In the event you’re in search of an wonderful highway journey that can take you thru a number of the most beautiful landscapes in North America, look no additional than the Cabot Path on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia.
Cape Breton Island is related by a causeway to mainland Nova Scotia and is positioned 3 hours east of Halifax. The island is spoiled with putting views in all instructions and distinctive cultural heritage websites all through.
The Cabot Path winds its approach across the island, circling the attractive Cape Breton Highlands Nationwide Park and taking in so many scenic overlooks, steep drops, mountains, oceans, and forests alongside the best way. There’s one thing for everybody on this scenic route, from mountaineering and biking to fishing and whale watching.
After spending every week on the Cabot Path on our latest East Coast journey, we found loads of lovely stops, distinctive lodging choices and enjoyable actions for all ages. We hope that this Cabot Path information will assist others discover the most effective stops for the final Cape Breton highway journey.
FAQs In regards to the Well-known Cabot Path in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia
How lengthy does it take to do the Cabot Path?
It takes 4-5 hours to drive the Cabot Path if you happen to needed to do your entire loop in in the future. The Cabot Path is about 300 km (185 miles) and loaded with scenic viewpoints, so it’s not one you’d need to rush. For the total Cabot Path expertise, you need to put aside 3-5 days or plan to spend at minimal a whole day.
Why is Cabot Path well-known?
The Cabot Path is without doubt one of the most well-known drives in Canada due to its spectacular surroundings. The scenic roadway loops round beautiful western and japanese coastlines, passing by old-growth forest, rocky cliffs, and picturesque surrounding seashores. It’s a significant draw of Cape Breton Island and a postcard vacation spot for Nova Scotia tourism.
The fantastic thing about the Cabot Path
The place does the Cabot Path start and finish?
The Cabot Path makes a loop across the northern arm of Cape Breton Island, beginning in Baddeck. You are able to do the highway journey in a clockwise or counter clockwise course.
Touring clockwise, the route begins in Baddeck and ends in Ingonish. In the event you plan on driving counter-clockwise, Baddeck will probably be your first vacation spot on the Cabot Path and Chéticamp would be the final.
Learn how to Get Across the Cabot Path in Nova Scotia
Driving the Cabot Path is the most effective and hottest strategy to discover Cape Breton. Carry your individual car or lease a automobile or RV and plan a multi-day Cabot Path highway journey crammed with cultural experiences and outside adventures.
In the event you dislike driving, you possibly can look into taking a tour or plan a multi-day bike journey. Many guests cycle the loop over 5-7 days and camp alongside the best way. Simply put together for steep grades and numerous hills, significantly whereas touring by the Cabot Path Nationwide Park part.
The highway alongside the Cabot Path on Cape Breton Island
Cabot Path Itinerary & Advised Stops
Whether or not you do the Cabot Path clockwise or counter-clockwise, there are tons of fantastic stops and issues to see on this scenic drive. The under Cabot Path itinerary follows the clockwise route, beginning in Baddeck and ending in Ingonish. However if you wish to see the highway journey from a special perspective, head to Ingonish first and finish your loop in Chéticamp.
Baddeck
Begin or finish right here
Baddeck is a captivating city positioned on the shores of Bras d’Or Lake within the middle of Cape Breton Island. It’s a wonderful base for exploring the encircling space and beginning or ending your Cabot Path drive.
Baddeck is house to a robust Gaelic heritage and tradition. The Gaelic Faculty of Celtic Arts and Crafts is positioned within the city and gives courses in conventional music, dance, and language. Through the summer season, the faculty hosts an annual Gaelic pageant that celebrates Cape Breton’s Celtic traditions.
Baddeck can be identified for being the summer season house of Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the phone. You may see his works on the museum on the Alexander Graham Bell Nationwide Historic Website.
