Castle Rock

The Castle Rock property was purchased early in 2018. It is bound by the Chester Connection Trail, the power line, private property, and the South Panuke Wilderness Area. From the rail-trail it rises to an elevation of 106m at its highest. The average slope on the west side (typical approach direction) is 11.0%, but it does plateau at the midpoint of the routes up. It is accessible primarily from the trailhead just off the rail-trail at the northern end of Labrador Lake (3.2 km form East River parking lot, 10.2km to Chester) but access can also be gained from the powerline (primarily used by OHVs).

11% of the total 206 acres of the property was dedicated to a Christmas Tree farm previously. Since harvesting ceased, that portion is rapidly regenerating a monoculture forest of balsam fir. The remainder of the land is an upland forest that drains toward east river and Labrador Lake. There is a portion of the property that is interrupted by the power line. The section at the northern most tip has been partially harvested.

The marquee feature of Castle Rock is the peak itself. Atop this rock dome, there is a 360-degree view of all of Mahone Bay, the Aspotogan, Second peninsula, and the woodlands to the north. Three trails provide access to the top. They vary in difficulty and suitability for different activities (hike, mountain bike, OHV). For the most part, the trails are well defined and clear. The easiest route is actually the old woodlot haul road, and the other trails have been carved out by OHV and hikers over the years. However, they were not originally routed with drainage and sustainability in mind, so some rutted and wet areas are present.

Since the purchase we have implemented a signage program (wayfinding, blazing) and mapping to help people navigate to Castle Rock. Also, a bike rack has been installed at the trailhead to enable people to cycle in, lock their bikes, then hike to the peak.

The terrain and topography of the trails vary, but all of them are traversable for most people on foot. Regardless of the chosen approach, each of them ends with a more challenging scramble up and onto the peak. Although it is a large platform, care must be taken when on top as the western edge of the peak does have a steep drop to the rocks below. We have alerted people to these considerations in our maps, signage, and promotional material. Although accessible to most, Castle Rock does demand an extra level of preparedness.

Castle Rock has always been a popular hiking destination. The private landowners recognized the uniqueness of the spot and were generous with public access. Management wasn’t without challenges however. Some users have treated the property and access to it disrespectfully. This seems to have abated since it has been opened officially to the public, but we will need to be mindful of this in the future.

To date, our awareness of the characteristics of the land is limited primarily to the well-traveled paths. We have done some bushwhacking through the back portion of the property. This revealed that there are two smaller cliff faces just to the south of the main feature, yet much of the land remains to be explored.

The transfer of Castle Rock into the public domain has been extremely well received. Our open hike day on May 5, 2018 attracted 130 people in four hours. We have since hosted 2 other guided hikes, and judging by its online presence (Facebook, AllTrails.com) and personal conversations, people are very appreciative of this outdoor recreation opportunity.

Castle Rock is also known as a destination for bouldering, albeit not a renowned one. The waypoint for climbers is at the base of the cliff at a spot where a lobster has been painted on the rocks. Next to this same location, there is a small clearing where a fire pit and campsite can be found.

For several years, a Canadian Flag has been flying atop Castle Rock. We believe the flagpole was installed in memoriam to someone who appreciated Castle Rock as a special place.

There is potential for Castle Rock to become a gateway into the South Panuke Wilderness Area. Recreation in wilderness areas is limited to non-motorized uses (unless by special agreement) yet any development for low impact recreation does still require a planning process to be undertaken with and by the provincial Department of the Environment – Protected Places Branch. We have had casual conversations with the branch and they are amenable to exploring the possibility.

It should be noted that the trip in to the trailhead from the East River parking lot, is one of the prettiest sections of our trail. The rail trail passes our property on the lower end of East River, then passes over three bridges and alongside Barry’s Brook and Labrador Lake on the way. The water and soundscape is a pleasurable part of the total Castle Rock trip.

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