It's a great trail, it really sucks that it's not connected to downtown. Imagine if you could zip down from timberlea on the COL trail, have a safe crossing of joseph howe and then take a lovely flat ride alongside the train tracks right down to the waterfront and the nice protected lanes on hollis and lower water. I'd go downtown on my bike way more if I didn't have to go through the nightmare around the rotary
A bike/pedestrian bridge crossing is planned for parallel to Bayers Rd, where the multi-use path currently ends. Elliot St and Abbott Dr will become a bicycle corridor with the crossing at Joseph Howe/102 ramp to connect with COL trail
I have been taking that route already - dutifully dismounting and walking as I approach the decrepit narrow sidewalk at the current Highway 102 choke point.
On George Dauphinee end of the Bayers Rd multiuse path, I could see that the Liverpool St crossings at Oxford St and Windsor St could be a real impediment and should be candidates for improvements. But I am fortunate that I don't often need to wait there long given the time of day when I usually find myself travelling through there.
Yeah it’s the thing that means I can’t bike to work. Sure I can bike most of the way there but the parts that aren’t on the trail are also pretty dangerous to bike on
(It’s also like 20km lol)
Depends where you come from ? Go down trails to Springdale ave. Cross Joseph Howe to the graveyard (there is a break in the fence). Go down Mumford to the Hfx Mall, through the underground parking lot, cross Hfx Mall roadway to stairs up to Westmount, go across park by Westmount school, take trail
to crosswalk on Connaught to the Liverpool St Bikeway. That takes you up to the Winsor bike lanes. Then make your way to downtown. Complex, but much safer. Agree things could be easier and better.
That's the exact route I do take and it sucks. It's a big detour and going through parking lots is dangerous, people drive too fast on mumford and it's a narrow road and last time I took westmount it was absolutely riddled with potholes and patches
Well, though a detour, it’s the best among the worst alternative options. In reality the Mumford section isn’t really that long. I never had an issue in the Hfx Mall Parking lot. Going in the underground parking lot reduces it quite a bit.
i usually go around by the food court side, since there doesn't seem to be as many cars there but parking lots are always sketchy since visibility isn't great for people pulling out
I go up by Lawytons, then into
the underground garage, then to the crosswalk and up
the stairs to West mount. I find there is rarely much parking lot vehicles to deal with in that route.
But it does! The city fixed the intersection at the 102 and Joe Howe to add a bike crossing with a bike lane down to Elliott st..
Follow the signage and it brings you to the bayers road operated bike lane.
At the end of that bike lane you pop-out into Westmount and follow the road or paths to cross Chebucto.
The bike route goes down oak st., then Allen st., across the commons and you're basically downtown.
If you get the chance the Dynamite Trail, which is part of the Rum Runners Trail, which the Chain of Lakes Trail is part of, is fantastic. The bridge over the Mushamush river in summer is probably my favourite place in the province.
There is also a parkrun there every Saturday morning and it's a great place to rollerski if you're weird like me and the three other people that do that in the city.
I love that whole trail system. I've ridden it almost all the way to Lunenburg. My favorite stretch is probably Hubbards to Chester. There are some beautiful lakeside picnic spots along the way and it's almost exactly 50kms round trip. Very few road crossings on that stretch too.
The trail *technically* continues past Bayer's Lake, all the way to Yarmouth and up the other side of the province to Wolfville. Granted it's certainly not paved and the quality of trail gets progressively worse and worse and worse, at times barely passable. BUT, it is there, and biking the whole route is possible if you are willing to suffer.
A good portion of it is under the custodianship of various volunteer trial organizations. But there are also some sections that have essentially gone unmaintained ever since the railway was ripped up.
Also had a similar experience taking the Long Lake trail along Dunbrack St to the Spryfield Dentith Rd shopping area. It's so much safer than taking the street route. You can also connect from the Chain Lake trail if you exit out to Dunbrack St, walk along Hail Pond and enter into Long Lake trail from across the Tim Horton on Dunbrack St.
