North Bay Beach – Cape Breton Highlands National Park
Unique features: Long sandy beach, more secluded and quiet, ideal for swimming
Beach Type: Ocean
Supervised: No
Change Room: No
Vault or Flush Toilets: Yes
Picnic Area: Yes
Accessible Features: No
Shower: No
Ingonish Beach and Freshwater Lake – Cape Breton Highlands National Park
Unique features: Cobblestone and sand beach for swimming
Beach Type: Ocean
Supervised: Yes, during July and August
Change Room: Yes
Vault or Flush Toilets: Yes
Picnic Area: Yes
Accessible Features: Yes, wheelchair and access mat
Shower: No
Eastern Shore
Clam Harbour Beach Provincial Park
Unique features: Wide sandy beach, home to annual Clam Harbour Sandcastle Competition, warm shallow tidal stream on one side of the beach.
Beach Type: Ocean
Supervised: Yes, weekends only during July and August
Change Room: Yes
Vault or Flush Toilets: Yes, vault
Picnic Area: Yes
Accessible Features: Yes, Mobi-mat to access beach
Lawrencetown Beach Provincial Park
Unique features: Sand and cobble beach that’s popular with surfers with an on-site surf school. Swimmers should use caution and adventurers can explore the adjacent trail system
Beach Type: Ocean
Supervised: Yes, during July and August
Change Room: Yes
Vault or Flush Toilets: Yes, flush
Picnic Area: Yes
Accessible Features: No
Shower: Yes
Martinique Beach Provincial Park
Unique features: At 5 kilometres, this is the longest sandy beach in Nova Scotia plus there’s a surf school on site offering lessons and rentals
Beach Type: Ocean
Supervised: Yes, during July and August
Change Room: Yes
Vault or Flush Toilets: Yes, vault
Picnic Area: Yes
Accessible Features: No
Shower: No
Taylor Head Provincial Park
Unique features: White sand beach and 16km of unspoiled coastline
Beach Type: Ocean
Supervised: No
Change Room: Yes
Vault or Flush Toilets: Yes, vault
Picnic Area: Yes
Accessible Features: No
Shower: No
Yarmouth & Acadian Shores
Mavillette Beach Provincial Park
Unique features: 1.5 kilometre sandy beach with extensive, exposed sand flats during low tide
Beach Type: Ocean
Supervised: Yes, weekends only during July and August
Change Room: Yes
Vault or Flush Toilets: Yes, vault
Picnic Area: No
Accessible Features: No
Shower: No
Port Maitland Beach Provincial Park
Unique features: 1 kilometre sand and cobble beach with fishing boats and wharf adjacent to the beach
Beach Type: Ocean
Supervised: Yes, during July and August
Change Room: Yes
Vault or Flush Toilets: Yes, vault
Picnic Area: Yes
Accessible Features: No
Shower: No
Click here to discover even more beaches!
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