Upper Clements

Upper Clements Parks is a provincial recreation area located in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, near the town of Annapolis Royal. The site originally featured Upper Clements Park, a family-oriented theme park that operated from 1989 to 2019, offering rides, attractions, and entertainment in a forested setting along the Annapolis River. Following the theme park's closure, the province has transitioned the area toward nature-based recreation and outdoor adventure activities. The site encompasses diverse forest habitats, river access, and trails that showcase the natural beauty of the Annapolis Valley region.

The park's riparian and upland forest habitats support typical Nova Scotia wildlife including white-tailed deer, red foxes, snowshoe hares, and various small mammals like chipmunks and red squirrels. The Annapolis River corridor attracts waterfowl including mallards, wood ducks, and Canada geese, while songbirds such as warblers, chickadees, and woodpeckers inhabit the mixed forests. Bald eagles and ospreys are occasionally spotted fishing along the river during migration periods. The diverse habitats also support amphibians like spring peepers and American toads, while the river itself hosts Atlantic salmon during spawning runs.

The park features mixed Acadian forest vegetation characteristic of the Annapolis Valley, with mature stands of red maple, sugar maple, yellow birch, and white spruce dominating the canopy. The understory includes flowering shrubs such as serviceberry, wild rose, and blueberry, which provide important wildlife food sources. Along the Annapolis River, riparian vegetation includes alders, willows, and various sedges and grasses that stabilize the riverbanks. Spring brings displays of wildflowers including trilliums, violets, and wild lily-of-the-valley, while ferns carpet shaded areas beneath the forest canopy.

The park sits within the Annapolis Lowlands, a geological region characterized by sedimentary bedrock formations from the Triassic period, approximately 200 million years old. The landscape was shaped by glacial activity during the last ice age, which deposited till and created the gently rolling topography visible today. The Annapolis River has carved its valley through these softer sedimentary rocks, creating floodplains and terraces along its course. The red soils common in the area reflect iron-rich minerals weathered from the underlying bedrock, a characteristic feature of the Annapolis Valley region.

The park experiences a humid continental climate moderated by proximity to the Bay of Fundy and Atlantic Ocean, resulting in milder temperatures than interior Nova Scotia. Average temperatures range from -5°C in January to 20°C in July, with the Annapolis Valley known for its relatively warm, sheltered conditions. The area receives approximately 1,200 mm of annual precipitation distributed fairly evenly throughout the year, though late fall and winter tend to be wettest. Spring arrives earlier here than in much of Nova Scotia, making the valley ideal for agriculture and creating longer growing seasons that benefit both cultivated and wild plants.

The Annapolis Valley has been home to the Mi'kmaq people for thousands of years, who used the river as a transportation corridor and the surrounding lands for hunting, fishing, and gathering. European settlement began in the early 1600s with French Acadians, who established farms along the fertile valley. Following the Acadian expulsion in the 1750s, British settlers arrived and developed the agricultural economy that continues today. The area near Upper Clements Parks has long been used for farming and forestry, with the Annapolis River serving as an important route for transporting goods before modern highways were built.

The site was developed as Upper Clements Park in 1989 as part of provincial tourism development initiatives, becoming one of Atlantic Canada's premier family entertainment destinations. The theme park featured wooden roller coasters, water rides, and various attractions that drew families from across the Maritime provinces for three decades. Financial challenges led to the park's closure in 2019, after which the provincial government began reimagining the site as an outdoor recreation and adventure tourism destination. Recent years have seen the removal of some infrastructure and the development of trails and natural recreation opportunities that leverage the site's forested setting and river access.

The site features walking and hiking trails through the forested landscape, offering opportunities to explore the diverse habitats and enjoy views of the Annapolis River valley. Adventure activities including treetop trekking and zip-lining have been developed to capitalize on the mature forest canopy. The proximity to the historic town of Annapolis Royal makes the park part of a broader tourism corridor that includes Fort Anne National Historic Site and the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens. The Annapolis River itself offers opportunities for kayaking and canoeing, while the surrounding valley is known for its scenic drives, orchards, and vineyards.

Upper Clements Parks is located approximately 5 kilometers south of Annapolis Royal on Highway 1, making it easily accessible from major Maritime routes. The site offers parking, washroom facilities, and picnic areas for day-use visitors. Nearby Annapolis Royal provides full visitor services including accommodations, restaurants, and shopping. The park is open seasonally with some activities available from late spring through fall, while trails may be accessible year-round for winter hiking and snowshoeing. Halifax is approximately 200 kilometers east via Highway 101, making the site a feasible day trip or weekend destination from Nova Scotia's capital.

The transition from theme park to nature-based recreation represents an opportunity to restore some areas to natural conditions while maintaining sustainable tourism infrastructure. Efforts focus on preserving the mature forest stands, protecting riparian habitats along the Annapolis River, and managing invasive plant species that may have spread during previous development. The provincial government works to balance recreation access with habitat protection, ensuring that trails and facilities minimize environmental impact. The site's location within the broader Annapolis Valley ecosystem makes it important for maintaining forest connectivity and wildlife corridors between protected areas, contributing to regional biodiversity conservation.