Kejimkujik Visitor Guide and Map 2026

Plan your trip to Kejimkujik with the Visitor Guide and Map.

On this page

• Pjila’si / Welcome
• A paddler's paradise
• Guided activities
• Sleep under the stars
• Looking for ideas?
• Take to the trails
• Fishing
• Lakeview Café & Eatery
• Whynot Adventure
• Friends of Keji Cooperating Association
• Kejimkujik's stewards
• Safety: emergencies, blue-green algae and preventing tick bites
• Follow the rules
• Plan your visit
• Maps

Pjila’si / Welcome

Come in and find your place at Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site. For generations, people have connected to nature and culture in this landscape of forests, lakes, rivers and the Atlantic Coast.

Kejimkujik is the only national park in Canada that is also designated a national historic site in its entirety. It protects a rich cultural landscape, deeply understood and cared for by the Mi'kmaq for millennia through to today and into the future.

Kejimkujik is also a Royal Astronomical Society of Canada Dark-Sky Preserve. With some of the darkest skies in the Maritimes, it is a spectacular place to view and learn about the night sky.

Located 100 km from the inland site, Kejimkujik National Park Seaside is a coastal wilderness and hiking destination where the power of the Atlantic Ocean is on display.

No matter where you choose to explore, there's a place for everyone at Kejimkujik. This guide is meant to help you find yours.

Guided activities

For more details, visit parks.canada.ca/keji-guided or take a picture of the interpretation schedule when you visit one of our facilities. To register for a program, call 902-682-2772 or stop in at the Visitor Centre.

Petroglyph Tours

The only way to view the petroglyphs is with a Parks Canada guide. In July and August, join a walking tour (free) or a Petroglyph Paddle (paid) in our big canoe to the petroglyph site, weather permitting. Registration is required, and spots fill up quickly. Call or visit the Visitor Centre to register.

Discover Mi'kmaw Culture

Create, play and connect through hands-on experiences—from flintknapping and quillwork demonstrations to watercolour painting and the fast-paced fun of Waltes.

Guided paddles and hikes

Climb aboard a big canoe or head down a hiking trail and get the inside scoop on all things Kejimkujik. Your personal guides are treasure troves of essential natural and cultural knowledge!

Afternoon discovery

Kids of all ages can visit us at the beach for a "Creature Feature" and discover some fun facts about flora and fauna.

Evening experiences

Finish your day with a group campfire experience in Jeremy's Bay Campground. After dark, delve into distant celestial bodies in Nova Scotia's only Dark-Sky Preserve. Weaving together sky lore and modern discoveries, guided programs blend science and storytelling to create an experience as unique as a shooting star. 

Prefer a self-guided dark-sky experience? Rent a dark-sky kit from the Visitor Centre. For more details, visit parks.canada.ca/keji-darksky.

Looking for ideas?

2-hour visit – Red chair treasure hunt

Pressed for time but want to discover Kejimkujik in a fun way? Pick up a copy of the Red Chairs Map at the Visitor Centre and see how many sets of red chairs you can find. Have a seat, take a selfie, and at each location, learn what makes that spot special.

More information

2-hour to a half day visit – Hit the trails!

Start your adventure at Mill Falls and follow Ukme'k as it twists along the Mersey River, echoing the meaning of its Mi'kmaq name: "ook-may-k," or "twisted." Riders will feel the trail's natural flow and playful features, while hikers drift through quiet forest with the river's rush always close at hand. Ukme'k is where adventure and serenity travel the same path.

More information

Fixit stations

Two Dero Fixit Plus stations — at Mill Falls (Ukme'k trailhead) and the Mersey River trailhead — offer essential tools and a pump for quick bike repairs.

Geocaching

Enhance your trail experience and geocache your way through Kejimkujik! Download the Geocaching® app to your smart phone. For details on Kejimkujik's caches, visit parks.canada.calkeji-geocaching.

The geocaching offer at Kejimkujik is made possible by a partnership with the Association of Nova Scotia Geocaching.

 

Half-day visit – Connect with Mi'kmaw culture

Discover a story over 4,000 years in the making, here at Kejimkujik for you to hear, see and feel.

Start your cultural adventure at the Visitor Centre and learn how the Mi'kmaq have been, and still are, deeply connected to this landscape. 

Pick up lunch at Lakeview Café & Eatery and enjoy it overlooking Merrymakedge Beach.

Immerse yourself in the heart of Mi'kmaw culture as it comes to life here in various locations along the lakeshore through petroglyph tours, shared stories, traditional crafts, lively games and meaningful hands-on experiences.

