The Cabot Trail shakes off spring and settles into summer this week, with nightly lobby sessions featuring Bruce Courtney, Norman MacDonald, and Deron Donovan running all week at The Markland Lobby, and the Roots to Boots Festival guided hike at Corney Brook Trail kicking off the weekend inside Cape Breton Highlands National Park.
Three local Cape Breton musicians — Bruce Courtney, Norman MacDonald, and Deron Donovan — bring the warmth of the island's musical tradition to the Markland Lobby each evening. Together they also perform as part of Trail Bound, a local band celebrated on the northern tip of Cape Breton, sharing laughs, stories, and vibrant Cape Breton music nightly from 7 to 9 pm starting in June.
Three local Cape Breton musicians — Bruce Courtney, Norman MacDonald, and Deron Donovan — bring the warmth of the island's musical tradition to the Markland Lobby each evening. Together they also perform as part of Trail Bound, a local band celebrated on the northern tip of Cape Breton, sharing laughs, stories, and vibrant Cape Breton music nightly from 7 to 9 pm starting in June.
Three local Cape Breton musicians — Bruce Courtney, Norman MacDonald, and Deron Donovan — bring the warmth of the island's musical tradition to the Markland Lobby each evening. Together they also perform as part of Trail Bound, a local band celebrated on the northern tip of Cape Breton, sharing laughs, stories, and vibrant Cape Breton music nightly from 7 to 9 pm starting in June.
Three local Cape Breton musicians — Bruce Courtney, Norman MacDonald, and Deron Donovan — bring the warmth of the island's musical tradition to the Markland Lobby each evening. Together they also perform as part of Trail Bound, a local band celebrated on the northern tip of Cape Breton, sharing laughs, stories, and vibrant Cape Breton music nightly from 7 to 9 pm starting in June.
Guided hike on the Corney Brook Trail in Cape Breton Highlands National Park on Friday, June 12 at 10:00 a.m. The 6.5 km forested trail takes about 2 hours and leads to Corney Brook waterfall.
Chad Tetford is a singer-songwriter and entertainer from Mira River, Cape Breton, who performs regularly at venues across the island. He brings folk standards and traditional classics to life with warmth, charm, and a touch of Cape Breton humour, making his shows a welcoming experience for visitors and locals alike. He has released an album of original music and continues to record new material available on popular streaming platforms.
Three local Cape Breton musicians — Bruce Courtney, Norman MacDonald, and Deron Donovan — bring the warmth of the island's musical tradition to the Markland Lobby each evening. Together they also perform as part of Trail Bound, a local band celebrated on the northern tip of Cape Breton, sharing laughs, stories, and vibrant Cape Breton music nightly from 7 to 9 pm starting in June.
Guided hike along the Chéticamp River to salmon pools in Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Saturday, June 13 at 10 a.m. The 9.5 km return trail starts at Robert Brook campground within Chéticamp campground and is included with park admission.
A week on the Cabot Trail rewards those who combine road-tripping with a little rhythm and routine. Start Monday evening by settling into The Markland and heading down to the lobby at 7:00 p.m., where Bruce Courtney, Norman MacDonald, and Deron Donovan open what becomes a nightly musical gathering. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday all follow the same welcoming format — live music, no cover, and the easy warmth of a Highlands inn doing what it does best.
Daytimes earlier in the week are built for exploring. The Middle Head Trail near the Keltic Lodge is an easy peninsula walk out to a tern-nesting headland with open views of two bays — a good hour's outing that asks almost nothing of the legs. Further along the loop, Ingonish Beach offers a genuinely unusual geography: Atlantic surf on one side, a warm freshwater lagoon on the other. Pack a towel for both.
For a shortcut or a small adventure depending on how you look at it, the Englishtown Ferry at Jersey Cove is a tiny provincial cable ferry that shaves 25 km off the loop — and crossing St. Ann's Harbour on a clear June morning is worth slowing down for. On the Ingonish side, stop in at Salty Rose's & The Periwinkle Café for locally sourced coffee or a handmade tea in the garden, or pull up a stool at the Coastal Restaurant & Pub in Ingonish Beach for creative comfort food and Cape Breton beers on tap.
Friday opens the Roots to Boots Festival on the trails of Cape Breton Highlands National Park. The guided hike at Corney Brook Trail sets off at 10:00 a.m. and makes excellent use of the long June morning before the afternoon heats up. That evening, Chad Tedford performs at the Keltic Lodge's Arduaine Restaurant at 7:00 p.m., offering a more polished dinner-music pairing for those based in Ingonish. The Markland's lobby session runs the same night as well.
