Freshwater Lake Beaches

Halifax Regional Municipality has a number of great places to swim, however, not all are safe
and/or lifeguard supervised. Residents are encouraged to swim at supervised beach locations.

  • The Lifeguards are certified by the Lifesaving Society of Canada, with specialized
    training, first aid & emergency equipment.
  • Pre-season and daily maintenance
  • The Department of Health does weekly water quality tests
  • Lifeguards provide water safety education
  • Supervision from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm daily, July 1 – August 30.
BeachLakeCommunity
Albro BeachBig Albro LakeDartmouth
Birch Cove BeachBanook LakeDartmouth
Campbell Point BeachHatchet LakeHalifax
Chocolate BeachChocolate LakeHalifax
Commons PoolCentral Commons ParkHalifax
Fenerty BeachPaper MillLake Bedford
Kearney BeachKearney LakeHalifax
Kidston BeachKidston LakeHalifax
*Kinap BeachPorter’s LakeEastern Shore
Kinsman BeachFirst LakeSackville
Lake Echo BeachLake EchoEastern Shore
Long Pond BeachLong PondHalifax
Penhorn BeachPenhorn LakeDartmouth
Pleasant Drive BeachPetpeswick LakeEastern Shore
Saunders BeachPaper Mill LakeBedford
Sheet HarbourTBAEastern Shore
Shubie BeachLake Charles (Shubie Park)Dartmouth
Springfield BeachSpringfield LakeSackville
BeaverbankTBASackville
Webber’s BeachLake CharlotteEastern Shore

* No weekend supervision at these sites.

Saltwater Ocean Beaches

Here are some of the better ocean beaches in the Halifax area:

  • Clam Harbour Beach off Highway. 7.
    Clam Harbour Beach hosts the annual Sandcastle-Sculpture Contest, held in August. Supervised on weekends only (10am to 6pm)
  • Lawrencetown Beach Highway. 207
    The top of the hill at Lawrencetown gives you a panorama of the magnificent beach stretching out into the distance. A popular place for surfers year-round.
  • Martinique Beach
    The longest, white sand beach in Nova Scotia reminds you of the Caribbean. Enjoy the 2 mile beach walk.
  • Taylors Head Beach
    Taylor’s Head, j ust west of Sheet Harbour, is a nature lover’s paradise. It has ten miles of headland, several secluded beaches and many picturesque hiking trails
  • Queensland Beach
    At St. Margaret’s Bay, Highway. 3. Supervised beach.
  • Rainbow Haven Provincial Beach Highway. 207 to Bissett Road.
    Full facilities. Nearest serviced beach park to downtown Halifax.

Here are several unsupervised beaches in the area:

  • Cleveland Beach (ocean) St. Margaret’s Bay, Highway. 3. Minimal facilities.
  • Crystal Crescent Beach (ocean) Highway. 349, on the open Atlantic. No facilities.
  • Laurie Provincial Park (lake) on Shubenacadie Grand Lake, Highway 2. Boating, camping.
  • Lewis Lake(lake) Upper Tantallon, Highway 3. Accessible, facilities, trails, fishing.
  • Martinique Beach (ocean) off Highway 7/107. Minimal facilities. At 5km, the longest beach in Nova Scotia.
  • Oakfield Provincial Park (lake) on Shubenacadie Grand Lake, Highway 2. Large picnic area, small beach, boat ramp, minimal facilities, accessible.
  • Porter’s Lake (lake) south of Highway 7. Large freshwater lake near ocean. Boating, swimming, fishing, facilities, camping.
  • Taylor Head (ocean) off Highway 7. Minimal facilities. Hiking, swimming.