Summerville Beach Provincial Park
The basics: A gorgeous, 1 km white sand beach
Date: I have visited all year round
Cost: Free
Weather: Best visited on sunny, warm day,s but is still enjoyable in almost any weather
Terrain: Beach; Boardwalk; Access to Trestle Trail, part of a former railway
Facilities: Toilets; Change rooms; Many different parking areas; Roofed picnic benches;
Accessibility: Lots of parking close to beach; Boardwalks to beach include stairs or sections of rockiness
Animal Life: Foxes; Sea birds; Piping Plovers; Crabs; Jellyfish; Ticks & other insects
Other: Dogs welcome on-leash; Saltmash that flows into ocean at end of beach area, leading to Broad River; Swimming, Surfing & Boating
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Summerville Beach Provincial Park has long been one of my favourite beaches to visit in Nova Scotia, at all times of the year. It has about 1 km of gorgeous white sand leading up to dunes that block out the parking lots & road access, making you feel set apart from the world. There are three different parking areas, although it can be gated depending on weather and travel restrictions (eg. closed off during hurricanes to deter travellers from accessing the beach in dangerous conditions). Although it does get busy during the warm summer season, I have never visited and been unable to find a place to lounge.
The water is cold but clear, perfect for a dip on a hot summer day. At the far end of the beach, Broad River meets the ocean under a part of the former railway trestle bridge- the perfect place for swimming and relaxing. At low tide, the beach is wide and smooth, offering a great surface for volleyball, frisbee and sand castle building. It is also a popular surfing spot, as well as a good place to launch a canoe, kayak or SUP for an ocean paddle.
The boardwalk makes a beautiful backdrop for photos, and is a great spot to watch the sunset even when you don’t want to get sandy. It is also a beautiful beach to visit all year round and in all weather.
Dogs are welcome, but as with most beaches and provincial parks, must be kept on a leash- and please always clean up after your pets! Wild foxes will often den here, and the endangered Piping Plover make their nests in the dunes, so avoiding that area and keeping your pets leashed is very important.
Worth noting: Ticks reside in the grassy areas around the beach, so be cautious of this. Also watch out for jellyfish- even washed up onto the beach, their tentacles can still sting.