Baddeck, Cape Breton Island
Different Issues to do in Baddeck, Nova Scotia
Get on the Water at Inverary Resort – Inverary Resort is a wonderful waterfront resort and lodge with numerous actions. You may lease kayaks, bicycles, or pontoon boats, or dine on the Lakeside Restaurant. The floating picnics are particularly cool—take pleasure in a lobster lunch from Lakeside and float your approach across the lake on a floating picnic desk!
Take part on Baddeck Ceilidh Evenings – “Ceilidh” is Gaelic for gathering and summer season ceilidhs in Baddeck are events for locals and vacationers alike. They’re all about celebrating Scottish heritage with conventional Celtic music and dance occasions at St. Michael’s Parish Corridor each evening in July and August.
Go to the Alexander Graham Bell Museum and Nationwide Historic Website – See lots of Bell’s spectacular innovations together with the biggest assortment of his artifacts and paperwork.
Alexander Graham Bell Museum. Picture credit: Tourism Nova Scotia
Go to Kidston Island and See the Kidston Lighthouse – Take the free shuttle boat to uninhabited Kidston Island to benefit from the seashore. You may stroll across the island and see the Kidston Lighthouse and admire the views as yachts and sailboats circle the lake.
Discover Uisge Bàn Falls Provincial Park – Observe the 1.5 km (1 mile) mountaineering path as much as the attractive granite waterfall. It’s a simple path and an ideal spot to have a day picnic.
Kidston Island and Lighthouse
The place to Keep in Baddeck, Nova Scotia
Inverary Resort
Unfold out on 11 acres of waterfront property, Inverary Resort is a perfect place to remain in Baddeck. The rooms are cozy and cozy and have entry to an on-site Lakeside restaurant. Visitors even have entry to an indoor pool and outside scorching tub on a primary come first serve foundation and might benefit from the grounds of this lovely property throughout their keep. Plus, there are a great deal of different actions to benefit from the lake with a paddle or floating picnic.
Our room at Inverary Resort in Baddeck
Chéticamp/Nice Bay
Baddeck to Chéticamp: 89 km / 1 hour 15 min
We drove the path in a clockwise course, so our subsequent cease on the Cabot Path was Chéticamp. It’s the largest village on the west coast of the island and is the most effective launch level for mountaineering the Cabot Path. Cheticamp has a wealthy Acadian heritage, quite a few native artwork studios and marks the west entrance to Cape Breton Highlands Nationwide Park.
There are many worthy stops on the Cabot Path and the Chéticamp space is brimming with them. Discover Acadian meals and tradition, go whale watching, or hike the well-known Skyline Path—it’s among the best issues to do in Cape Breton.
Cheticamp, Cabot Path, Cape Breton Island
Issues to do in Chéticamp and Nice Bay, Nova Scotia
Discover ways to rug hook at Les Trois Pignons – Celebrating Canada’s “Artist in Wool,” Dr Elizabeth LeFort, the gallery shows her lovely tapestries and hooked rugs. The museum and store function a gallery and window into Acadian tradition, that includes woven portraits and scenes. Les Trois Pignons can be a casual customer centre, the place native guides can assist you propose your go to.
Go to Le Centre de la Mi-Carême – Mi-Carême, or Mid-Lent, is without doubt one of the oldest Acadian traditions and a celebration involving masks and disguises. Be taught extra about Mi-Carême and see domestically crafted masks on show. The Centre additionally hosts masks and rug hooking workshops led by native artisans.
Attempt Acadian Meals at Le Gabriel Restaurant & Lounge – Dine on Acadian seafood and conventional dishes inside a singular lighthouse. Le Gabriel gives each day breakfast, lunch, and dinner with dwell music all through the week.
See the Enragée Level Lighthouse – Journey to Cheticamp Island to see the heritage lighthouse constructed within the Fifties. It’s the proper place to catch a sundown!
Go Whale Watching – From Could-October, the waters round Cape Breton Island are house to humpbacks, finbacks, minke, and pilot whales. Go on a zodiac tour to see them from the water as they swim by. Chéticamp Journey Co and Captain Zodiac Whale Cruise in Cheticamp are two respected native operators providing Whale Watching Excursions in Cheticamp. However make sure to plan forward! We didn’t e-book forward whereas touring in July and sadly discovered that neither operator had any availability for our dates after we arrived on Cabot Island.