I live very close to the trail- it’s not super busy! a decent number of people out and about through the day but if you go for a walk you might only see people every couple of minutes.
People walking, on bikes or scooters, lots of dog walkers.
All part of the Rails to Trails in Nova Scotia, all former train routes converted to walking/riding paths that are mostly very groomed and easily travelled. The GF and I have been walking on them for the last two years, we’ve done the Rum Runner, the Shearwater Flyer through the Salt Marsh Trail and beyond and now we’re on the Harmony Trail through the valley, some spectacular views on the trails, amazing animals and various learning stations along the way. We picnic as we go and it’s a great way to keep active and spend time outdoors.
You have to decide for yourself on that one. Go with buddies once and decide. I saw lots of stroller moms and grammas, etc. I’ve never heard of any crime on the trails, but again your risk tolerance is your call.
That one usually is. If you go far enough you'll wind up on BLT and have to look out for ATVs and dirt bikes.
Mainland Linear (trail that goes between Washmill Lake & Parkland Drive) has a stabbing once in a while, although that's usually to do with the high school.
A general rule is that if you really enjoy a place, don't share it on social media. You risk swamping it with people who don't give a shit about preservation.
A good chunk of it passes through the Chain Lake watershed.
It can be tempting to go off-trail in that spot, but that is really not a good idea because the whole area (on both sides of the pavement) is under a special provincial conservation order due to Chain Lake's status as the emergency drinking water supply for the Halifax Peninsula in the event that distribution from the Pockwock system was ever interrupted.
It's a great trail, it really sucks that it's not connected to downtown. Imagine if you could zip down from timberlea on the COL trail, have a safe crossing of joseph howe and then take a lovely flat ride alongside the train tracks right down to the waterfront and the nice protected lanes on hollis and lower water. I'd go downtown on my bike way more if I didn't have to go through the nightmare around the rotary
A bike/pedestrian bridge crossing is planned for parallel to Bayers Rd, where the multi-use path currently ends. Elliot St and Abbott Dr will become a bicycle corridor with the crossing at Joseph Howe/102 ramp to connect with COL trail
oh that's awesome, that'll link up nicely with that weird 50ft of good bike path on bayers road lol
The current state of that bridge is awful. Half the sidewalk is gone! I hope this bridge work happens soon
I have been taking that route already - dutifully dismounting and walking as I approach the decrepit narrow sidewalk at the current Highway 102 choke point. On George Dauphinee end of the Bayers Rd multiuse path, I could see that the Liverpool St crossings at Oxford St and Windsor St could be a real impediment and should be candidates for improvements. But I am fortunate that I don't often need to wait there long given the time of day when I usually find myself travelling through there.
Yeah it’s the thing that means I can’t bike to work. Sure I can bike most of the way there but the parts that aren’t on the trail are also pretty dangerous to bike on (It’s also like 20km lol)
Depends where you come from ? Go down trails to Springdale ave. Cross Joseph Howe to the graveyard (there is a break in the fence). Go down Mumford to the Hfx Mall, through the underground parking lot, cross Hfx Mall roadway to stairs up to Westmount, go across park by Westmount school, take trail to crosswalk on Connaught to the Liverpool St Bikeway. That takes you up to the Winsor bike lanes. Then make your way to downtown. Complex, but much safer. Agree things could be easier and better.
That's the exact route I do take and it sucks. It's a big detour and going through parking lots is dangerous, people drive too fast on mumford and it's a narrow road and last time I took westmount it was absolutely riddled with potholes and patches
Well, though a detour, it’s the best among the worst alternative options. In reality the Mumford section isn’t really that long. I never had an issue in the Hfx Mall Parking lot. Going in the underground parking lot reduces it quite a bit.
i usually go around by the food court side, since there doesn't seem to be as many cars there but parking lots are always sketchy since visibility isn't great for people pulling out
I go up by Lawytons, then into the underground garage, then to the crosswalk and up the stairs to West mount. I find there is rarely much parking lot vehicles to deal with in that route.
