The best family-friendly hikes and walks around Halifax County

The Prince of Wales Tower stands on the highest point of Point Pleasant Park. This imposing Martello tower (a name given to small, defensive British fortresses of the 19th century) is characterized by its thick walls. It was the first of its kind built in North America. Interpretive panels provide further information.

The Halifax Memorial, located on the shores of Pleasant Point, commemorates the 3,267 Canadian and Newfoundland sailors and soldiers who lost their lives during the First and Second World Wars. The monument replaced an earlier memorial on Citadel Hill in Halifax.

The Bonaventure Anchor Memorial, also known as the Canadian Peacetime Sailors’ Memorial, is located on a site that once housed a searchlight battery used for harbour defence during the Second World War.

Lake William is a beautiful, long, narrow lake surrounded by mixed forest, quiet coves, and pockets of wetland along its shoreline. The lake is popular for paddling, swimming, and fishing, with its calm water drawing locals throughout the warmer months. Trails and active-transportation routes run near parts of its edge, offering glimpses of the water and linking the lake to the wider outdoor network in the Shubie Park corridor.

Marshall Brook sits at the end of the trail, and is a shallow, rocky stream that threads through a mix of wetland and open woodland before feeding toward the Lake William corridor. The water moves gently around boulders and fallen branches, with birch, spruce, and low shrubs opening up the banks and letting in plenty of light. It’s a peaceful spot for a break to enjoy the moving water as it slips into the wetlands that border the lake.

This trailhead offers a short detour that climbs to an open, rocky rise with clear views of the lake stretching out on both sides. The viewpoint feels airy and a little exposed, with bare stone underfoot and the surrounding forest dropping away toward the water. It’s a quick side trip, but the scenery makes it a memorable pause along the trail.

The Lake William Trail Bridge is a relatively new suspension crossing that carries this active multiuse trail over the wetland corridor near the edge of Lake William. Designed for walkers and cyclists, it’s a safe link between local trail segments in an area that was previously difficult to navigate. The bridge also supports long-term plans to connect Waverley’s routes to Dartmouth and Shubie Park, strengthening the growing greenway network in the area.

The Hemlock Ravine Park trail system is a network of short loops and connecting paths that wind through the forest and down toward the central ravine. Trails range from wide crusher-dust sections on the main loops to narrower, more natural paths closer to the brook. Wayfinding is straightforward, and the routes can be combined into longer loops depending on where you enter the park. It’s a good option for an easy outing, with mild elevation changes and shaded woodland throughout.