Outdoors & Nature in Cabot Trail
Cape Smokey Lookoff
Roadside lookoff at the top of Smokey Mountain with views down the Atlantic coast.
MacKenzie Mountain Lookoff
Switchback summit lookoff with northern views over Pleasant Bay and the Gulf.
White Point Lookout
End-of-the-road lookoff over the Atlantic, north past Smelt Brook and South Harbour.
Want a starting point?
Locally-ranked outdoors lists
25 Best Places to Visit in Cape Breton (2026)
A locally-curated, ranked guide to the island's essential stops — beaches, lookoffs, fortresses, lighthouses, fishing villages, and the drives that connect them
The best beaches on Cape Breton Island
Sandy stretches, warm-water swimming, and the wild Highlands coast
The best hikes on Cape Breton Island
From the Skyline Trail to quiet local lookoffs — ranked by what they deliver
The 15 best Cabot Trail stops, in driving order
A clockwise loop with the must-stop lookoffs, beaches, hikes, and meals — plus where to skip and where to spend extra time
Cape Breton in fall — the 12 best stops for autumn colour
Where to be in early-to-late October when the Highlands turn red and gold — plus when to go and what else is on
Cape Breton lighthouses worth visiting
Working harbour beacons and dramatic Highlands cliff posts