Explore the dark sky

Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site

Stars, planets, and cultural traditions

Welcome to Nova Scotia’s darkest sky and brightest stars. Kejimkujik invites you to experience the astronomical depth of its Dark-Sky Preserve. Gaze at brilliant celestial bodies and discover how stars have inspired centuries of story, song, and legend.

Stargazing in fall, winter, and spring

Walk or bike to the Sky Circle. The campground is closed to vehicles from mid-November to Victoria Day weekend.

When the Main Parkway is clear: Merrymakedge Beach provides a stunning view of southern skies.

When roads are icy or snow covered: park at the Visitor Centre and enjoy the big sky overhead.

Experience Kejimkujik at Night!

Transcript

[ This video contains no spoken words ]

Parks Canada beaver logo

Text: Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site, Nova Scotia

[Sunset views at Kejimkujik on the lake and from the ground.]

[Family of four unpacking the Kejimkujik Dark Sky kit containing binoculars, a Night Sky Guide, and a star finder.]

[Sun dropping below tree line around Kejimkujik Lake.]

[Sunset on Kejimkujik Lake seen from behind two canoes.]

[Family of four running across a bridge crossing the Mersey River.]

[As darkness falls, the family of four watches people canoeing, kayaking and paddleboarding under the bridge with lit lanterns on their boats/boards.]

[A campfire is being made.]

[People are sitting around the campfire as people are dancing and telling stories.]

[People are lighting and carrying lanterns through the forest on a guided night tour.]

[Family of four is looking at the stars through a telescope.]

Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site logo.

[A shooting star crossing a stary night sky.]

Animated image with "Watch another video" and "Subscribe" written on it.

Credits:

Parks Canada logo.

Canada wordmark.

Please only use a red light at night

Please only use a red light when joining us for night programs to protect your night vision and the night vision of other visitors.

Did you know it takes 20 to 30 minutes for the human eye to adapt to the dark?

Our eyes take quite a while to adjust to the darkness of the night sky. Any exposure to bright light will cause the adjustment to start again.

Self-guided experiences: rent a dark-sky kit

A family with our self-discovery dark-sky kit — Rent a dark-sky kit at Kejimkujik

Spend your evening exploring the stars, galaxies, and constellations with our self-discovery dark-sky kits.

Kits are available to rent throughout the season, from June to October.

Rental cost: see prices

Each kit includes:

Binoculars (Celestron 8X42 mm)
Star finder
Red light
Activities for children
Stargazing references

Astronomers use a red light to read charts and maps at night — now you can too! Each Dark-Sky kit includes a red light for this purpose.

Guided experiences

Outdoor shows ponder extraterrestrial life and interstellar phenomena alongside incredible imagery, music, and stories.

Night hikes and campfire programs examine how artificial light affects humans and wildlife, as well as the value of these Dark-Sky Preserves.

Occasional night-time canoe excursions offer a truly magical night-sky perspective.

More information

Annual Kejimkujik Dark Sky Weekend!

Friday, August 11 to Sunday, August 13, 2023

Join the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) and Parks Canada to learn more about the stars, planets, and constellations in the night sky.

Whether you’re new to stargazing or a seasoned observer, there will be stories and discoveries for all ages!