Forest camping in Nova Scotia with swimming
This is where you want to be for salty waves, rambling coasts, and fresh fish.
98% (484 reviews)
- Nova Scotia
98% (484 reviews)
Popular camping styles for Nova Scotia
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12 top forest campgrounds in Nova Scotia with swimming
100%
(114)
Fraserville Off-Grid Camping
5 sites · RVs, Tents400 acres · Advocate Harbour, NS
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CA$26.25
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98%
(31)
Unique Cabot Trail Campground
14 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents100 acres · Baddeck, NS
This was one of the original homesteads in the Margarees. There was an old sawmill on site which was used to build the house and barn. It was sold to a man who started renovations for a summer house but ended up listing it for sale. I purchased it and completely renovated the 100-year-old house. Shortly after, my brother and I started an outfitting company with no plan of building a campground, but in 2017 we saw a great opportunity for building something unique. We wanted to keep a backwoods camping feel, but yet create it around a hostel-inspired environment. We launched June 1, 2018 and are in full swing now. We look forward to meeting you and will help you out in any way to make your trip here something to remember.
Adventure awaits at this eco-camping hostel offering a natural setting, overlooking a picturesque valley. This location offers close to off-grid camping with a twist of comfort; furnished Glamping tents, sleeping up to 4 people per tent on a queen bed with twin camping beds for extra guests. Cooking gear, bedding, and towels are provided. Each tent, located at this eco-hostel, has its own campfire pit, with a solar outdoor shower on site and beautiful views of the river valley.
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CA$35
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Owl's Hollow Eco-Therapy Glamping
2 sites · Lodging, Tents11 acres · Caledonia, NS
Get back to nature at our lakefront eco-therapy camping and glamping property where you will experience serene lake life and forest bathing at its best! Owl's Hollow offers you private camping and glamping on Tupper Lake at one of two unique sites: The Hut and The Perch (new for summer 2024). Each site is tucked away at the end of its own walk-in trail where you find yourself at the water's edge yet surrounded by majestic white pines. This is a quiet part of the lake with very few residents and motorized boats. Book The Hut or The Perch site at Owl's Hollow for your next camping adventure and be as lazy or active as your body needs to rejuvenate. Guaranteed the experience will bring you back to the calmness you may have been missing!
By booking Owl's Hollow lodging/camping, you agree to save and hold harmless Karen and Ben Perry from any liability arising out of your stay. You acknowledge that there are hazards such as uneven surfaces, heights, bodies of water, wildfire, wildlife and noxious plants that are beyond the control of the owner and you assume all responsibility for your own safety.
Nova Scotia Registration Number: RYA-2023-24-04051421027007770-28
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CA$52
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(19)
Ingomar Oceanfront Camping
11 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents11 acres · Shelburne, NS
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CA$35
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98%
(50)
Off the Beaten Trail Eco Lodging
12 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents2 acres · Rose Bay, NS
Welcome to Off the Beaten Trail. Found on the beautiful South Shore of Nova Scotia, near the famous U.N.E.S.C.O Town of Lunenburg, making us a great central location.
We offer a glamping experience that will be hard to beat. Offering unique full service units, Tent and RV sites. Recognized Superhost with Airbnb and voted #3 in Nova Scotia for Best Hipcamp in 2022 Open year round, for those who enjoy winter camping.
Near by you’ll find Sea Glass beach (aka Spindlers Beach), The Ovens Natural Park, Sand Dollar Beach, Hirtles Beach, Oxners Beach (usually peaceful), Gaff Point Hiking Trail, Indian Path Common Trails, and Kingburg beach to name a few.
For shopping locally we have The Rose Bay General Store and Bistro with NSLC Outlet. You’ll find convenience items, seasonal produce, fresh baked goods, take out and dine in eating, a great selection of imported Specialty items, and authentic Nova Scotian products. A great spot to stop on the way back from the beach for a bite to eat and supplies. We also have the Bayport Pub at the beginning of Feltzen South Road. With Great pub classics and fresh hot fish and chips, you’ll want to let them handle the cooking for a night, but make sure to leave room for the best Ice Cream around. Get the Scoop located in Feltzen South, just a short distance from us here at Off the Beaten Trail. Look up these great places and more online for hours and specials.
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CA$47.50
/ night
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(5)
The Lobster Boat Inn
1 site · Lodging3 acres · Antigonish, NS
The Lobster Boat Inn is located on a hill in the woods in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. It sits high and dry with no water in sight. Thus the serial number: NOMOH2O as it will never float again. Our motto is Off the Grid, Off the Water and Off the Beaten Path!
The original boat was built in 1995, and when found was in need of some tender-loving care. It was renovated in 2022/23 to provide visitors with a rustic, unique, "glamping" experience. It is filled with lobster-themed items that will send you on an imaginary lobster pot-pulling adventure.
