Balancing Rock Trail is a must-see natural wonder located on Long Island in Nova Scotia. If you’re looking for a short hike off the beaten path, you should definitely visit this place. About 3.5 hours from Halifax, Balancing Rock offers a beautiful trail filled with interesting information and stunning natural landscape—without the city crowds. This is one of those short Nova Scotia hikes that you won’t want to miss.
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About Balancing Rock Trail
Location: Tiverton, Long Island, Nova Scotia
Distance: 2.5 km out and back
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 70 m elevation gain
Time: 45 min – 1.5 hours
Dog-friendly: Yes, but dogs must remain on-leash.
Features: Balancing Rock Trail is well-groomed with a mix of boardwalk and gravel paths. Over 250 steps lead down to the viewing platform where you’ll find the Balancing Rock. On a clear day, this trail also offers beautiful views of St. Mary’s Bay.
Finding the Trailhead
Located near Tiverton, the Balancing Rock trail is about 3.5 hours (286 km) from the city of Halifax. Drive the Trans Canada (Hwy 101) until reaching Digby, then take Hwy 217 down the Digby Neck until arriving in East Ferry. Here you’ll catch the ferry across.
The Petit Passage Ferry is a free service from Easy Ferry to Tiverton, Long Island. The boat leaves East Ferry on the half-hour (i.e. 1:30, 2:30, 3:30) and Long Island every hour (i.e. 1:00, 2:00, 3:00). Even during the summer, wait times are quite short if the ferry loads to capacity and you have to catch the next one.
Balancing Rock parking area is only 5 minutes (4 km) from the ferry landing. You’ll find a gravel parking lot with non-flush toilets and garbage containers. As one of the most popular attractions on the island, there are plenty of signs along the way. You can’t miss it.
Read more: Cape Split Trail: One of the Best Hikes in Nova Scotia
Balancing Rock Trail: Hiking in Nova Scotia
The 2.5 km out and back to Balancing Rock can be completed in about 30 to 45 minutes. Overall, this trail makes for relatively easy hiking in Nova Scotia.
From the parking lot, Balancing Rock Trail is essentially a straight shot with nice gravel paths and sections of boardwalk. Though the trail is highly maintained and quite short, I’d recommend sturdy footwear and a bottle of water. Toward the end of the trail, about 250 steps lead down to the viewing platform on the water’s edge. I also appreciated an extra layer by the breezy ocean.
Once on the platform, you’ll see the vertical basalt column that’s over 20 feet tall and weighs more than 20 tonnes. In my humble opinion, Balancing Rock is worth the short jaunt! After all, it took 200 million years to form… so 45 minutes is a piece of cake.
Read more: Fishing Cove Backcountry: One of the Best Cape Breton Campgrounds
Things To Do Near Long Island, NS
Nova Scotia’s Long Island isn’t centrally located, but it’s worth the trip to explore. Plenty of other stops can be added to your itinerary, including provincial parks and local beaches. Long Island is sandwiched between St. Mary’s Bay and the Bay of Fundy, so there’s no shortage of beach to explore.
When you first arrive on the island, the Tiverton Visitor Information Centre can provide maps and NS hiking trails information. When I visited, there was an art gallery on display. If I had more time, I would have hiked the Fundy View Trail in Freeport or the Brier Island Coastal Trail (both recommended by locals).
On Long Island, Flour Cove is a locally popular rock beach, and the nearby Central Grove Picnic Park is a perfect place to bring lunch on a warm sunny day. Once you leave Long Island, you’ll find Sandy Cove Beach tucked away on the Digby Neck. While the Bay of Fundy tends to be too cold for swimming, you may think otherwise on a really hot day. Nevertheless, its a good place to spot seals and other wildlife, too. Finally, Lake Midway Provincial Park nearby on the Digby Neck has several picnic tables, outhouse toilets, and a boat launch. Apparently a decent place for canoeing and kayaking.
Balancing Rock Trail Map
Have you seen the iconic Balancing Rock in Nova Scotia? Did this post provide helpful information or is something missing? Leave a comment below!
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