FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July, 2010

Bras d’Or Lakes now on Water Trail Website

The Nova Scotia Coastal Water Trail Website (www.trails.gov.ns.ca) has recently expanded withthe addition of 37 launch sites for paddlers around the Bras d’Or Lakes.

These salt water lakes, in fact an inland sea, offer a unique paddling experience in Cape Breton.The summer waters are warm and there is very little tide or fog. Much of the 1000 km of shoreline is easy to land on. The lakes offer wide open vistas, secluded channels, and remote island beaches.

All the launch sites are marked on maps on the website. Each site includes a description,difficulty rating, land and sea directions, GPS reading, and photos. Also listed are nearby services such as where to eat, buy groceries, get fresh water or stay overnight. This is handy to know around the Bras d’Or Lakes where services may be some distance apart. An introduction to paddling in that area is provided as well.

The website, part of the Nova Scotia Trails Website, also lists over 100 launch sites for paddlers from Yarmouth County all the way to Halifax. Knowing where you can launch and land is key information for planning day trips and multi-day tours.

Additionally, the water trail website has a general introduction called “Getting Started” packed with details on safety, weather, maps and outfitters, for paddling in Nova Scotia.

The long-term plan is to continue adding new sections of Nova Scotia’s coastline to the website.This will provide launch site information all around the province for both resident and visiting paddlers.

Part of the research was done by writer and paddling guide, Sheena Masson, author of Paddle Lunenburg-Queens.

“As with other water trails in North America, this launch site information is just a first step”,says Masson. “It provides benchmark data on where sites are available and where they need to be created. Paddlers can form a water trail association like the Maine Island Trail Association(www.mita.org) to create wilderness campsites, address environmental issues and ensure continued access. Community groups can participate by monitoring local access sites, and developing new ones.”

This is a project of Canoe Kayak Nova Scotia funded by the Nova Scotia Department of Health Promotion and Protection.

For more information contact:Tamara Stephen,
Administrator CKNS
902-425-5454 Extension 316