Kejimkujik National Park

Kejimkujik is unique among Canada’s national parks, the only one that is also a National Historic Site, honoring thousands of years of Mi’kmaw presence written into the land in ancient canoe routes and petroglyphs. Inland “Keji” is a gentle wilderness of interconnected lakes and rivers made for paddling, while a separate Seaside unit protects a wild stretch of Atlantic coast.

Fast facts

• Established: 1968 (also a National Historic Site)
• Size: about 156 square miles (404 km²) inland, plus the Seaside adjunct
• Culture: Mi’kmaw canoe routes, campsites and petroglyphs
• Dark sky: a Dark Sky Preserve
• Setting: inland southwest Nova Scotia, with a coastal unit
• Managed by: Parks Canada

The landscape

The inland park is a lake-and-river landscape of Acadian forest, hemlock, maple and pine, laced with the waterways the Mi’kmaq traveled for millennia. Quiet lakes, slow rivers and old-growth stands shelter loons, turtles, deer and the occasional black bear. The Seaside unit is its opposite: white sand beaches, coastal barrens and seals hauled out along the surf.

Best time to go

Summer is the heart of the season for paddling, swimming and camping, with warm days and long light. Early fall brings color and quiet on the water. Winter turns the park to snowshoeing and cross-country skiing under dark, star-filled skies, though services are reduced.

Getting there and around

The main park lies on Highway 8 in inland southwest Nova Scotia, an easy drive from Halifax or the Annapolis Valley, while the Seaside adjunct is reached separately on the Atlantic coast. A vehicle gets you to the trailheads and canoe launches; the interior is explored by paddle and on foot.

Things to do

Canoeing the lakes and portages, retracing Mi’kmaw routes, is the signature Keji experience, with backcountry sites reached only by water. Hike forest trails to old-growth hemlock and petroglyph sites (on guided visits), swim the lake beaches, and, at the Seaside, walk the coast for seals and surf. After dark, the Dark Sky Preserve dazzles.

Staying safe

Lake water is cold and storms can rise quickly, so wear a life jacket and carry a map and compass to navigate the confusing shorelines. Ticks carrying Lyme disease are common, so use repellent and check yourself; black bears are present, and mosquitoes can be fierce in early summer. Store food and come prepared.

Know before you go

A Parks Canada pass is required, and camping, especially the canoe-in backcountry sites, should be reserved ahead. This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report; always confirm current conditions, reservations and closures with Parks Canada before your trip.

Coordinates

44.3708, -65.3008

Magnetic declination

15.8° W (2026)

Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.

Best seasons

Summer, Early fall

Difficulty

Easy to moderate

Access / trailheads

In inland southwest Nova Scotia on Highway 8 between Annapolis Royal and Liverpool; the separate Seaside adjunct sits on the Atlantic coast.

Water

Lakes and rivers throughout; treat all drinking water.

Cell / satellite coverage

Patchy cell service. Carry a map and compass for paddling routes.

Nearest ranger / SAR / emergency

Parks Canada dispatch: 1-877-852-3100; life-threatening emergencies: 911.

Permits & regulations

A Parks Canada pass is required; front and backcountry (canoe-in) camping need reservations. A separate Seaside unit protects a coastal area.

Leave No Trace

Camp only at designated sites, protect Mi’kmaw heritage, pack out all waste, and follow Leave No Trace.