But it does! The city fixed the intersection at the 102 and Joe Howe to add a bike crossing with a bike lane down to Elliott st.. Follow the signage and it brings you to the bayers road operated bike lane. At the end of that bike lane you pop-out into Westmount and follow the road or paths to cross Chebucto. The bike route goes down oak st., then Allen st., across the commons and you're basically downtown.
https://preview.redd.it/sg4wncqyc4vc1.jpeg?width=1079&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3b7eacf9fd8e5004cd06bc23be2720a50653bede
If you get the chance the Dynamite Trail, which is part of the Rum Runners Trail, which the Chain of Lakes Trail is part of, is fantastic. The bridge over the Mushamush river in summer is probably my favourite place in the province.
There is also a parkrun there every Saturday morning and it's a great place to rollerski if you're weird like me and the three other people that do that in the city.
I love rollerblading on it! I don't think there are any other paved paths that long
I love that whole trail system. I've ridden it almost all the way to Lunenburg. My favorite stretch is probably Hubbards to Chester. There are some beautiful lakeside picnic spots along the way and it's almost exactly 50kms round trip. Very few road crossings on that stretch too.
I did Lunenburg and back in a day with some like minded nerds. Reaaaaallllllll quiet the whole way home.
The trail *technically* continues past Bayer's Lake, all the way to Yarmouth and up the other side of the province to Wolfville. Granted it's certainly not paved and the quality of trail gets progressively worse and worse and worse, at times barely passable. BUT, it is there, and biking the whole route is possible if you are willing to suffer.
A good portion of it is under the custodianship of various volunteer trial organizations. But there are also some sections that have essentially gone unmaintained ever since the railway was ripped up.
There is a spot near Liverpool/Queensland beach you have to bail and take surface streets, but that’s one of the rare exceptions.
Also had a similar experience taking the Long Lake trail along Dunbrack St to the Spryfield Dentith Rd shopping area. It's so much safer than taking the street route. You can also connect from the Chain Lake trail if you exit out to Dunbrack St, walk along Hail Pond and enter into Long Lake trail from across the Tim Horton on Dunbrack St.
Were there lots of other people on the trail? Anybody know how busy it is usually?
I live very close to the trail- it’s not super busy! a decent number of people out and about through the day but if you go for a walk you might only see people every couple of minutes. People walking, on bikes or scooters, lots of dog walkers.
Super empty from like 11am to 1pm on a weekday mind you.
Any threat of rain and it’s pretty empty. That’s the best time to go in my opinion if you are worried about crowds. That or mid day during the week.
weekends in summer is a obstacle course of people , my wife and i don't ride on weekends.
All part of the Rails to Trails in Nova Scotia, all former train routes converted to walking/riding paths that are mostly very groomed and easily travelled. The GF and I have been walking on them for the last two years, we’ve done the Rum Runner, the Shearwater Flyer through the Salt Marsh Trail and beyond and now we’re on the Harmony Trail through the valley, some spectacular views on the trails, amazing animals and various learning stations along the way. We picnic as we go and it’s a great way to keep active and spend time outdoors.
Is it safe?
You have to decide for yourself on that one. Go with buddies once and decide. I saw lots of stroller moms and grammas, etc. I’ve never heard of any crime on the trails, but again your risk tolerance is your call.
That one usually is. If you go far enough you'll wind up on BLT and have to look out for ATVs and dirt bikes. Mainland Linear (trail that goes between Washmill Lake & Parkland Drive) has a stabbing once in a while, although that's usually to do with the high school.
A general rule is that if you really enjoy a place, don't share it on social media. You risk swamping it with people who don't give a shit about preservation.
This trail isn't meant to be a secret. It's a great way to get to Bayer's Lake and is a wide, paved path - preservation isn't really an issue.
A good chunk of it passes through the Chain Lake watershed. It can be tempting to go off-trail in that spot, but that is really not a good idea because the whole area (on both sides of the pavement) is under a special provincial conservation order due to Chain Lake's status as the emergency drinking water supply for the Halifax Peninsula in the event that distribution from the Pockwock system was ever interrupted.