Reveiw: Canoe Routes of Eastern Halifax County by Toren Hynes. 2026 edition now available (5th edition)
Free to members
A review by Sheena Masson, author of Paddle Lunenburg Queens and the NS Coastal Water Trail
Complex channel at Chezzetcook Lake
Paddlers who have used Toren Hynes’ book already know what an invaluable guide it is. For those of you wanting to explore the Eastern Shore, it is an impressive collection of 26 inland canoe routes spread between the Halifax airport and Tangier mostly concentrated around Musquodoboit Harbour. The routes include plenty of shorter day trips as well as more remote multiday trips. It is a region of “towering bare granite hills, mature softwood forest, and frequent vertical cliffs” and innumerable lakes and streams.
Toren knows the area thoroughly and his well-written descriptions of each route provide just the right amount of information with a few historical and natural details as well. The directions are easy to follow with GPS coordinates and partnered with excellent maps showing campsites beaches, hiking suggestions and other points of interest. Colour photos and drone shots also help to visualize the route.
Here’s a short sample; “Salmon River Inlet is a long extension of Jeddore Harbour, leading several kilometers inland, and makes for an excellent, easy afternoon paddle and picnic….. Heading 900m into Moose Cove, you will come to a small sandy beach. Slightly inland there is a steep rock, which can be climbed with a short bushwhack, offering a good view of Moose Cove and part of Jeddore Harbour.”
A brief introduction is provided for people new to canoeing with tips on canoes, animals, camping, weather and much more. This guidebook is available for free to CKNS members in our PDF Library at ckns.ca (membership is only $10). There’s also a sample of the book there for non-members to look at. Toren welcomes updates from users to keep it current. You can send suggestions to Toren.Hynes@dal.ca
Toren sells hardcopies of Canoe Routes of Eastern Halifax County on Kijiji for $21 including postage. It’s also available at Old Creel Canoe and Kayak in Fall River. Happy Paddling!
