About Crowbar Lake Trail

Remote lake access trail in the HRM area with challenging terrain, making it a local favorite for serious hikers seeking more difficult hiking experiences.

Features & Highlights

🥾 Remote Lake Access
🥾 Challenging Terrain
🥾 Serious Hikers
🥾 Local Favorite
🥾 HRM Area

Detailed Information

Crowbar Lake Trail

Located at 1800 Myra Road near Porter's Lake, about 30 km east of Dartmouth on Nova Scotia's Eastern Shore, the Crowbar Lake hiking trails form one of the region's most rewarding wilderness hiking systems. Maintained by the Crowbar Lake Wilderness Association, this 18 km network of five distinct routes winds through the rugged granite ridge landscape of the Waverley Salmon River Long Lake Wilderness Area, offering everything from a gentle 800 m stroll to a full-day 18 km loop.

Far from being an obscure path, Crowbar Lake is a well-established, actively maintained trail system with an official website (crowbarlake.com), a strong 4.8 Google rating, and listings on novascotia.com and AllTrails. With its granite barrens, varied forests, lake views, and signature lookoffs like the "Crows Nest," it's a destination that serious hikers return to again and again.

Practical Information

  • Address: 1800 Myra Road, Porter's Lake, Nova Scotia (~30 km east of Dartmouth, Eastern Shore).
  • Wilderness Area: Within the Waverley Salmon River Long Lake Wilderness Area.
  • Trail System (18 km total, 5 routes):
  • The Pond — 800 m
  • Porters Lake Loop — 2.2 km
  • Spriggs Brook Trail — 5.8 / 9.2 km
  • West Lake Loop — 13.5 km
  • Salmon River Loop — 18 km
  • Hours: Open year-round, daylight hours recommended.
  • Cost: Free; no passes or reservations required.
  • Parking: Only at the designated trailhead at 1800 Myra Road. Please carry out all trash.
  • Facilities: None. Wilderness conditions, bring water, sturdy footwear, a printed or downloaded map, and everything you need for self-sufficiency.
  • Contact / Info: Official site crowbarlake.com (with route details at crowbarlake.com/trails/); email crowbarlake@gmail.com; Facebook page; Google rating 4.8.
  • Cell Service: Spotty, don't rely on your phone for navigation.

Crowbar Lake is exactly what dedicated Eastern Shore hikers are looking for: a rugged, well-maintained 18 km wilderness network with granite ridges, lake views, and a genuine backcountry feel. Whether you have an hour for the Pond trail or a full day for the Salmon River Loop, the system rewards preparation with some of the most distinctive hiking near Halifax.