What drew me to the Amethyst Cove trail was the dramatic descent from the cliff to the beach. It involved using a series of ropes to safely navigate the steep 500 foot-drop. So if you are not comfortable scrambling down a cliffside, this is not the trail for you.
The beach is filled with amazing rocks – break one open and you may find amethyst. This is a popular area for spotting whales, seals, Bald Eagles and other animals.
The Amethyst Cove trailhead is the same spot as the world famous Cape Split trail in Scott’s Bay. The trail is roughly 10 kilometres with 300 metres gain. Start off at the main trailhead then veer off about one kilometre in.
There was a yellow marker at the junction but it is easily missed if you are not paying attention. I downloaded the route from AllTrails, and there was a couple ahead that took the trail.
It was easy hiking to the rope section, which I thought I would run but there was way too much muck, puddles and down trees.
Amethyst Cove rope section
Just before the descent, several used pairs of well-loved gloves – in varying degrees of condition – adorned a tree branch. Hikers leave the gloves for others to use on the ropes. While I had gloves with me, I chose not to use them. I feel more confident when feel where I am placing my hands.
A series of ropes are connected to trees to help hikers safely descent to the beach. Because it is spring, the trail was super muddy. From what I could see looking down, the real danger was slipping on the mud and potentially sliding down to the shore. While a tumble seemed unlikely thanks to the scattered rocks and trees that would probably break a fall, it was still a section that demanded caution.
I approached the down climb as I would on any mountain in the rockies – facing inward and descending backward and carefully moving from one rope to the next. There were a couple very muddy and sketchy sections that I had to be very mindful.
All in all it was a fun descent and an even more fun climb up the cliff. It was very exhilarating, and I felt strong and powerful. My twice/week back workouts have been paying off.
The beach
I enjoyed a lovely walk along the rocky shoreline, soaking in the beauty of the Minas Basin. I didn’t spot any amethyst but I did see a lot of pretty rocks that I was tempted to take back to Calgary with me.
Since it was a weekday, I had the place almost entirely to myself, aside from the couple who’d been ahead of me earlier. I was out of luck when it came to spotting any seals, whales or other sea creatures.