Cabot Trail in Autumn: Sept 27 – Oct 4, 2026

Guided mountain bike rides run Monday mornings at 10:00 from August through November, meeting at the Mary Ann Falls trailhead parking off the Cabot Trail in Ingonish. The intermediate to advanced route climbs to Mary Ann Falls with a stop for swimming and short hikes, taking 2 to 3 hours total. Non-members pay a one-time $12 fee; rides are free for Velo Cape Breton members. Contact Evan Ferguson at [email protected] or 902-682-7896 for details.

Guided mountain bike rides run Thursdays at 10 a.m. from September 3 to November at the Clyburn trailhead parking off the Cabot Trail in Ingonish Centre. The 2-hour ride follows the Clyburn River on terrain suitable for beginner to intermediate cyclists, though some sections are challenging due to washouts; riders can turn back at Salmon Pools or continue to Gold Mines (advanced skills required beyond Salmon Pools). Non-Velo members pay a one-time $12 membership fee, rides are free for members. Contact Evan Ferguson at [email protected] or 902-682-7896.

Drop-in Lego building activity for children 4 and up, held Friday afternoons at Ingonish Library. Children 8 and younger need a parent, guardian, or caregiver present in the library.

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.

What you'll see

• Six named mountain climbs — Smokey, North, MacKenzie, French, Hunters, and Kelly's — each with its own pull-offs and personality.
• Acadian Cheticamp with its towering church spire, the Mi'kmaw community of Wagmatcook, and Gaelic-speaking villages along St. Anns Bay.
• Pilot whales offshore in summer, moose browsing the shoulders at dusk, and bald eagles riding the updrafts above the escarpment.
• Fall colour from late September through mid-October that ranks among the best in eastern North America.

On the drive

• Counter-clockwise (Baddeck to Cheticamp first) keeps you on the inside lane on the steepest grades — easier on nervous passengers.
• Clockwise puts you on the cliff side with the best ocean views from the driver's seat.
• Speed limits drop to 50 km/h on the climbs and the road switches back tightly — give yourself twice the time Google estimates.
• Cell service drops out for long stretches between Pleasant Bay and Cape North; download offline maps before leaving Baddeck.
• Fuel up in Cheticamp, Pleasant Bay, or Ingonish; the gaps between gas stations on the loop's north end are real.

What to bring

• Layers — temperatures on the highlands plateau can be 10 degrees cooler than at sea level.
• Real camera or a recent phone with a wide-angle lens; some pull-offs deserve more than a quick snap.
• A picnic — pull-offs at MacKenzie Mountain and Cape Smokey beat any restaurant for ambience.
• Binoculars for whales (try Pleasant Bay), eagles (everywhere), and the Bird Islands viewpoint near Big Bras d'Or.

Combine it with

• Skyline Trail at French Mountain — easily the loop's signature short hike.
• A whale-watching boat from Pleasant Bay or Bay St. Lawrence.
• A square-set Saturday-night ceilidh in Mabou or Judique on the Ceilidh Trail leg.

A working lighthouse on the very tip of Cape Breton's north shore, north of Bay St. Lawrence. The point gets its name from old stories of doubloons washing up after Spanish galleons foundered on the cliffs. Reaching it requires a short hike from the end of the gravel access road.

What to see

• The classic red-and-white tower against the cliffs
• Pilot whales close inshore in summer
• Seabird colonies on the islets just offshore

Tips

• The road in is unpaved and rough — high-clearance recommended
• Don't approach the cliff edges; they're undercut in places

Combine it with

• A meal at Bay St. Lawrence on the drive back
• The Meat Cove area to the west for the full northern-tip loop

Meat Cove, the most northern tip of Cape Breton Island, is surrounded by jagged cliffs, valleys of connected mountains where bald eagles soar above. Here, you will find yourself surrounded by magnificent views from each of our 30 unserviced campsites that come with a picnic table, fire pit, and grill along with space available for the RV traveler. Campsites are on a “first come, first served” basis – call ahead to check if we have availability, day of. Amenities at the campground include: washrooms with flush toilets and hot showers WiFi access to fresh drinking water kayak rentals hiking and biking trails firewood food truck Wilderness Cabins We also have six wilderness camp cabins, each with one single and one double bed (bring own bedding/pillows). There is solar power in the cabins for charging your devices. Washroom and shower facilities are located nearby. Miles From Nowhere Chalet Guesthouse Book your stay in Meat Cove Campground’s cottage, Miles From Nowhere, a three bedroom, one bathroom chalet guesthouse comes complete with a full kitchen, bathroom, and laundry facilities along with a private patio and hot tub offering up those amazing ocean views. On-site Food Truck Don’t miss a seafood feast at our Lawless Lobster Seafood Trailer in the campground. Serving up favourites including mussels, lobster rolls, fish & chips, and seafood chowder and more, be sure to bring your appetite!

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.

Located on the Cabot Trail in Ingonish, Seagull Restaurant boasts fabulous views of the ocean. Specializing in home cooked meals and family dining Seagull Restaurant is a popular choice for locals and visitors alike. Come sit on our deck and enjoy our Spectacular View of the ocean. Stop in to Enjoy our Seafood & Pasta Dishes; New Healthier Choice Menu, along with our Kids Menu and well known Homemade Deserts. Eat in or take out. “Great Food, Great Service”