Cook on the back deck as you drink in nature, then eat in an original ship's wheelhouse or outside on the picnic table by the fire pit. Our amenities include: comfy beds, fresh drinking-water, refrigerator, interior and exterior bathroom facilities, with a hot shower gas wall heater and AC. If you like, try the eggs for breakfast provided by my girls.
Off the property you will find near by in season: auto race watching, hiking, biking and shopping activities. Downtown Antigonish is but a ten minute drive. The famous Highland Games comes in July along with the Lobster Festival in New Glasgow.
The University is now offering day passes for a small $15 fee to their large swimming pool , exercise gym and co-ed sauna so don't forget to bring your swimwear for these or of course, one of the 19 Antigonish-area ocean beaches.
Sure, you can sit inside and watch one of the many DVD movies, but why not : explore nature, take a walk through the woods, talk to your wife, friend or child, play with the kids, or throw a ball for your dog? If you want to relax, maybe a visit to the golf course would tickle your fancy. Or just chill on the comfy relaxation deck. Do you want to ride, your bike on mountain trails, fish, visit a lighthouse or a petting farm? We have all that too near by!
Take a drive on our new 4-lane Hwy 104 and you'll be blown away at how beautiful asphalt can be. Wide-open highways make for smooth, fast, travel to places like New Glasgow, Pictou, The Cabot Trail or the ferry to PEI. All are within an hour's drive.
Stargazing is wondrous through our dark, clear skies. If you're lucky, you might even spot the Space Station passing by, as you sit at the fire-pit roasting marshmallows after a long day of fun.
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CA$99
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Wild Islands Camping by the Sea
8 sites · Tents49 acres · Moser River, NS
Pitch your tent at the campsite of your choice, between several areas and locations on our beautiful wooded coastal properties on the Eastern shore of Nova Scotia, all located within a 2 minute walk from the main house.
Hiking, fishing, biking, kayaking/canoeing/boating, swimming are just a few of the things to enjoy.
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CA$30
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95%
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Petpeswick Hills
2 sites · RVs116 acres · East Petpeswick, NS
Explore 100+ acres of forest via hiking trails and logging roads. 4 kms from famous Martinique Beach Provincial Park with 5 km of white sand and surf.
Solid safe roads and clean parking areas from where you can enjoy ocean views, camp fires, star gazing and explore the diverse landscape. Free firewood available.
Sounds of of nature are everywhere from the lowlands to the highlands. There is also a path to Petpeswick Inlet.
Coastal rains fall directly on our plateau and flow down to your campsite while forming small streams, ponds, waterfalls and springs.
The amazing upland blanket bog distinguishes this property from many others and is a naturalist's wonderland. Connected to 300 acres of protected wilderness area and the Musquodoboit Harbour Bird and Game Sanctuary. Almost every species of wildlife and plant can be found in this pristine Acadian boreal forest. Highest elevations within 8 km of beach.
There's also plenty to explore in nearby Musquodoboit Harbour including spectacular, well maintained hiking and biking trails, farmer's market, public library, cafes and more.
If you're looking to connect with nature, while being close to surf and civilization, you've reached the right destination on the Eastern Shore. For maximum peace and tranquility consider booking both sites and have the entire property to yourself.
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CA$25
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Sally's Brook Wilderness Cabins
8 sites · Lodging55 acres · Baddeck, NS
Sally’s Brook is located in Unama’ki, within the unceded ancestral territory of the Mikmaq people.
Sally’s Brook is an Eco-friendly property in the heart of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada. We have three wilderness cabins and a yurt available for rent year-round, and three Lotus Belle glamping tents in the warmer weather. We have a wood-fired sauna and communal CookHouse kitchen-dining building for guests. We also have the Hive Dome! This 26 foot year-round space is the perfect place to host your own event with us, gather for our movie nights, board games, playing music, and retreat from bad weather with so much space to move around.
Guest Use of the Hive: While you are staying on the property, we welcome guests to reserve time in the Hive for their own private use. Our staff will prepare this space for you by lighting the wood stove, stocking wood and heating it up for your arrival. Stretch, practice yoga, play games or music, or celebrate with your group!
$30 + HST for a 3.5 hour reservation to current guests
Morning, afternoon or evening (until 10:00pm) reservations are available
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CA$139
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Aspy Acres
3 sites · Tents60 acres · Baddeck, NS
Discover serenity at Aspy Acres, a tranquil campsite near Aspy Bay. Unwind by the creek, explore nearby White Point beach, and relish the privacy of secluded sites amidst lush trees and the sound of the babbling Smelt Brook. Ideal basecamp for Northern Cape Breton adventures. Book now for an unforgettable, rejuvenating camping experience.
