Sydney is the second largest city in Nova Scotia and the main commercial center of Cape Breton Island. The best options for running in Sydney are along the waterfront on the east and west sides of Sydney Harbour.
Central Sydney Waterfront Run and Parks Tour. This is a terrific 10k route that showcases Sydney’s waterfront, cultural highlights, and park system. Start on the Esplanade, near the Cape Breton Highlanders Museum (run by the world’s largest fiddle), and run south along the waterfront Esplanade and Boardwalk for 2 km. Then, run away from the water along Wentworth Municipal Park (Crescent St., Argyle St.) to Greenlink Municipal Park, sort of a linear park with a 3-4 km perimeter path. There are fields, a wellness center, and a small river. Return using George St. & Byng Ave., and retrace your steps along the waterfront (or use other downtown streets if you’d like to explore).
Google Street View
Westmount Waterfront Run. There’s nice running in Westmount, on the west side of Sydney Harbour. Follow the waterfront Westmount Rd. (NS-239) for 4+ km, with water views the whole way (note: sidewalk is on the inland side of the street). Then, enjoy a 2.5 km hilly tour of the pleasant paths around Petersfield Provincial Park, and 1.5 km around scenic Canadian Coast Guard College, which sit on a hill and affords nice views of Sydney Harbour. It’s up to 16 km for the full out and back. Shorter option: Do only part of the waterfront path, or eliminate the park/college paths.
Sydney is the second largest city in Nova Scotia and the main commercial center of Cape Breton Island. The best options for running in Sydney are along the waterfront on the east and west sides of Sydney Harbour.
Central Sydney Waterfront Run and Parks Tour. This is a terrific 10k route that showcases Sydney’s waterfront, cultural highlights, and park system. Start on the Esplanade, near the Cape Breton Highlanders Museum (run by the world’s largest fiddle), and run south along the waterfront Esplanade and Boardwalk for 2 km. Then, run away from the water along Wentworth Municipal Park (Crescent St., Argyle St.) to Greenlink Municipal Park, sort of a linear park with a 3-4 km perimeter path. There are fields, a wellness center, and a small river. Return using George St. & Byng Ave., and retrace your steps along the waterfront (or use other downtown streets if you’d like to explore).
Google Street View
Westmount Waterfront Run. There’s nice running in Westmount, on the west side of Sydney Harbour. Follow the waterfront Westmount Rd. (NS-239) for 4+ km, with water views the whole way (note: sidewalk is on the inland side of the street). Then, enjoy a 2.5 km hilly tour of the pleasant paths around Petersfield Provincial Park, and 1.5 km around scenic Canadian Coast Guard College, which sit on a hill and affords nice views of Sydney Harbour. It’s up to 16 km for the full out and back. Shorter option: Do only part of the waterfront path, or eliminate the park/college paths.
Click here for our separate guide to running in the Halifax-Dartmouth area: several waterfront routes, Point Pleasant Park, a 'runseeing' tour up to the Citadel, Chain of Lakes Trail, Shubie Park, and pleasant residential neighborhoods.
Lovely running on the Chester Peninsula. Enjoy several waterfront roads up and down coves, with views of harbours, nice homes, and yachts. For off-road running, enjoy a section of the 35 km Chester Connection trail.
A wonderful 10k coastal run on quiet roads, with Nice views of Mahone Harbour. For variety or an add-on, the Bay to Bay Trail runs for 13.7 km between Mahone Bay and Lunenburg.
Extensive waterfront running opportunities in this popular coastal town. Run along Back Harbour using First Peninsula Rd. Or, just north of Lunenburg, run along Second Peninsula Rd. as far as Bachman's Beach and then north to Sunnybrook!
Huge national park in the center of the province. There are trails for runners of all abilities, including several multi-use trails of moderate length. The park is also popular for canoeing, camping, hiking, and swimming.
The best running spots in this central Nova Scotia town are the many km of trails in the 3,000-acre Victoria Park. Test your lungs on 175-step Jacob's Ladder! It's also fun to explore the paths around the Dalhousie Agricultural University campus.
One of our favorite Nova Scotia runs. Enjoy an attractive, historic town, waterfront, dyke road, a multi-use path through vineyards and orchards, and the landscaped grounds of a UNESCO World Heritage site --- all in one run!
Wonderful 8 km 'runseeing' tour of this lovely waterfront community includes the shoreline, loop around the Fort, Botanical Gardens. and lake trail. For a longer or separate run, the Annapolis County Rail Trail goes for many km north or south.
Pleasant run along the Annapolis Basin shoreline toward the Digby Cut, which is the entrance to the Bay of Fundy. Water views for most of the route. For a long off-road option, the Digby County Rail trail runs north to Bear River or inland.
The best running options in this port town in southwestern Nova Scotia are 4 km along the water, the extensive Yarmouth County Rail Trail that heads north or south of town, and paths around the Cape Forchu Lighthouse.
The most scenic sections of the Cabot Trail coastal drive aren't suitable for running. But there are some running options at Ingonish Beach. On the west coast, good running in Chéticamp and the Celtic Shores Coastal Trail.
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