10 Best hikes and trails in Cape Breton Highlands National Park

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Cape Breton Highlands National Park

Best trails in Cape Breton Highlands National Park

4.4(13,290 reviews)

Canada
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#29 of 49 national parks

Want to find the best trails in Cape Breton Highlands National Park for an adventurous hike or a family trip? AllTrails has 45 great trails for hiking, birding, and snowshoeing and more. Enjoy hand-curated trail maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you. Ready for your next hike or bike ride? Explore one of 21 easy hiking trails in Cape Breton Highlands National Park that are great for the whole family. Looking for a more strenuous hike? We've got you covered, with trails ranging from 13 to 17,769 feet in elevation gain. Whatever you have planned for the day, you can find the perfect trail for your next trip to Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

Top trails

#1 - Skyline Trail (Loop)

This is the iconic Skyline Trail, which offers many opportunities to enjoy the gorgeous views. It is recommended to arrive early, or to expect long wait times on the trails later in the day. Since this is a very heavily trafficked trail, the lack of solitude is something that some folks may not enjoy, but this is ultimately worth the views that are on this trail. The loop may not be a great option for those not interested in hiking, so many people just stick to the out-and-back version of the...

#2 - Middle Head Trail

Note that one section of the Keltic Lodge trail is closed for work. This is an interpretive loop that follows along a narrow peninsula and offers great coastal scenery. There are a number of scenic lookouts and areas to explore. The trail is mostly level with some rocky sections. The trail is well-marked and receives lots of foot traffic. Some parts of the trail have loose rocks so watching your footing is recommended. There are many wildflowers along the way, including bunchberries,...

This out-and-back viewpoint trail is quite easy and very well maintained, offering some beautiful views along the way. The trail follows easy and level terrain along boardwalk, stairs, and proper trails, to take you to a beautiful view of the ocean at the end. There are even outhouses along way. Along this trail, you will likely have a few opportunities to view some of Canada's iconic wildlife - Moose. There are numerous encounters reported here daily, especially in summer and fall, when...

One of the more popular trails on the East Side of the Cabot Trail, Franey Trail offers a great viewpoint looking down the valley and over Ingonish Harbour and Middle Head. This route follows a fairly constant ascent on the way up, through some stunning and thick hardwood forests giving way to mixed woods near the top. There are two spectacular lookouts at the top - with the second being even more impressive. The trail is well maintained and is steep in some locations, but steps are usually...

Acadian Trail is one of the more popular trails on the western side of the Cabot Trail. The western half of the loop takes you up through Acadian Forest with plenty of overlooks over the sea, while the eastern half takes you down a valley with a stream and plenty of cascades. There are two trailheads by the National Park Information Centre. It has been recommended by many to complete this trail in the counterclockwise direction. The initial part of the counterclockwise trail is a steep...

#6 - Blueberry Mountain

This trail has a steady, gradual incline all the way to the top. The path up the old Cabot Trail is mostly secluded and ends with spectacular views of Cape Breton and has much less foot traffic compared to Skyline. Many wildflowers are along the way, including wild blueberries, raspberries, and bunchberries. Keep an eye out for eagles as they frequent this area. Bears are also known to frequent this area due to the abundance of blueberries, so be cautious and carry bear spray at all times....

#7 - Jack Pine and Coastal Trail

This is an awesome trail and is fairly easy, with some potential for wildlife viewing (if you get lucky). The loop has some of the best views of the ocean and landscape in Cape Breton. Be prepared for a rocky shoreline hike with good footwear. The trail is well-marked for the most part, but there are some sections reported to be hard to follow. Overall, this is a stunning, sparsely-visited trail along the coast. The route is well-maintained and clear. There are also plenty of options to...

#8 - MacIntosh Brook Trail

This is a nice and easy route to a waterfall along a babbling brook through a lush wooded forest. This is a great spot to have a picnic at the entrance as there is a covered patio area for a large group. The waterfall has the greatest flow in the spring, and the trees begin to bloom in late May and early June. There are lots of roots on the path so it isn't stroller-friendly.

#9 - Franey Trail Lookout

One of the more popular trails on the East Side of the Cabot Trail, Franey Trail offers a great viewpoint looking down the valley and over Ingonish Harbour and Middle Head. This route follows a fairly constant ascent on the way up, through some stunning and thick hardwood forests giving way to mixed woods near the top. There are two spectacular lookouts at the top - with the second in the series even more impressive. The trail is well maintained but is steep in some locations, but steps are...

