Keppoch Mountain — Attraction in Beaver Meadow

While classic skiing at Smiley's in Hants County, someone told me that I should definitely ski at Keppoch since they have the best nordic trails around. I was really looking forward to it but I'm afraid I wasn't impressed with how this place is managed.

The kind man staffing the lodge didn't know if the rental skis were classic or skate skis. Not his fault. He admitted he hadn't been trained. The trails weren't groomed. This was on a Saturday in January when people might be trying skiing for the first time or trying new skis. The manager I spoke to said there wasn't enough snow to groom but the machine-groomer and I both thought it should have been given a once-over. The snow was deep in places and any defined tracks would have helped on this hilly, twisty terrain. I fell hard and still feel the effects. They had flags to mark the hills but they were poorly placed. I had planned to take off my skis at the worst of the downhills and walk down but by the time I saw the marking, it was too late -- I was a runaway train! There were dogs and dog poop on the trails. Dogs and skiing don't go together. I didn't see any signs or notices about dogs. Most municipal parks offering skiing I've visited in Quebec, Ontario, and New Brunswick are better managed than this. Sorry, this is just not good enough and could be discouraging for beginners if not dangerous. The locale is lovely though, so...

Excellent downhill and cross country mountain bike trails. With shuttle service available certain days, I could not be happier! The management and staff are really friendly and always on the lookout for feedback on the trails.

I have also come for alpine touring (skiing), and if you hit it on the right day, the hill is lots of fun - albeit with only one or two trails/sections where you can link solid turns based on the steepness...

An outdoor lover's dream. Keppoch Mountain is a wonderful place to explore, exercise, or just take in the amazing natural beauty it has to offer. Their trails are well marked with ample signage and are immaculately maintained year round. Whether you're in the mood for a beautiful summer hike or cross-country skiing during the winter months, Keppoch Mountain is the perfect place to...