Saturday's highlight is the Roots to Boots guided hike at Salmon Pools, following the Chéticamp River at 10:00 a.m. — a route that puts you close to the water and, if the timing is right, the salmon themselves. Refuel afterward at the Clucking Hen Café & Bakery on the North Shore, a licensed café halfway between Baddeck and Ingonish serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and house-baked goods. For big views without the elevation effort, the Cape Smokey Gondola & Adventure Park runs year-round and delivers Atlantic panoramas from the summit above Ingonish Ferry — a fitting send-off before the weekend winds down near Black Brook Beach, where a small waterfall spills onto pink granite sand.
The Cabot Trail loops around the northern tip of Cape Breton Island, through Cape Breton Highlands National Park, French Acadian villages, Mi'kmaq communities, and over six mountain passes. Allow at least two days to drive it properly — three is better.
Ingonish Beach is a slim sandbar that separates the cold Atlantic from the warm waters of Freshwater Lake. Swimmers can choose ocean waves on the seaward side or bath-warm freshwater on the lake side just metres away. The beach is supervised in summer and has a full bathhouse. The trailhead for the easy Freshwater Lake Look-Off is right next door.
Middle Head juts a kilometre and a half into the Atlantic between South and North Bay Ingonish, ending in a rocky tip where common and Arctic terns nest each summer. The trail begins behind the historic Keltic Lodge and follows a wide, mostly flat path through spruce woods with frequent ocean overlooks. It is one of the best places in the park for a sunrise walk and is popular with families. The final approach to the tip is closed during seabird nesting season in late spring.
Black Brook is a sheltered crescent of coarse sand and pebbles framed by pink granite headlands. A small freshwater waterfall drops onto the eastern end of the beach, a favourite photo spot. The cove is the southern terminus of the Coastal Trail, so a beach day can easily be combined with a short shoreline walk. Waves can be lively; supervision recommended for children.
Year-round gondola, zipline, and mountain bike park on the cliffs above Ingonish Ferry. The gondola alone is worth the stop — eight minutes up to a 360-degree view of the Atlantic, the Highlands, and Ingonish Beach far below.
A casual Cabot Trail pub at Ingonish Beach with comfort food that punches above its weight and a tap list that takes Cape Breton beer seriously. The pick for dinner if you're staying in the Ingonish area and want something better than typical roadside fare.
Located half way between Baddeck and Ingonish. Open daily from mid May until the end of October. Serving Breakfast, lunch and Dinner, licensed serving beer, wine, and lots of homemade baked goodies.
Foodies and nature lovers know Salty Rose’s & the Periwinkle Café is a must-visit destination for a unique and delicious dining experience. This cozy café, situated on the scenic Cabot Trail, offers a diverse menu featuring fresh, locally sourced coffee, handmade teas, specialty lemonades that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving more. Your dining experience is a feast for the eyes as well, with indoor and outdoor seating, garden views, and light and welcoming environment. Still wanting more? They offer unique features, such as on-site gift shop, handmade jewellery and features local artists and artisans. The also host live music and specialty dining events, making Salty Rose’s & the Periwinkle Café the perfect spot for a brunch, a date night, or a fun night out with friends. Salty Rose’s & the Periwinkle Café now offers overnight accommodations with beautiful and bright flower themed rooms! Don’t miss out on this hidden gem and book your next stay or dining experience today for a mouth-watering culinary adventure amidst stunning natural beauty.
The Englishtown Ferry is a short, government-operated cable ferry across St. Anns Bay between Jersey Cove and Englishtown. The crossing takes about three minutes and the boat fits roughly a dozen vehicles per trip.
Taking the ferry instead of driving around the head of the bay saves roughly 25 km and 30 minutes on the Cabot Trail. Cars pay a small toll (around $7 each way at last update) — exact change or tap card, no reservations.
The ferry runs year-round, generally early morning until late evening, on demand rather than fixed schedule. Operations pause briefly for shift changes and during severe weather. Check the Nova Scotia 511 service for live status before you commit to the route.
Cape Breton's only ski hill, with a reborn lift system and a year-round gondola for big Atlantic views. Smokey is a small mountain by Western standards but the vertical is real, and skiing with the ocean in your face is an experience you don't get many places.
June on the Cabot Trail is a window before the peak-summer crowds arrive — trails are open, music is playing nightly, and the coast is very much awake. Book the nights, plan the hikes, and let the loop take care of the rest.
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