As of 4 pm on August 5, 2025, the Province of Nova Scotia has enacted a woods closure under the Forests Act, restricting all travel in wooded areas. This includes Crown and private lands, to reduce wildfire risk under the extremely dry conditions we have experienced.
What the Woods Closure Means:
- No hiking, camping, fishing, or vehicular access in any wooded area
- Applies to public and private lands – landowners can use trails on their own land, but cannot host others to use the wooded areas on their properties
- Areas like beaches and some open parks remain open, but trail systems within woodlands are off limits
Impacts on Recreation and Guidance for the Sector:
- Inform program participants and community members that wooded trails are closed until the proclamation is rescinded
- Identify areas that remain accessible and encourage outdoor recreation in these spaces, such as beaches, open parks, and maintained trails outside of woodlands
- Where possible, seek alternatives for programming settings for continuity, such as alternative open spaces not affected by the proclamation
- Remind staff, volunteers, and community members of the intent behind closures – protection of natural spaces, given the extremely dry conditions
- Stay informed via the Province’s Burn Map
To help guide your next steps, here are some examples of recreation department actions and statements from August 5, 2025:
- Town of Bridgewater: https://www.bridgewater.ca/news-events/latest-news/3564-parks-and-trails-closure-information
- Town of Kentville: https://kentville.ca/news/announcements/05-08-2025/new-provincial-restrictions-trail-use-and-access-woodlands-august-5
- Halifax Regional Municipality: https://www.halifax.ca/home/news/residents-advised-restrictions-woods-municipal-park-spaces
Here are some air quality index resources:
The forests, trail systems, and natural areas of Nova Scotia support recreation and leisure programming all year-round, but particularly in the summer months. We recognize the challenge that this presents to the work of the recreation sector, as well as all those community members who rely upon these outdoor spaces for supporting mental health, social connection, and promoting physical activity. However, by complying with the current proclamation, we play our role in protecting the people and places we care about and ensuring the safety of the woodlands for future activity once the restrictions are lifted and well beyond.
Full Nova Scotia News Release: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2025/08/05/travel-activities-woods-restricted-prevent-wildfires