Welcome to one of the most beautiful scenic drives in the
world. Named for famous explorer John Cabot, the Cabot Trail
winds around the rocky splendour of Cape Breton's northern
shore, ascending to the incredible plateaus of Cape Breton
Highlands National Park. This magnificent highway is carved
into the sides of mountains that rise high above the
shimmering waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Look offs
offer unforgettable vistas of Cape Breton's rugged
coastline, where pods of whales can often be seen just
offshore and bald eagles soar aloft on the ocean breezes.
Cape Breton Highlands National Park encompasses one of
Canada 's most exceptional wilderness areas. The highlands
are a colourful tapestry of woodland, tundra and bogs, where
wildlife is common and moose are often seen grazing in the
quiet shallows of lakes and streams. The park has 25 trails
ranging from 20-minute interpretive family walks to
challenging hikes through stunning mountain and coastal
landscapes. There is also a full range of visitor services,
including award-winning camping and interpretive programs.
Cape Breton's most famous resident, Alexander Graham Bell,
once said "I have traveled around the globe. I have seen the
Canadian and American Rockies, the Andes, the Alps and the
Highlands of Scotland, but for simple beauty, Cape Breton
outrivals them all." Bell fell in love with the region and
built his beautiful estate, Beinn Bhreagh, on the shores of
the Bras d'Or Lakes, where he lived and worked for the rest
of his life.
The Cabot Trail is a destination for all seasons. In fall,
the highlands explode in a vibrant palette of nature's fiery
reds, oranges, crimsons and golds. The days are warm, the
evenings sweater-cool and every road leads through a
tapestry of brilliant autumn colours. In winter, the hills
become a crystalline fairy-land. Seemingly endless groomed
trails open the winter beauty of the highlands for
cross-country skiers and snowmobilers, and Ski Cape Smokey's
300-m vertical drop is Atlantic Canada's unique
downhill ski experience.
The Cabot Trail is a golfer's paradise with exciting,
world-class championship courses that surround players with
the magnificent beauty of Cape Breton Highlands National
Park or panoramic views of the Bras d'Or Lakes.
Cheticamp, on the western side of the island, is the centre
of Acadian French heritage in the area, and the Acadian
Museum there has fascinating displays highlighting the early
Acadian history of the area. At St. Ann's, on the eastern
side, North America's only Gaelic college features displays
on the region's early Scottish settlers in the Great Hall of
the Clans.
The Cabot Trail winds for nearly 300 km through
the beautiful highlands and plateaus of Cape Breton. A loop
trail, visitors can begin or end their journey at a number
of different points. This description of the Cabot Trail
begins at Baddeck. Take Trans Canada Highway 105 west from
Baddeck to Exit 7 to travel clockwise around the Cabot
Trail, or east to Exit 11 at St. Ann's to travel
counter-clockwise.
In a beautiful setting on the shores of the sparkling Bras
d'Or Lakes, Baddeck is both picturesque and interesting. The
diversity of
accommodations, restaurants and activities
makes it one of Canada 's finest resort communities.
Activities range from walking and hiking to guided sea
kayaking or cycling tours and golf. For visitors wanting to
get out on the water, several boat tours are available from
the Baddeck area. Swimmers can enjoy the excellent
supervised beach on Kidston Island, just offshore from the
government wharf. A free shuttle boat service operates
during July and August.
The Uisge Bahn Falls Park features picnic facilities and a hiking trail
to the impressive 16-m high Uisge Bahn
Waterfall. Take the road to Baddeck Forks, and turn onto
MacPhee's Cross Road ; about 1 km further turn
left at the intersection. From Baddeck, the Cabot Trail
follows Highway 105 west to Baddeck River . A right turn at
Exit 7 leads through the rolling hills and valleys of the
Middle River area, a spectacular drive when fall foliage is
at its best. Hunter's Mountain is at the centre of a vast
network of snowmobile and cross country ski trails that makes
the region one of Nova Scotia 's most popular winter
playgrounds.
