The Billy's
Hill Trails, Tobeatic Wilderness Area East Kemptville,
Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia
The Billys Hill Trail Society was
formed to help improve and maintain the trails, the waterways, and the
ecosystem around Billy's Hill in the southern Tobeatic Wilderness Area of Nova
Scotia. The Society is a non-profit group of local residents, businesses,
and visitors who utilize the trails starting at the East Branch Road in East
Kemptville. Membership is open to all interested.
Presently the rudimentary trails at Billy’s Hill are an
asset for those who use them, but to date they are an under-utilized resource
for both local and provincial residents, and as a eco-tourist attraction. As
they currently exist, they offer the hiker numerous difficulties, including
lengthy wet or boggy areas, stream crossings, and deep ruts. Overgrowth prevents
easy identification of a trail's path, there is no signage, and there are no
easily identifiable loops or guides to trail length and destinations.
The proposed Billy’s Hill trails provide access to a
beautiful and diverse topography, including stands of old-growth boreal forest
and hardwood, unique glacial features, upland bog, hills, river, stream, and
lake all within a fairly small and well-defined area.
The Tobeatic Wilderness Area is a large natural area
that spans five counties and more than 104,000 hectares of central southwestern
Nova Scotia. Nine major rivers flow from the Tobeatic and over 120 lakes are
found within the wilderness area. The wilderness area is available to the public
for canoeing, birding, and other outdoor pursuits for the enjoyment of nature.
In combination with Kejimikujik National Park, this is the
largest protected wilderness area in Atlantic Canada and a UNESCO Biosphere
Preserve .
However the Tobeatic has a limited number of potential
points for safe public access. The East Branch Road entry area--starting point
for the Billy's Hill Trails--is one of the most easily accessed and important
within the region. From this point, trails go to the Napier River, Billy’s Hill,
and Churchill’s Lake. This access point has been identified by the Nova Scotia
Department of Environment and Labour as a priority for improved user information
and recreation opportunities.
At this time there
are no developed hiking trails in the wilderness area, thus presenting an
opportunity for the Billy’s Hill trail to be the first route in this nationally
significant natural area.
The trail network near Kemptville needs improvement for
several reasons. The trails originated in the 19th & 20th
centuries as ox, logging, and hunting
trails, but were developed before people were aware of the
impacts trails can have on wildlife or sensitive habitats. Recent use by
off-highway vehicles, and less frequently by truck and
tractor, has created significant rutting leading to drainage problems in
lowlands and erosion problems on slopes.
The Billy's Hill Trail Society 7
Trout Point Road East Kemptville, Nova Scotia B0W 1Y0
The Billys Hill Trail Society was
formed to help improve and maintain the trails, the waterways, and the
ecosystem around Billy's Hill in the southern Tobeatic Wilderness Area of Nova
Scotia. The Society is a non-profit group of local residents, businesses,
and visitors who utilize the trails starting at the East Branch Road in East
Kemptville. Membership is open to all interested. 
