Parks like Pine Grove Park in Milton will reopen after the Nova Scotia government lifted its woods ban in most counties on Thursday. (Tourism Nova Scotia)

The ban on travel in the woods has been lifted for most counties in Nova Scotia except for Annapolis County.

The Nova Scotia government allowed travel and activities in the woods to resume as of 4 p.m. on Thursday, according to a news release from the Department of Natural Resources. That includes hunting.

The change applies to Queens, Cumberland, Hants, Lunenburg, Kings, Shelburne, Digby and Yarmouth counties. Restrictions were previously lifted in the other nine counties.

Restrictions will remain for Annapolis County until Oct. 15, the end of wildfire season.

“We’ve looked at improving conditions and also at the impact these necessary restrictions have had on businesses, which we’ve tried to minimize all along,” said Natural Resources Minister Tory Rushton. “We’re at a point where, for both reasons, it’s time to lift these restrictions everywhere except Annapolis County, where crews are continuing to fight the Long Lake wildfire.”

The ban on open fires remains for the entire province until Oct. 15 or until conditions improve.

The fine for violating the burn ban is $25,000.

The woods ban was introduced on Aug. 5, while the burn ban began July 30.

Thomas Raddall Provincial Park near Port Joli, Queens County, is one of 16 provincial parks getting upgrades. (Nova Scotia Provincial Parks)

The Nova Scotia government is committing $100,000 for upgrades to Thomas Raddall Provincial Park in Port Joli.

The money will help improve the park’s entrance building and water system, according to a news release from the governing Progressive Conservatives.

“We’re making smart upgrades that protect these beautiful spaces and make them easier and more enjoyable to access,” Queens MLA Kim Masland said in the release.

The work at Thomas Raddall is part of the province’s $13.8-million capital plan to improve infrastructure at 16 provincial parks, including water and sewer system upgrades at camping parks, washroom improvements, trail enhancements and parking lot redevelopments, according to the release.

More than 1 million people visited provincial parks in 2024.