The picnic park at Lake O'Law features the
often-photographed Three Sisters mountains.
The Margaree River, designated as a Canadian Heritage River,
is renowned as a destination for salmon and trout fishing,
canoeing, and sighting eagles and osprey.
A right turn off the Cabot Trail follows a series of paved
and well-maintained gravel roads through the picturesque
Upper Margaree Valley. At Big Intervale, visitors can tour a
working fish hatchery, and then at the interpretation centre
learn how the streams of Cape Breton are stocked. Continue
along the east side of the river through East Margaree,
where you can visit a unique Acadian church and cemetery,
and on to Belle
Côte near Margaree Harbour, or return to the
Cabot Trail.
At North East Margaree, the charming Margaree Salmon Museum
presents the history of salmon fishing on the Margaree
River. The Cabot Trail continues through the rolling green
farmland of the south side of the river valley to Margaree Forks and on to Margaree Harbour.
Margaree Harbour is a colourful coastal village that wraps
around a harbour filled with fishing boats and guarded by
two lighthouses, presenting majestic views north and south
along the rugged Cape Breton coastline. The village offers
some services, beaches, canoe rentals and boat charters.
Route 219 to the left is the Ceilidh Trail; across the
bridge to the right the Cabot Trail continues along the
shore, passing through the villages of Belle Côte, Terre
Noire, Cap Lemoine, home to Joe's Scarecrow Village, and St.
Joseph du Moine.
Cheticamp is a busy fishing village with a thriving Acadian
culture. Visitors will often hear the lively sounds of
Acadian French being spoken, and in the restaurants,
visitors can sample typical Acadian food. The 18-hole golf
course overlooking the harbour is a treat to walk and
playable at every level.
Cheticamp is a centre for rug hooking and many other fine
crafts, which can be seen in craft shops, galleries and
museums. Some feature demonstrations of rug hooking and
other local crafts. Les Trois Pignons displays artifacts and
the fine hooked rugs and embroidery of internationally
acclaimed artist Dr. Elizabeth Lefort and other noted local
artists. The Acadian Museum, near St. Peter's Church,
presents displays on the history of the early Acadian
settlers.
The waters around the northern tip of Cape Breton Island are
a summer feeding ground for minke, pilot and fin whales, and
several whale watching tours take visitors out for a close
encounter with these gentle giants of the sea. Quai Mathieu,
Cheticamp's attractive waterfront boardwalk, offers marine
services.
Cheticamp Island's scenic roads and trails are popular with
hikers and walkers as they follow the island's picturesque
coast to a romantic lighthouse standing high above the
island's sea carved bluffs. The island can be reached via a
road located near the south end of the village.
At the northern end of Cheticamp is the entrance to Cape
Breton Highlands National Park.
Cape Breton Highlands is one of Canada 's most stunning and
diverse national parks, encompassing 950 km2
of beautiful highland and coastal habitats. Park visitors
can explore rocky shorelines, sandy beaches, mountain
trails, old-growth forests, waterfalls and highland barrens
carpeted in wild orchids and pitcher plants. Moose, eagles,
and hares are often seen, as well as the occasional coyote,
bear, deer, fox and bobcat.
Hikers can explore 25 trails that range from easy strolls to
challenging hikes through the park's magnificent highland
back country. Campers will find facilities ranging from
Unserviced sites to modern RV campgrounds. Golfers can tee
off on one of Canada 's most exciting championship courses,
the legendary Highlands Links. There is a visitor centre at
the entrance, with displays, slide shows, and a nature
bookstore. A park admission fee is charged.
The Cabot Trail as it winds through the park is one of the
most spectacular stretches of highway in North America. The
trail enters the park and rises along the coastal mountains,
offering several look offs where visitors can enjoy
breathtaking views of the highlands and Gulf of St.
Lawrence. Eagles can often be seen soaring on the updrafts
that rise along the coast, and pods of whales are sometimes
seen feeding just offshore.