Whale watching. Picture credit: Tourism Nova Scotia / Photographer: Wally Hayes
Go to Gypsum Mine Lake – The Gypsum Mine Path follows 2.6 km of groomed trails round a lake and quarry. It’s appropriate for all ability ranges and opens as much as a surprising viewpoint over a glowing lake enveloped by timber.
Cheticamp, Cabot Path, Cape Breton Island
The place to Keep in Nice Bay/Cheticamp, Nova Scotia
Cabot Path Tiny Home Trip Leases – Positioned in Margaree River Valley close to the city of Margaree Harbour, the Cabot Path Tiny Home Trip Leases are constructed and operated by the Web page Household and provide a vibrant and distinctive keep on the Cabot Path. There are at present 3 properties out there (with extra on the best way) that characteristic cozy and cozy dwelling quarters and outside areas. Guests may take pleasure in water sports activities, campfires, BBQs, and ATV leases on-site to benefit from their keep.
Cabot Path Tiny Home in Margaree Harbour
Cape Breton Nationwide Park
Chéticamp to Cape Breton Nationwide Park Entrance: 10 minutes
Cape Breton Highlands Nationwide Park is arguably the greatest spotlight of the Cabot Path. The park is positioned on the northern tip of Cape Breton Island and is house to a number of the most lovely surroundings in Nova Scotia. The park is an expanse of forests, rugged mountains, and winding rivers and is house to moose, black bears, bald eagles, and different wildlife. There are many mountaineering trails and tenting spots within the park, so make sure to spend a while exploring its pure wonders.
The park’s important actions are unfold throughout Cheticamp/Nice Bay Space within the West and Ingonish/Neil’s Harbour within the East. To see all of it, plan to spend at the very least 2-3 days within the park.
On the Skyline path at Cape Breton Nationwide Park
Cape Breton Nationwide Park
Finest Hikes in Cape Breton Nationwide Park
Acadian Path: Among the best mountaineering trails in Cape Breton, the Acadian Path boasts panoramic views of the coast. It’s a reasonable 8.4 km loop that takes 3-4 hours to finish. The trailhead begins on the Chéticamp Customer Centre, with one other entrance on the Chéticamp Campground. Climb by the forest for a rewarding view over the Cabot Path and the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Skyline Path: The Skyline Path is without doubt one of the greatest hikes in Nova Scotia and a Cabot Path must-see! You’ll comply with the path to a boardwalk with steps down the headland which opens as much as a birds-eye view of the coast. It’s the proper place to snap some pictures and watch the sundown.
Mackenzie Mountain Lookout: The Mackenzie Mountain Lookout is without doubt one of the greatest whale-watching mountaineering trails on the Highlands Plateau. Look out over Nice Bay whereas whale-watching boats float within the bay.
Le Chemin du Buttereau Path – This path contains a brief climb by the woods the place Acadian pioneers as soon as travelled. You’ll see remnants of historic properties, native wildlife and views of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
MacIntosh Brook Path – This degree inland hike meanders by old-growth forests alongside the shores of a babbling brook. It ends with a wonderful waterfall with interpretive indicators all through, sharing the Mi’kmaw legend of maple syrup.
Aspy Path – Starting from Beulach Ban Falls, this hike follows the Aspy fault line by Acadian and blended forests. Hear for owls and birds alongside the best way.
Franey Path – Perched excessive above Ingonish and the Atlantic coast, Franey Path is a wonderful forested hike. It may be steep and rugged in sections however opens as much as giant flat rocks which might be good for admiring the view. On the prime, you’ll look out over Clyburn Brook Canyon, Cape Smokey, and the city of Ingonish.
Duncan’s Cove Path is a reasonable 5 km (3.1 mile) hike that takes you previous lovely waterfalls and shoreline cliffs.
