Ingonish
Ingonish is the eastern anchor of the Cabot Trail — five small communities (Ingonish, Ingonish Beach, Ingonish Centre, Ingonish Ferry, Ingonish Harbour) wrapped around a sweep of beaches and the dramatic shoulder of Cape Smokey.
It's home to Highlands Links, regularly ranked among the best golf courses in Canada, and to the Keltic Lodge resort on Middle Head peninsula. The Franey Trail climbs to a cliff-top view of the Clyburn Valley, and the gondola at Cape Smokey has reopened with year-round access to the summit.
Most travellers driving the Cabot Trail clockwise overnight here.
Local businesses
Coastal Restaurant & Pub
Casual Cabot Trail pub with creative comfort food and Cape Breton beers on tap.
★★★★★ (1164)Salty Rose’s & The Periwinkle Café
Dine at this cozy Cabot Trail café in Ingonish featuring locally sourced coffee, handmade teas, and live music with garden views.
★★★★★ (805)Cape Smokey Holding Ltd. (Ski & Gondola)
Cape Breton's only ski hill, with a year-round gondola for big Atlantic views.
★★★★★ (736)Cape Smokey Gondola & Adventure Park
Year-round gondola, zipline and mountain bike park
★★★★★ (736)Seagull Restaurant
Book a table at Seagull Restaurant on the Cabot Trail in Ingonish for homemade seafood, pasta, and ocean views from the deck.
★★★★★ (510)Andrew’s Pizzeria
Order pizza, subs, wings, and donairs at Andrew's Pizzeria in Ingonish Beach on the Cabot Trail in Cape Breton.
★★★★★ (482)Knotty Pine Cottages
Cottages, cabin suites, and motel rooms over Ingonish Harbour
★★★★★ (393)Glenghorm Resort
Stay at Glenghorm Resort on 20 acres in Ingonish with private beach access, near Cape Breton Highlands National Park and the Cabot Trail.
★★★★★ (340)Cape Breton Highlands Links
Play one of Canada's Top 10 golf courses at Cape Breton Highlands Links in Ingonish Beach, featuring 18 holes with ocean views and mountain scenery designed b
★★★★★ (317)Stay at Groovy Goat Farm Co.
Stay on a working goat farm in Ingonish with hands-on animal care, new hotel rooms, and complimentary gelato from the on-site shop.
★★★★★ (302)Groovy Goat Farm & Soap Company
Tour a family goat farm in Ingonish on the Cabot Trail, meet playful goats, and shop handcrafted goat milk soaps and gelato.
★★★★★ (302)Ingonish Chalets
Book a cozy cabin retreat in Ingonish near Highlands National Park with pet-friendly accommodations and easy access to hiking trails and coastal views.
★★★★★ (216)Ingonish Visitor Centre (Cape Breton Highlands National Park)
East-side park gateway with passes, trail info and interactive exhibits.
★★★★★ (207)Cape Breton Highlands National Park
Hike 26 trails through Canada's rugged highlands where mountains meet the sea along the iconic Cabot Trail in Cape Breton.
★★★★★ (204)Sea Breeze Cottages & Motel
Housekeeping cottages, chalets, and motel rooms in Ingonish
★★★★★ (203)Middle Head Trail
Hike the 5.3 km Middle Head Trail in Ingonish to dramatic coastal cliffs with Atlantic views, seabirds, and seals in Cape Breton Highlands National Park.
★★★★★ (202)Doucette’s Market & Eatery
Enjoy fresh local meals at Doucette's Market & Eatery in Ingonish Beach, featuring a cozy eatery, market with handmade goods, and mountain views from the picn
★★★★★ (202)Franey Trail
Hike Franey Trail in Ingonish for 360° views of the Clyburn Brook canyon, Atlantic coastline, and dramatic mountain vistas; two loop options available.
★★★★★ (172)Castle Rock Country Inn
Hilltop country inn with floor-to-ceiling windows and views of Cape Smokey.
★★★★★ (170)Keltic Express Zodiac Adventures
Speed along the Cabot Trail near Ingonish on a zodiac tour seeking whales, dolphins, puffins, and eagles with one of Atlantic Canada's best sighting success r
★★★★★ (149)The Island Inn
Stay at this charming Ingonish Beach bed and breakfast with 10 tastefully decorated rooms, stunning landscape views, and easy beach access on Cape Breton.
★★★★★ (145)Cape Smokey Provincial Park
Hike scenic trails atop Smokey Mountain along the Cabot Trail in Cape Breton, with panoramic lookoffs and excellent bird watching opportunities.
★★★★★ (143)Ingonish Freshmart
Shop for groceries, fresh meat, and produce at Ingonish Freshmart on the Cabot Trail, open 7 days a week for all your needs.
★★★★★ (142)Eagle North Canoe & Kayak
Paddle the Clyburn River and Ingonish lakes
★★★★★ (111)Things to see & do
Franey Trail
Steep climb to a granite summit with the best view of the Clyburn Valley and Atlantic coast.
Cape Smokey Provincial Park Trail
Cliff-edge trail along a 366-metre headland with a gondola, suspension bridge, and viewing tower.
Broad Cove Mountain Trail
Short steep climb to a panoramic ridge over Ingonish and the Atlantic.
Ingonish Beach Campground
Parks Canada campground a short walk from Ingonish Beach.















