The Sunrise Trail runs 229 miles from Amherst on the New Brunswick border to Auld's Cove at the Canso Causeway, following Highway 6 along the Northumberland Shore. The stretch through Pictou County is the most varied section of the drive — passing beaches, historic mill towns, heritage sites, and the working harbour in Pictou.
Starting from the West: Entering Pictou County Coming from Tatamagouche on the Colchester County side, Route 6 passes through the small community of River John before reaching the edges of Pictou County. The River John area is worth a stop if you're considering a sea kayaking excursion — Coastal Spirit Expeditions launches from Cape John Harbour nearby.
Waterside Beach The first significant beach stop in Pictou County proper, Waterside Beach is a wide, relatively uncrowded stretch with warm water and a salt marsh that birders find productive. A boardwalk and picnic facilities make it a comfortable stop for stretching your legs.
Caribou and the Ferry Terminal Highway 6 passes through Caribou, where the Northumberland Ferries terminal operates the 75-minute crossing to Wood Islands, PEI (May through December). If PEI wasn't in your plans, the ferry tempts many Sunrise Trail drivers to improvise. For those staying on the mainland, Caribou-Munroes Island Provincial Park is eleven kilometres north and offers Nova Scotia's best combination of sandy beach and camping facilities.
Pictou The route passes through the town of Pictou, which justifies a longer stop than most drivers allow. The Hector Heritage Quay, Northumberland Fisheries Museum, Grohmann Knives factory, waterfront restaurants, and the deCoste Performing Arts Centre are all within walking distance of the main street.
Continuing East: New Glasgow Route 6 connects to the larger highway network at New Glasgow, where the East River waterfront, farmers market, and Carmichael-Stewart House museum offer reasons to stop before turning toward Antigonish and the eastern sections of the Sunrise Trail.
The Green Hill Lookoff Accessible via a short detour from the main route, the Green Hill Provincial Park lookoff sits at 71 metres elevation and offers a panoramic view across Pictou County's farmlands and forests. The view on a clear day extends north to the Northumberland Strait and across to Prince Edward Island.