Archibald Lake Wilderness Area protects 687 hectares (ha) of woodlands, lakes and several small wetlands in the watershed of Archibald Brook, a tributary of the St. Mary’s River.
At its centre is a cluster of three lakes: Archibald Lake, McDonald Lake and Rocky Lake. The wilderness area provides habitat for brook trout and other aquatic species and helps maintain water quality and flow in the lower St. Mary’s River, a noted Atlantic salmon river.
Over half of the surrounding forest is classified as old forest under the Province’s Old-Growth Forest Policy for Nova Scotia. Most of this forest consists of hardwood species and occurs primarily on the area’s elongated hills, known as drumlins. The remaining woodlands are primarily mature or older hardwood forest on hills and mature softwood forest on flatter terrain.
Nearly the entire site consists of ecosystem elements that are poorly represented in Nova Scotia’s protected areas network, including the well drained hardwood drumlins. The forest provides habitat for species that depend on or prefer old forest and supports wildlife movement or migration across the landscape (ecological connectivity value). The area is known for endangered mainland moose and numerous other species at risk.
With the lakes and surrounding hardwood hills, this is a very scenic area. It is used and enjoyed for a variety of outdoor activities, including sport fishing, hunting, camping and camp use.
Three campsite leases exist on Archibald Lake. These leases will be honoured under the Wilderness Areas Protection Act.
The wilderness area boundary avoids forest access roads and trails wherever practical. Vehicle access will be maintained to each of the three lakes. The road to the north end of Archibald Lake is not included in the wilderness area and remains open for use. To support closing of several old logging tracks and minimize environmental impact, the Province intends to establish alternative access points to MacDonald Lake and Rocky Lakes.