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Outdoors & Nature

29 places — trails, beaches, parks, and the wild beauty of Cape Breton Island

Type
Region
Skyline Trail
Featured

Skyline Trail

traileasy · 8.20 km

Iconic boardwalk-ended headland trail with sweeping Gulf of St. Lawrence views, frequent moose sightings, and the most-photographed sunset in Atlantic Canada — reserve in peak season.

Acadian Trail

Acadian Trail

traildifficult · 8.40 km

Steep climb above Cheticamp to a panoramic overlook of the Acadian coast.

Aspy Trail

Aspy Trail

traileasy · 9.60 km

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

Baddeck Nordic Club

Baddeck Nordic Club

trail

Broad Cove Mountain Trail

Broad Cove Mountain Trail

trailmoderate · 1.90 km

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

Cape Mabou Highlands

Cape Mabou Highlands

trail

Cape Mabou Highlands Trails

Cape Mabou Highlands Trails

traildifficult · 12.00 km

Network of community-maintained ridge and shoreline trails high above the Northumberland Strait.

Cape Smokey Provincial Park Trail

Cape Smokey Provincial Park Trail

trailmoderate · 11.00 km

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

Capelin Cove

Capelin Cove

trail

Ceilidh Coastal Trail (part of Celtic Shores Coastal Trail)

Ceilidh Coastal Trail (part of Celtic Shores Coastal Trail)

trail

Chestico Trail (part of Celtic Shores Coastal Trail)

Chestico Trail (part of Celtic Shores Coastal Trail)

trail

Coastal Trail

Coastal Trail

trailmoderate · 11.00 km

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

Fishing Cove Trail

Fishing Cove Trail

traildifficult · 16.00 km

Long descent to a remote backcountry beach and the only wilderness campground in the national park.

Franey Trail

Franey Trail

traildifficult · 7.40 km

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

Green Cove Trail – Cape Breton Highlands National Park

trail

Inverness Shean Trail (part of Celtic Shores Coastal Trail)

Inverness Shean Trail (part of Celtic Shores Coastal Trail)

trail

Jigging Cove Lake Trail

Jigging Cove Lake Trail

traileasy · 2.50 km

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

Lone Shieling Trail

Lone Shieling Trail

traileasy · 0.80 km

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

Lowland Cove Loop – Meat Cove

Lowland Cove Loop – Meat Cove

trail

Mabou Rivers Trail (part of Celtic Shores Coastal Trail)

Mabou Rivers Trail (part of Celtic Shores Coastal Trail)

trail

MacIntosh Brook Trail

MacIntosh Brook Trail

traileasy · 1.70 km

Flat streamside walk through tall hardwoods to a small waterfall.

Meat Cove Mountain Trail

Meat Cove Mountain Trail

traildifficult · 3.00 km

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

Middle Head Trail

Middle Head Trail

traileasy · 4.00 km

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

Polletts Cove Trail

Polletts Cove Trail

traildifficult · 16.00 km

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

Salt Mountain Trail

Salt Mountain Trail

trail

Skye River Trail

Skye River Trail

trail

Sugarloaf Mountain Trail

Sugarloaf Mountain Trail

trailmoderate · 3.00 km

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

Tenerife Mountain

Tenerife Mountain

trail

Uisge Ban Falls Trail

Uisge Ban Falls Trail

traileasy · 3.00 km

Easy forest walk to a 15-metre waterfall tucked in a steep mossy gorge.

Around Cape Breton

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