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Hillside Haven
2 sites · Lodging3 acres · Vaughan, NS
---- Texte Français en dessous de l'Anglais -------
Hillside Haven is a 3.5 wooded property situated on the eastern facing side of a hill in a private property owners association development located midway between Windsor and Chester on Route 14. Your host are Nudist and LGBTQ friendly.
Being about an hour drive from Halifax, It has been said that our property is in the middle of nowhere yet in the middle of everywhere in midland Nova-Scotia. It's an ideal location for exploring both Nova Scotia's South Shore and Annapolis Valley and It's the perfect location for travelers looking to unwind.
There are 2 private lake accesses nearby, one featuring a sandy beach for property owners and their guests. Kayaks, canoes and paddle boards can be launched at either lake access. There are several trails , geocaches and a small waterfall, Millet falls, in the area.
For higher octane adventure enthusiasts, Ontree Park offers excitement and physical challenges for people of all ages and abilities from spring to fall. Ontree provides a number of high rope courses, zip lines and other activities among the trees and is co-located with Ski Martock for both downhill and cross country ski enthusiasts located about 8 km away so about a 10 min drive. Finally if you are a golfer it's a 15 Min drive to Avon Valley Golf and Country Club or to Sherwood Golf and Country Club.
We are registered with the Nova Scotia Tourist Accommodation Registry. Our Registration Number is: RYA-2023-24- 10301621535661042-233
Shopping and Supplies
Lakeside Variety, our local convenience store, is 3 km away and has gas and carry basic food supplies in addition to being a NSLC agency store with a good assortment of beer, wine, local cider in addition to hard liquor to the local community. From May to Oct Zeno's Take out, co-located with lakeside variety, offers Pizza, Donair, Fish & chips and a variety of other seafood fare. The town of Windsor is 20 Km away where you will find a Sobeys in fort Edward mall on Wentworth Road and Superstore with a liquor store attached on Cole drive along with Tim Horton, Mc Donald, Subway and nearby . There is also a few restaurants and Pubs located in Windsor.
The picturesque seaside community of Chester on the South Shore is located 40 Km away (30 Min Drive) from our house where you will find a Tim Horton, a few restaurants and a couple of smaller grocery stores.
Local History
Located in the heart of the province, Falls Lake, which borders our development and one our of private beach is located on, is the last in a chain of numerous lakes, which are the source waters for the Avon River. Falls lake is so named for the falls that once existed where the dam was built at the North end of the lake in 1926. Salmon could not jump the falls and spawned at the base. The dam increased the water depth up to twenty feet (approximately seven meters). Underneath this lake at the North end is Pugley’s Lumber Mill, built in the late 1800’s. Much lumber was cut in the Vaughan area and sluiced down Mint River and Mockingee Lake to the mill. Lumber was sluiced around the falls down Avon River to Windsor, where it was loaded onto boats for export. With the lake levels reduced by fifteen feet one can see the remnants of what was a very busy lumber camp. In the early 1900’s a forest fire started in the New Ross area and ravaged the mill and all the lands surrounding this lake extending to Martock. Spared were the trees on the South side of Mint River and others protected by bogs and favorable winds. This fire explains why there are few sizable evergreen trees on the lake. Hardwood like birch, maple, ash and oak are the first to reappear after forest fires. The softwood including the pines, spruce, fir and hemlock finally emerge years later. The bareness of hardwoods and the shape of the valley create a strong echo effect on this narrow lake. The rock type of Falls Lake area is mainly granite, creating the extensive bedrock and rock faces that are evident on the shoreline and surrounding hills. There is also rich mineralization in the New Ross/Leminster area, including West Falls. The Department of Natural Resources has an excellent map detailing minerals and their location. The most recent mining interest was 1979-1981, when uranium exploration was conducted on both sides of the Falls Lake by the Aquitaine Company of Canada. The Falls Lake area, Vaughan and Leminster are all areas of known uranium deposits. The extensive exploration on the West side resulted in a road starting at the entry now used by Falls Lake West development but continuing to the upper Levy Meadows still waters. A moratorium on uranium exploration prevented activation of mining sites in the early 1980’s.
Hillside Haven (Havre à flanc de colline) est une propriété boisée de 3,5 située sur le côté est d'une colline dans un développement d'association de propriétaires privés situé à mi-chemin entre Windsor et Chester sur la route 14. Étant à environ une heure de route d'Halifax, on dit que notre propriété est au milieu de nulle part et pourtant au milieu de partout au centre de la Nouvelle-Écosse. Vos hôtes son naturiste and LGBTQ friendly.
C'est un endroit idéal pour explorer la rive sud de la Nouvelle-Écosse et la vallée de l'Annapolis et c'est l'endroit idéal pour les voyageurs qui cherchent à se détendre.