On the Franey Path in Cape Breton Nationwide Park
The place to Keep in Cape Breton Nationwide Park:
Tenting is without doubt one of the greatest methods to really expertise and respect Cape Breton Highlands Nationwide Park. Tenting season in Cape Breton Nationwide Park runs from Could 20 to October 23, 2022. Reservations are extremely beneficial, particularly within the busy summer season months.
There are seven entrance nation campgrounds at Cape Breton Highlands Nationwide Park, all of which provide lovely views and entry to mountaineering trails within the park. The next are a number of the greatest campgrounds within the park.
Broad Cove Campground is a small campground with solely 20 campsites. It’s positioned in a quiet cove on the east aspect of the park and gives hikers quick access to the Skyline Path.
Chéticamp Campground is the biggest campground within the park, with over 200 campsites. It’s positioned near the city of Chéticamp and gives quick access to quite a lot of trails, together with the favored Ceilidh Path.
Ingonish Campground is positioned on the northeastern aspect of the park and gives beautiful views of Cape Smokey. It’s near quite a few trails, together with the Keltic Categorical, which ends up in a number of the hottest mountaineering areas within the park.
Center River Campground is a small campground with solely 10 campsites. It’s positioned in a wonderful valley close to Center River and gives hikers quick access to quite a lot of trails.
North River Campground is positioned on the north aspect of Cape Breton Highlands Nationwide Park and gives beautiful views of North River Gorge. It’s near quite a few trails, together with the favored Skyline Path.
Nice Bay Campground is positioned in a picturesque bay on the west aspect of Cape Breton Highlands Nationwide Park. It gives quick access to quite a few trails, together with the Broad Cove Head Path, which ends up in some lovely waterfalls.
South Intestine Campground is positioned on an remoted peninsula on the west aspect of Cape Breton Highlands Nationwide Park. It gives hikers wonderful views of South Intestine Harbour and Stirling Mountain.
Prime of the Island
Chéticamp to Meat Cove: 100 km / 1 hour 40 minutes
The northern tip of Cape Breton Island is an off-the-beaten-path space with much more spectacular ocean vistas. Cruising alongside the Cabot Path and veering north from Cape North, you’ll discover a number of cities and communities together with Aspy Bay, Dingwall, Bay of St Lawrence, and Neil’s Harbour.
Issues to do on the Prime of Cape Breton Island
Camp at Meat Cove – Journey to the northernmost level of Cape Breton with lovely look-offs jagged cliffs and grassy headlands. You may go to for a day or spend the evening tenting perched above the ocean’s edge.
Meat Cove Campground, Cape Breton. Picture credit: Tourism Nova Scotia / Photographer: Dean Casavechia
Go Sea Kayaking with Cabot Path Adventures – Paddle your approach across the Cape Breton Highlands on a guided kayaking tour. Cabot Path Adventures gives hourly and full-day leases to discover the scenic northern coast.
Go to Neils Harbour – Go to the small city of Neils Harbour to see the lighthouse and feast on seafood.
Hike the White Level Path – Positioned simply previous Neils Harbour, the White Level Path will be executed in lower than an hour and gives pretty views over the headlands.
Go Whale Watching – There are a number of totally different tour operators on the highest of the island that provide whale watching excursions. Hop in a zodiac to see minke whales, humpbacks, and porpoises. In these northern waters, you possibly can typically even spot a blue whale or orca.
Black Brook Cove Seaside – An exquisite tucked-away seashore, Black Brook Cove has spectacular ocean views and a peaceable waterfall. It was our favorite seashore on the Cabot Path and one you can’t miss! Go for a swim, stroll the seashore, or have a picnic overlooking the ocean.
