Hirtle's Beach and Gaff Point Hike

(If you want to see more of the New Brunswick Bay of Fundy trip, check out my mother's blog.)
Don't let my man's outdoorsy appearance fool you, it took me a lot of nagging and being away for 21 days to get the hubby to go on this hike with me. In the end, I think he found it well worth it--he didn't complain at all.

Some background info on Gaff Point from KINGSBURG COASTAL CONSERVANCY (the group that bought Gaff Point in 1996) website: "Gaff Point, a unique, unspoiled promontory of 124 acres, separates the LaHave estuary and Hartling Bay. It consists of marine, terrestrial and wetland ecosystems.

"Both sides of the point have steep cliffs; there are tidal pools where topography becomes gentler; and sand and gravel beaches along the shoreline. A saltwater pond, surrounded by marshland and bog, provides habitat for waterfowl. This headland is an important wildlife link between two beach-dune systems, Moshers Beach and Hirtles Beach. "

Gaff Point is to your right from Hirtle's Beach. The looped trail is 6-7km including the walk along the beach to get to the head of the trail. Hirtle's Beach is beautiful and worth a visit alone, but a swim is even more enjoyable if you work up a sweat first on the trail.

Gaff Point and Hirtle's Beach is located past Lunenburg (head towards Riverport when you get to the town limits of Lunenburg--if you find yourself in the town of Lunenburg, you've missed your turn!). You're headed in the right direction of you see signs for Oven's Natural Park, but drive past the road to Oven's (if you drive past the entrace to Ovens, you took a wrong turn, stay on the main road--obviously we found this out the hard way!). Drive through Rose Bay until you see a sign for Kingsburg (on your left) just past the Kwik Way convenice store, then keep your eye out for the small sign for Hirtle's Beach. Park in the beach parking lot (there are outhouses, too). There will be a sign on the boardwalk about the trail.

The trail is a nice combination of spruce forest (lots of old man's beard, bunch berries, and wild blueberries), rugged coastline and ocean views. My pictures do not do it justice.

Our lunch spot!

Enough blogging for now, I have to go do housework and weed the garden, then maybe I'll stop by the lake for a swim.