The Cabot Trail continues, turning inland to cross French
and Mackenzie mountains. Just past French Lake, the Bog Walk
is an easy boardwalk interpretive trail that introduces
visitors to the beauty and diversity of the Highland
Barrens.
The Cabot Trail descends MacKenzie Mountain, presenting
dramatic views north along the coast, and enters the working
fishing village of Pleasant Bay, where visitors will find
the fascinating Pleasant Bay Whale Interpretive Centre. The
village also offers whale watching boat tours, restaurants,
shops and
accommodations. Just past Pleasant Bay, the Cabot
Trail re-enters the national park.
At MacIntosh Brook there is a campground with an easy
woodland trail beside the brook leading to a small
waterfall. Leaving Pleasant Bay, the Cabot Trail climbs
North Mountain. As the ascent begins, watch for signs for
the Lone Shieling Trail. This easy 1-km trail
leads through a magnificent virgin forest of 300-year-old
sugar maples to a replica of a Scottish crofter's hut. The
trail descends into the beautiful Aspy River Valley. Near
the bottom, a right turn follows a narrow gravel road to
Beulach Bahn Falls, which cascades like a liquid curtain of
white lace 15 m down into a clear flowing stream.
The Cabot Trail exits the park and continues through the Aspy
Valley. Cape North , where 3 m of snow in
March is often the norm, is a cross-country skier's dream.
The North Highlands Community Museum displays artifacts and
photographs that highlight local history.
A left turn at Cape North will take visitors on an
exploration of the stunning coastal landscapes and towering
mountains of this most northern of Cape Breton peninsulas.
The road descends to a low coastal plain, passing through
the villages of Aspy Bay and Sugar Loaf. At Cabot's Landing,
a provincial picnic park features a 1.6-km red sand
beach facing Aspy Bay.
The road continues into Bay St. Lawrence , an attractive
seaside village tucked against the seaward-curving rocky
bluffs of Cape North. Bay St. Lawrence is a popular
destination for deep sea fishing and whale watching, and
several boat tours operate from the pier. Leaving Bay St.
Lawrence, a right turn leads to Meat Cove. This 14-km unpaved road winds along the sides of the coastal
mountains, offering panoramic views of the highlands rising
above the pounding surf. The stunning vistas make it one of
Nova Scotia 's most unforgettable scenic roads.
At the end of the road, the tiny community of Meat Cove
clings to the mountainside high above the rocky shore. This
magnificently wild and remote setting is noted for its rare
orchids, some of which can be found nowhere else in Nova
Scotia. Whales are often seen swimming just offshore and
eagles can frequently be spotted soaring above the coastal
cliffs.
Returning to the Cabot Trail, turn left to continue.
A short distance past Cape North a left turn leads to
Dingwall, a quaint fishing village on the shores of Aspy
Bay, which features a sandy beach, a coastal resort, a
museum, whale-watching cruises, and scuba diving. There are
a number of shipwrecks off nearby St. Paul 's Island for
divers to explore.
The Cabot Trail continues inland along the edge of the park
to Neil's Harbour.
Just past South Harbour, a left turn leads to a scenic
coastal road to White Point and Neil's Harbour. One of the
prettiest parts of this journey is the descent into the
ruggedly picturesque fishing village of White Point , where
a small harbour protects the colourful boats from the
crashing surf of the open sea. From White Point, return to
the coastal road and follow it to Neil's Harbour, a busy
fishing community with a variety of shops and services.
Continuing on the Cabot Trail, a seaside picnic area at
Black Brook overlooks a fine-sand swimming beach. Further
along, at Green Cove, visitors can explore a unique
shoreline of huge blocks of pink granite, worn smooth by the
constantly pounding surf of the open sea. And just past the
campground at Broad Cove, a right turn leads along a gravel
road to a picnic area that overlooks the tumbling cascade of
Mary Ann Falls.