Dingwall, Cape Breton Island
Kayaking in Dingwall, Cape Breton Island
Black Brook Cove Seaside, Cabot Path
The place to Keep Close to Cape North, Nova Scotia
Blue Bayou Resort – Positioned within the small fishing village of Dingwall, the Blue Bayou Resort gives tenting and glamping experiences. We stayed of their geodesic dome overlooking the water. The domes are properly geared up with a personal lavatory, double mattress and even a bit tea/espresso station. There’s a BBQ and a picnic desk outdoors of every dome. You may lease a kayak, canoe, or SUP to discover the water earlier than settling in for a night campfire. The North Finish is without doubt one of the coolest locations to remain in Cape Breton!
Blue Bayou Resort, Cabot Path
Blue Bayou Resort
Ingonish
Meat Cove to Ingonish: 60 km / 1 hour
Ingonish is a well-liked coastal city on the japanese coast of Cape Breton Highlands Nationwide Park. It’s identified for excellent mountaineering, seashores, and the well-known Keltic Lodge Resort, which homes the unbelievable Highlands Hyperlinks golf course. You may hike alongside Cape Smokey to look out over the huge Atlantic Ocean earlier than eating on contemporary native seafood on the eating places on the town.
Different Issues to do in Ingonish, Nova Scotia
Climb the Broad Cove Mountain Path – The brief, steep climb up Broad Cove Mountain generally is a little bit of a problem with its rocky switchbacks. However the views are properly well worth the climb, with panoramas of the Atlantic Ocean and the sounds of nature and wildlife.
Hike Center Head Path – Center Head Path follows a protracted skinny peninsula that juts into the Atlantic Ocean. With open, ocean views on both aspect, the headlands are a wonderful place to see whales, seabirds, and eagles.
Go to Ingonish Seaside – Ingonish Seaside is a singular stretch of land that’s flanked by a lake and ocean. On one aspect, Freshwater Lake has a sandy seashore with calm, peaceable lake water that’s supreme for swimming. On the opposite, the salty water of the Atlantic is ideal for a refreshing dip or for having fun with a night paddle within the bay. Ingonish Seaside additionally has a tennis court docket, playground, picnic space, and strolling and biking trails.
Trip the Cape Smokey Gondola – Referred to as the primary gondola in Atlantic Canada, this gondola climbs to the summit of Cape Smokey. Right here, you’ll be handled to the most effective view of the Cabot Path, with entry to mountain prime mountaineering trails and a licensed mountain prime snack store. There are a number of viewing platforms with spectacular views of the Cape Breton Highlands and the Atlantic Ocean. Within the winter, Cape Smokey turns into a well-liked snowboarding vacation spot.
Cape Smokey Gondola. Picture credit: Tourism Nova Scotia / Photographer: Dean Casavechia
Overlooking Ingonish from Franey Path in Cape Breton Nationwide Park
Ingonish Seaside
The place to Keep in Ingonish, Cape Breton
The Keltic Lodge Resort is a well-liked alternative, providing cabins, lodge rooms, and suites with unbelievable views of the Atlantic Ocean. The resort additionally has a restaurant, lounge, spa, and golf course. In the event you’re in search of a extra inexpensive choice, there are a number of motels on the town, in addition to the Ingonish Campground positioned near the village.
Finishing the Cabot Path Highway Journey
Ingonish to Baddeck: 105 km / 1 hour half-hour
After exploring Ingonish and departing from Cape Breton Highlands Nationwide Park, you possibly can circle your approach again all the way down to Baddeck. To get there, both take the brief ferry to Englishtown or detour alongside the North River to St. Anns, house of the Gaelic Faculty.
Another choice is to proceed east from Englishtown, towards the opposite half of Cape Breton. That is the place you catch the ferry to Newfoundland in North Sydney or discover the southern shores of Brass d’Or Lake. Sydney can be the principle city on Cape Breton Island so it’s a great place to cease if you could restock on provides.
Have you ever explored the Cape Breton Cabot Path? What was your favorite cease?
Disclaimer: We visited Cape Breton Island & Cabot Path as visitors of the Nova Scotia Tourism Board, however, as at all times, all opinions expressed on this article are our personal.