This scenic trail overlooks the coastline and winds through a post-fire jack pine forest. There are interpretive panels that tell the history of this area, beginning with a fire in 1921, a budworm infestation and the vegetation that survives in this harsh coastal environment. The path has plenty of roots and rocks, so wearing hiking boots is recommended.

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Visitor info

Passes & fees

Fee required

Accessibility

Cape Breton Highlands National Park charges a fee to enter.

Get details from the park

Overview

Parks Canada offers free admission and access to programs for support persons traveling with a visitor who has a disability and depends on the support person to travel and experience a Parks Canada destination.

All of the park's visitor centres are fully wheelchair accessible, with accessible washrooms. An audio tour is available on CD for purchase at the Le Nique, the bookstore in the Chéticamp Visitor Centre.

All viewpoints on the Cabot Trail are wide, paved, and wheelchair accessible. A ramp at the Lakie's Head viewpoint provides access to the viewing platform and exhibit panels. At each of the three viewpoints on MacKenzie Mountain, wheelchair accessible viewing decks are available.

Additional information about accessibility at Cape Breton Highlands National Park can be found on their website: https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ns/cbreton/visit/acces.

Facilities

All of the park's visitor centres are fully wheelchair accessible, with accessible parking and washrooms. An audio tour is available on CD for purchase at the Le Nique, the bookstore in the Chéticamp Visitor Centre.

Accessible features are available at all picnic areas, but the Ingonish Beach and Chéticamp day-use areas have the most accessible washrooms. Ingonish Beach also is equipped with a beach mat path to the sandy shore and a beach wheelchair available for reservation.

Camping

Broad Cove Campground has 2 accessible tent sites (both with 15 amp hook-ups), 2 accessible RV sites (both with 3-way hook-ups), and 1 accessible oTENTik (#128). The campground also has an accessible washroom and shower.

Chéticamp Campground has 2 accessible tent sites (both with electrical hook-ups) and 1 accessible 3-way hook-up, both near an accessible washroom and shower building, and 1 accessible oTENTik (#O76). Chéticamp also has a wheelchair accessible kitchen shelter.

Ingonish Beach Campground has an accessible washroom and shower, but no designated accessible campsites.

The park recommends reserving accessible campsites ahead of time on their website: https://reservation.pc.gc.ca/.

Service animals

All service dogs must have an Alberta Service Dog Identification Card to ensure access to public places.

Guides

Top Picks in Cape Breton Highlands National Park

8 trails

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Trail reviews for Cape Breton Highlands National Park

11,725 trailgoers Busiest in August

Petri Flint

Jun 26, 2024•Hiking

Gorgeous trail that transitions through different kinds of forest, to tundra-like flora, and to the hilltop strewn with quartz and mica. One of my favorite hikes in Cape Breton Highlands National Park thus far.

Mica Hill

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Frequently asked questions

Where is the best place to hike in Cape Breton Highlands National Park?

According to users from AllTrails.com, the best place to hike in Cape Breton Highlands National Park is Skyline Trail (Loop), which has a 4.6 star rating from 2,255 reviews. This trail is 5.9 mi long with an elevation gain of 820 ft.

What is the longest trail in Cape Breton Highlands National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, the longest trail in Cape Breton Highlands National Park is Cape Breton Highlands: Cheticamp to Ingonish. This trail is estimated to be 26.2 mi long.

How many trails are in Cape Breton Highlands National Park?

There are 45 trails in Cape Breton Highlands National Park. These trails have an average 4.4-star rating from 13,290 AllTrails community reviews.

Which trail has the most elevation gain in Cape Breton Highlands National Park?

If you're looking for elevation gain, Cape Breton Highlands National Park has you covered. Cabot Trail boasts the most elevation gain with 17,769 ft of total ascent. The park's runner-up is Cape Breton Highlands: Cheticamp to Ingonish, which will get you 3,067 ft of elevation gain.

Are there camping trails available in Cape Breton Highlands National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, there are 5 camping trails in Cape Breton Highlands National Park and the most popular is Fishing Cove with an average 4.7 star rating from 148 community reviews.

Are there running trails available in Cape Breton Highlands National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, there are 37 running trails in Cape Breton Highlands National Park and the most popular is Skyline Trail (Loop) with an average 4.6 star rating from 2,255 community reviews.

Are there biking trails available in Cape Breton Highlands National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, there are 4 biking trails in Cape Breton Highlands National Park and the most popular is Salmon Pools Trail with an average 4.3 star rating from 214 community reviews.