Il y a 2 accès privés au lac à proximité, dont un avec une plage de sable pour les propriétaires et leurs invités. Les kayaks, canoës et planches à pagaie peuvent être lancés aux deux accès au lac. Il y a plusieurs sentiers, des géocaches et une petite cascade, les chutes Millet, dans la région.
Pour les amateurs d'aventure à indice d'octane élevé, Parc Ontree offres de l'excitation et des défis physiques pour les personnes de tous âges et de toutes capacités, du printemps à l'automne. Le parc Ontree propose un certain nombre de parcours d'accrobranche, de tyroliennes et d'autres activités parmi les arbres et est colocalisé avec Ski Martock pour les amateurs de ski alpin et de ski de fond situé à environ 8 km soit environ 10 min en voiture. Enfin, si vous êtes golfeur, c'est à 15 minutes en voiture. Avon Valley Golf & Country Club ou au Sherwood Golf & Country Club.
Nous sommes inscrits au registre des hébergements touristiques de la Nouvelle-Écosse. Notre numéro d'enregistrement est : RYA-2023-24-10301621535661042-233.
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CA$63
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FORT NOVA
10 sites · RVs, Tents127 acres · Jordan Falls, NS
Oh. My. Gawd. Where to start?!
This is one of the original properties for the area. Owned by one lovely family since the 1700's until your current (very lucky) host. The house was the post office from 1861 to 1961. One of the rooms was the hospice for the area... SPOOOOOKY!!!
There is a culvert from the 1700's on the property from where the province moved the highway sometime before the 40's.
Reggie took over ownership in 2020 and is keeping things as original as possible, but adding his touch, like his battle axe travel trailer, Franny, makes her home in the driveway, but of course. She's worth a visit!
- TENT ADVANCED LEVEL LAKESIDE is by far the most beautiful, however it is a small area, and on the edge of the property and I can't be responsible for neighbours to a point.
Learn more about this land:
Fort Nova is your home for as long as you choose. Let's get campy! You can pick from the lawn, living amongst the pines, a forrest clearing, or even the lake side peninsula. Complete privacy, and y'all can hit me up in the house if you need anything.
On the property there is:
- A decent sized lake
- 1700's abandon bridge
- Lots of foraging
So many things bloody things to do nearby:
- The ocean is right across the street.
- Oasis Fish and Chips (Also right across the street!)
- Beech Street Kitchen (in Lockeport)
- Barrington (Lobster capital of the world, UFO capital of Canada)
- Brooklyn (Hank Snow's hometown)
- Rail Trail (runs through the property)
- Provincial Parks
- Boxing Rock Brewing Co.
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CA$25
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Under $50
Star Hosts in Nova Scotia
Forest camping in Nova Scotia with swimming guide
Overview
Almost entirely surrounded by water, Nova Scotia is central to Canada’s maritime region. Ocean inlets sneak tendrils into the province’s forested interior, while seafront restaurants dole out fresh fish, lighthouses beckon ships to shore, and beach bonfires dot the coast. The region shines in summer, when most Nova Scotia campgrounds open and gulf currents warm the Atlantic for swimming and boating. Autumn’s crisp temperatures and colorful foliage are perfect for hikes through the Cape Breton highlands or a drive on the Cabot Trail, and winter snow lays a smooth foundation for cross-country skiing.
Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Highlands National Park is ideal for camping in summer and hiking year-round, with old-growth boreal forests, river canyons, and plenty of sandy beaches. Campers can also consider taking a road trip along the coast and across the highlands on the scenic Cabot Trail highway. Further south, the saltwater Bras d’Or Lake is a sailing and swimming hotspot.
Bay of Fundy & Annapolis Valley
Here, you can experience the world’s most dramatic ocean tides in Fundy National Park, comb the beaches of Five Islands Provincial Park, or canoe through Kejimkujik National Park. Catch a glimpse of humpback and right whales during their summer migration—then, venture inland for fresh local produce and wine tastings at Annapolis Valley vineyards.
Eastern Shore
Head to Larencetown and Martinque beaches outside Halifax for some of the best cold-water surfing on Canada’s east coast. Visit the region’s authentic fishing communities on the way, then take a boat out to the 100 Wild Islands archipelago, where you can hike and camp in secluded coves and boreal rainforests.
Northumberland Shore
Plenty of warm-water beaches lie along the sheltered Northumberland Strait, as does a thriving local wine scene and Gaelic culture in Pictou, known as “the Birthplace of New Scotland." The region’s fishing industry also brings fresh lobster to area restaurants.
South Shore
The South Shore of Nova Scotia offers opportunities to dive into maritime history at colorful Old Town Lunenburg (home of the Bluenose II schooner), snap a picture of the Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse, or get off the grid for a camping trip in one of the region’s wilderness areas—many of which feature thick canopied forests and white-sand beaches.
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