Hirtle's Beach & Gaff Point Trail
Hirtle's Beach
A 3-kilometer crescent of sand linked to the Gaff Point headland loop, the most popular beach and coastal hike near Lunenburg.
Hirtle's Beach lies about 20 kilometers south of Lunenburg in Kingsburg. Its roughly 3-kilometer stretch of sand and pebbles faces the Atlantic. In summer it draws surfers and swimmers, and behind it lie a lagoon and dunes. From the end of the beach you can join the Gaff Point Trail, a roughly 7-kilometer loop that crosses spruce forest and climbs to the headland, with wide clifftop sea views along the way. It is one of the highest-rated hiking routes on the South Shore and takes about 2-3 hours. Admission is free, but the parking lot fills quickly on summer weekends. The waves and rip currents are strong, so take care when swimming.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- The Ovens Natural Park
- Blue Rocks
- Ironworks Distillery
- Bluenose II
- Knaut-Rhuland House Museum
- Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic
- Old Town Lunenburg
- St. John's Anglican Church, Lunenburg