GENERAL INFORMATION

     Name:            Hemlock Ravine
     County:          Halifax County
     Ownership:       HRM
     Managing Agency: HRM
     Trail Length:    Varies, depending on loops taken
     Season:          Year Round

     Managing Agency Contact Information:	
	Halifax Regional Municipality
	(902) 490-4000


EMERGENCY INFORMATION

     Emergency:       911
     Special:         These trails are in a heavily populated neighbourhood.

DIRECTIONS

Hemlock Ravine Park. Take the Bedford Highway past the Kearney Lake Road turn off. Approximately 1 km 
further on the right hand side is the Music Rotunda, a white round building. Immediately opposite is 
Kent Avenue. Turn left onto Kent Avenue and park in the parking lot on the left at the end of the street. 
A trail map in front of the pond explains the system.

ACTIVITIES

     Walking:             Y		XCountry Ski (skate):	 Y	Equestrian:          N
     Hiking:              Y		Wheelchair:    		 N	ATV:                 N
     Mountain Biking:     Y		Inline Skate:		 N	Snowmobile:          N
     Road Biking:	  N		Skateboard:		 N	Dog Walk:	     Y
     XCountry Ski:        Y		Snowshoe:		 Y	Canoe:		     N
                    	 Coastal:   N          		   Loop:    Y     
 
DESCRIPTION

Hemlock Ravine is a pleasnt 197 acre wilderness get-away within the Halifax Regional Municipality. There
are 5 trails networked together for a variety of abilities, ages, and time allowances. In the 1780s, Nova Scotia's
lieutenant governor John Wentworth resided here. He lent the retreat to Prince Edward in 1794 who landscaped
the grounds, including the heartshaped Julie's Pond named after Edward's companion Julie St. Laurent. Edward 
and Julie returned to England in 1800 and the grounds fell into disrepair. Only the music room remains. 

Halifax Regional Municipality (formerly the City of Halifax) has owned the land since 1977 and now maintains
this natural wonder. The trails are dominated by hemlock trees, some of which are over 300 years old and 80 
feet tall. Other trees are seen in the network include Yellow Birch, Red Spruce, Beech, Striped and Mountain 
Maple.  There are also mushrooms in the fall and Lady's Slippers in the spring. There are blueberries, Indian 
Pipe, Lambkill, lichens and ferns along the way.

People like to visit Hemlock Ravine for bird watching, observing wildlife, interpretive hikes and nature studies
which are offered by the Halifax Regional Municipality Recreation and Leisure Service outdoor recreation program. 
Open fires are prohibited in the park. 

Caution - the signage throughout the network is at times inadequate and the ravine can be slippery when wet. 
There is plenty of parking and there are picnic tables in the summertime. There is no trail maintenance in the 
winter.

All necessary facilities can be found on the Bedford Highway.
Dogs on leash are welcome.

The friends of Hemlock Ravine Society are the local stewards of the park.