This is a nice stretch of TCT that is great for taking your dog for a jog.  It has kilometre markers, and at pretty close to the 2.5-km mark (if you head east from the parking lot), Cow Bay River opens up into a pond.  This makes for a well-placed watering hole halfway through a 5-km run.

The trail is well-used and monitored.  FYI, I have been “spoken to” for allowing Dallas off-leash.

If you head eastward on the trail for 5 km, you will reach the Salt Marsh Trail as well as the Secondary Entrance to the Cole Harbour/Lawrencetown Coastal Provincial Park.

If you head westward on the trail, you will reach CFB Shearwater.  I have never gone that way, but from the map it looks like the Base is about 2 km from the trail parking lot.

How to Get There

Drive up Portland Street until you reach the Portland Hills Terminal.  At this point, Portland Street turns into Cole Harbour Road.  Turn right at the next set of lights onto Caldwell Road.  Continue on Caldwell Road for 6.2 km.  Turn left to stay on Caldwell Road, and the trailhead will immediately be on your left.

You can also check out this map.