News release

Opening Weekend for Provincial Parks

Natural Resources and Renewables

NOTE: A list of opening dates for camping parks follows this release.


Nova Scotia’s provincial parks will start opening Friday, May 20, for another season filled with camping, hiking, swimming and exploring nature.

“Visiting our provincial parks is a wonderful way for Nova Scotians and visitors to see our beautiful province and enjoy all that nature has to offer,” said Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables. “We are always investing in improvements to our park facilities so that visitors can enjoy them to the fullest. I wish everyone a safe and fun season with friends and family at our parks.”

Several camping and day-use parks will be open in time for the Victoria Day weekend and the rest will open in early June. Opening dates, new check-in times and rules for generator use, and other information are available at: https://parks.novascotia.ca/

Reservations for camping sites can be made in person at parks, on the website or by calling 1-888-544-3434.

Provincial campgrounds continue to grow in popularity. The 2021 season saw more than 91,000 camper nights booked, an increase of 13 per cent over the previous year.

To enhance the visitor experience, the government is making more than $1 million in upgrades to park system facilities this year, including:

  • replacing the main building at Lawrencetown Beach as part of this park’s multi-year redevelopment project
  • adding an accessible washroom at Dollar Lake
  • constructing a new lifeguard building at Clam Harbour
  • upgrading water systems at Dollar Lake, Blomidon and Laurie.

Alcohol, tobacco and cannabis are not permitted at camping parks from opening day to July 2. From July 3 until closing in the fall, these products are only permitted at rented campsites. They are not permitted at any time in day-use parks.

Camping parks opening Friday, May 20:

  • Blomidon, Canning, Kings County
  • Cape Chignecto, Advocate Harbour, Cumberland County
  • Ellenwood Lake, Deerfield, Yarmouth County
  • Graves Island, East Chester, Lunenburg County
  • Porters Lake, Porters Lake, Halifax Regional Municipality
  • Rissers Beach, Petite Riviere, Lunenburg County
  • Thomas Raddall, Port Joli, Queens County

Camping parks opening Friday, May 27:

  • Mira River, Albert Bridge, Cape Breton Regional Municipality

Camping parks opening Friday, June 3:

  • Amherst Shore, Amherst Shore, Cumberland County
  • Battery, St. Peter’s, Richmond County
  • Boylston, Boylston, Guysborough County
  • Caribou-Munroes Island, Caribou, Pictou County
  • Dollar Lake, Wyses Corner, Halifax Regional Municipality
  • Five Islands, Five Islands, Colchester County
  • Laurie, Grand Lake, Halifax Regional Municipality
  • Salsman, Country Harbour, Guysborough County
  • Smileys, Brooklyn, Hants County
  • The Islands, Shelburne, Shelburne County
  • Valleyview, Bridgetown, Annapolis County
  • Whycocomagh, Whycocomagh, Inverness County