Rum Runners Trail to Tantalon

Trail riding can’t get better than this. The Rum Runner trail is a bit tricky to find if you're not from the area, but Google maps will show you the way. This is a popular trail used for hiking, biking, and running, and plenty of places to stop and soak in the amazing views. It starts in Halifax and goes all the way to the colorful town of Lunenburg, which happens to be a UNESCO heritage site. This shared use 119km trail is an easy, flat ride on a former rail bed. The trail links seven easy to explore, shared-use trails. Trail access in Halifax begins at the Chain of Lakes Trail (Trailhead – Joseph Howe Drive, across from the Atlantic Superstore), which is a paved trail with easy pedaling where your route takes you along a series of beautiful lakes. You’ll find a number of benches and picnic tables all along the route: each one with its own picturesque view.

The Rum Runners Trail officially starts with the Beechville Lakeside Timberlea Trail (BLT) (km 8), where the trail surface becomes hard-packed crusher dust. 

The St. Margaret’s Bay Trail (km 21) section hugs the St. Margaret’s Bay and runs parallel to coastal Hwy 3, with roadside access to five beaches. Cleveland Beach Provincial Park (accessible by road at km 44), which has toilets and picnic tables, is a good spot for a swim. We stopped at a local favorite, Train Station Bike and Bean (km 27) in Upper Tantallon, and is a heritage train station that has been converted into a café and bike shop.