Every time I come to Nova Scotia, I visit Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site, which is a mere 20-minute drive from my cottage. This year, I have put it off as long as possible to make sure I catch the blaze of autumn colours. 
In the park’s 404 km2, nature reigns supreme. The hiking paths are cleared and the camping and picnic sites maintained, of course, but otherwise Mother Nature takes care of itself. This results in a dynamic landscape which may change over time, as nature sees fit. Fallen trees provide nutrients for mushrooms, insects and bacteria. 
There are forests, lakes, rivers, bogs, marshes, and meadows. Meadows may grow into forests, forests may become open meadows, e.g. due to fire or hurricanes, and beaver activity may flood areas and make them boggy and marshy. 
Underneath it all is rocky, boulder-strewn land with just a thin layer of soil – the result of glaciation. The fir trees grow best on the thin layer of soil. Here a boulder and a tree cosy up to each other.
Glaciers left behind mounds of soil, so-called drumlins, where the fertile layer was a bit deeper. This is why you often see farms located on hilltops. In Kejimkujik there used to be a farm, but it was taken over by the national park and allowed to revert to its natural state. Now it is beautiful woodland and home to many wild animals.
The Mersey River is beautiful at all times of year. I am happy to experience the autumn palette for the first time. 
I have previously canoed and camped in the backcountry. Today I just go for walks on the park’s various short hiking routes. In this way, I take in a variety of landscape types and tot up about 10 km of walking. Next year, I hope to try out some of the longer hiking paths that would each take more or less a full day to walk.
There are many different animal species here, including mink, flying squirrel, beaver, black bear, bald eagle and loon. The park also has Atlantic Canada’s greatest diversity of reptiles and amphibians. I like the idea that instead of removing unpleasant things, such as poisonous plants or dangerous animals, a sign is put up to warn visitors.