The Cabot Trail exits the park and passes through Ingonish,
a popular resort destination that annually attracts
thousands of visitors who come to enjoy breathtaking scenery
and outdoor recreational activities that include hiking,
deep-sea fishing, whale watching, bicycling, sea kayaking
and, in winter, skiing. Set along the coast with two large
bays separated by the ruggedly beautiful Middle Head
Peninsula, the area includes the communities of Ingonish
Centre, Ingonish Beach , South Ingonish Harbour and Ingonish
Ferry.
At Ingonish Centre the Cabot Trail re-enters the park. Here
visitors will find the beautiful Keltic Lodge gracefully
perched atop the rocky bluffs of the narrow peninsula that
separates North and South Bays. The lodge features swimming,
tennis, coastal hiking trails and the renowned Highlands
Links Golf Course, one of the top golf courses in Canada.
Shortly thereafter a left turn leads to Ingonish Beach , a
full service community which has a long expanse of fine sand
that offers both saltwater and freshwater swimming. The
Freshwater Lake Trail is an easy 20-minute scenic walk.
Near the back of Ingonish Harbour, the Cabot Trail passes a
popular ski resort where in summer and fall, visitors can
ride the ski lift high up the coastal mountains to an
elevation of over 300 m. From the top, the view
of Ingonish Harbour and the surrounding highlands is
breathtaking in all seasons, especially when blanketed in
fiery autumn colours.
The Cabot Trail continues, making the steep climb from
Ingonish Harbour to the crest of Cape Smokey, a 365-m high
promontory often capped by the white mist that gives the
mountain its name. At the top, Cape Smokey Provincial Park
provides magnificent vistas of the mountainous coastline and
the vast arc of blue sea. Visitors with binoculars can often
spot pods of whales feeding in the waters just offshore. The
park features several picnic areas and is the start of the
popular Cape Smokey hiking trail, an 11-km return trail that leads to a
look off at the
very tip of the Cape. The Cabot Trail descends steeply from
Cape Smokey until it reaches the coastal plain at Wreck Cove
and passes through small communities along the North Shore
such as Skir Dhu and North Shore. In this area there is a
rich history of the Gaelic language and traditions,
including milling frolics. Indian Brook offers shops and
some services.
At Barachois River Bridge , the Cabot Trail turns inland.
From Tarbotvale to St. Ann 's, you can watch artisans at
work in their studios in an area known locally as the
Artisans' Loop. At North River Bridge , a right turn on
Oregon Road leads to North River Provincial Park, a
favourite with anglers who come to test their skill in the
pools of the North River. A challenging 9-km
footpath leads to North River Falls, the highest waterfall
in Nova Scotia (30 m). A Telemark ski hill is in
Goose Cove.
At St. Ann's, the provincial park features a picnic area and
a short walking trail that leads to a vantage point
overlooking St. Ann's Harbour.
The St. Ann's region was first settled by Highland Scots.
The Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts at South Gut
St. Ann's is the only one of its kind in North America. The
College's museum features artifacts and displays that
highlight the 200-year history of Scottish settlement in
Cape Breton. The College also celebrates their Scottish
heritage with several musical and cultural festivals during
the summer months.
Straight ahead at Barrachois River Bridge, Route 312 offers an
interesting coastal alternative route, the Old Cabot Trail,
which leads to Jersey Cove, where a 24-hour ferry crosses St. Ann's Harbour to Englishtown. At
Englishtown, the Giant MacAskill Museum displays
photographs, artifacts and articles of clothing of Angus
MacAskill, a 2.4-m giant who lived here in the
1800s. Boat tours to the Bird Islands are available at
Englishtown. These islands, rising like rocky pillars from
the sea, are the nesting grounds of thousands of seabirds,
including razorbills, kittiwakes, and over 300 pairs of
Atlantic puffins. From Englishtown, Route 312 continues
along the eastern side of St. Ann's Harbour to join Highway
105 at Exit 12, above South Gut St. Ann's .
The Cabot Trail joins Highway 105 at Exit 11. Turn right and
continue to Exit 10, where a left turn follows Route 205 to
Baddeck.