Outdoors & Nature in Cabot Trail

The Cabot Trail (Scenic Drive)

The most famous drive in Canada — a 298-km loop around the northern Highlands.

Aspy Trail

Gentle forest hike to a lookout over the broad Aspy Fault valley.

Bay St. Lawrence Drive

Side trip off the Cabot Trail to the northernmost villages of Cape Breton.

Bay St. Lawrence Harbour

Working fishing village at the top of Cape Breton, departure point for whale tours.

Beulach Ban Falls

Tall ribbon waterfall in the Aspy Fault valley reached by a quiet gravel road.

Black Brook Beach

Sheltered cove with a small waterfall spilling onto pink granite sand.

Black Brook Beach and Still Brook Falls

Broad Cove Beach

Broad Cove Campground

The largest national park campground, near Ingonish.

Broad Cove Mountain Trail

Short steep climb to a panoramic ridge over Ingonish and the Atlantic.

Cabot Trail

298-kilometre loop ranked among the world's great coastal drives.

Cabot's Landing Provincial Park

Long stretch of golden sand on Aspy Bay, by tradition the spot where John Cabot first landed in 1497.

Cape Smokey Lookoff

Roadside lookoff at the top of Smokey Mountain with views down the Atlantic coast.

Cape Smokey Provincial Park Trail

Cliff-edge trail along a 366-metre headland with a gondola, suspension bridge, and viewing tower.

Coastal Trail

Rugged shoreline ramble between Black Brook and Halfway Brook with wave-carved cliffs and cobble beaches.

Englishtown Ferry & Park

Two-minute cable ferry crossing St. Anns Harbour, a Cabot Trail shortcut and photo stop.

Franey Trail

Steep climb to a granite summit with the best view of the Clyburn Valley and Atlantic coast.

Green Cove Trail – Cape Breton Highlands National Park

Hideaway Campground & Oyster Market

Halfway around the Cabot Trail with on-site oyster market.

Ingonish Beach

Unique double beach—Atlantic surf on one side, warm freshwater pond on the other.

Ingonish Beach Campground

Parks Canada campground a short walk from Ingonish Beach.

Jigging Cove Lake Trail

Quiet flat loop around a small forest lake near Neil's Harbour.

Lone Shieling Trail

Tiny loop through 350-year-old maples to a replica Scottish crofter's hut.

Lowland Cove Loop – Meat Cove

MacKenzie Mountain Lookoff

Switchback summit lookoff with northern views over Pleasant Bay and the Gulf.

Mary Ann Falls

Tiered waterfall and natural swimming hole reached by a short gravel road off the Cabot Trail.

Meat Cove Beach

Wild black-and-cobble beach at the very top of Cape Breton, framed by 300-metre cliffs.

Meat Cove Campground

Cliffside oceanfront campground at the very tip of Cape Breton.

Meat Cove Mountain Trail

Steep, rewarding climb behind the village to a Cape Breton summit panorama.

Middle Head Trail

Easy peninsula walk past the Keltic Lodge to a tern-nesting headland between two bays.

Money Point Lighthouse

Northern-tip lighthouse named for Spanish coins reportedly washed ashore from old wrecks.

Neil's Harbour Lighthouse

Picturesque red-and-white lighthouse and ice-cream stand above a working fishing village.

Neils Brook Beach Trail

North River Falls

Tallest waterfall in Nova Scotia, reached by an 18-km return wilderness hike.

Polletts Cove Trail

Demanding 16-km wilderness hike to a roadless meadow-and-beach valley north of the national park.

Salmon River Beach

Quiet pebble cove on the road to Meat Cove where the Salmon River meets the Gulf.

Sugarloaf Mountain Trail

Short steep climb up a distinctive cone-shaped mountain over Aspy Bay.

Tenerife Mountain

White Point Lookout

End-of-the-road lookoff over the Atlantic, north past Smelt Brook and South Harbour.