Experience Mi’kmaw culture, traditions and language

Beach day at Merrymakedge

Gather your friends and head to Merrymakedge Beach for a day of sun, laughter and lakeside relaxation. A mobility mat stretches toward the water, offering a firm, cool and stable surface to help you reach the lakeshore and enjoy a splash! 

During your visit, you can also borrow a Mobi-Chair or Hippocampe chair — free of charge!

To save your spot, call 902-682-2772 or stop in at the Visitor Centre.

Fishing

Did you know National Parks of Canada Fishing Regulations differ from Provincial Regulations? Fishing permits are sold at the Visitor Centre and through local vendors.

Season: April 1 to August 31

New Kejimkujik sport fishing rules were introduced in 2019 after the invasive chain pickerel was confirmed in Kejimkujik's waters.

These new rules continue in 2026:

• All non-invasive fish are catch and release only
• Mandatory retention of invasive fish (smallmouth bass and chain pickerel)
• Fishing tackle may only include single barbless hooks – lead jigs are not permitted
• No person shall use natural bait of any kind, including minnows and earthworms

Your fishing permit comes with an Angler Diary for you to record the amount of time spent fishing, areas fished, and the number of fish caught. Please complete and return your diary to help Resource Conservation staff assess chain pickerel abundance, new areas and rate of spread, as well as native fish species abundance and distribution. As a thank you, you'll receive this year's commemorative Kejimkujik Fish Management Volunteer Researcher crest to wear proudly.

For more information on fishing in Kejimkujik, including where to buy a permit, visit parks.canada.ca/keji-fishing.

Interested in fishing-related volunteer opportunities? Visit parks.canada.ca/keji-volunteer

Whynot Adventure

Want to explore Kejimkujik but don’t know where to start? Whynot Adventure, The Keji Outfitter since 2013 is a must-visit hub for exploring Kejimkujik.

• Rent a canoe, kayak, stand-up paddleboard, bike or camping equipment for self-guided adventures.
• How about we take the lead? Join one of our daily guided Mersey River Quickie Adventures, a fun, family-friendly 2-hour paddle.
• Equipment shuttles are available, but must be reserved 24-hours in advance. 

Follow the signs to Jakes Landing or book online in advance (recommended).

For reservations: whynotadventure.ca

Kejimkujik stewards

Join the amazing community of people volunteering behind the scenes! There's something for everyone — from fishing in freshwater to looking for plovers by the sea, from watching turtles nest to tending butterfly gardens, from campground hosting to monitoring lakes for LoonWatch. Collect a unique patch for each volunteer activity you do!

To learn more about how to join this special community and make your mark, visit parks.canada.ca/keji-volunteer.

Follow the Rules

You are responsible for knowing and following national park regulations during your visit. For a complete list, visit parks.canada.ca/keji-rules.

• Pets must always be on leash and never be left unattended. Please clean up after your pet.
• Alcohol may only be consumed on registered campsites.
• To learn where you can smoke or vape cannabis or tobacco, visit parks.canada.ca/keji-bulletins.
• Petroglyph areas are closed to the public and require advance booking for tours. To reserve a spot (if available) on our summer Petroglyph walking tour or our Petroglyph paddle, please contact the Visitor Centre.
• It is illegal to operate a drone in Kejimkujik.
• For campground regulations, see Camping Permit Conditions and Regulations.
• Backcountry campsites are for registered campers only; please respect their privacy.

Campfires

• Campfires are only permitted in designated fire boxes and must never be left unattended.
• To protect Kejimkujik's forests from invasive insects like the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA), only firewood purchased in Kejimkujik is permitted with some specific exceptions.
• Do not collect wood from the forest.

Provincial Motor Vehicle legislation is applicable and enforced in Kejimkujik

• Adhere to all posted traffic signs. The maximum speed limit is 60 km/hr, but is lower near kiosks, day-use areas and in the campground.
• It is illegal to ride in the back of a truck.
• Cyclists must wear a bicycle helmet.

Stay safe and keep wildlife wild

• Do not approach or feed wildlife.
• Keep pets on a leash at all times. Off-leash pets may disturb or harm wildlife.
• Avoid attracting wildlife by keeping your campsite clean and by storing food and waste securely at all times. Never store food or any smelly products (e.g. toothpaste, soap, etc.) in your tent.
• If you see a bear, don't run; back away slowly and speak in a soft voice.
• If you see a coyote, don't run; back away slowly, act big and make noise.
• Please report any bear or coyote sightings to staff.

Maps

These maps show the services and facilities of Kejimkujik: Visitor Centre, Jakes Landing, Jeremy's Bay Campground, and Merrymakedge.