Outdoors & Nature

60 places — trails, beaches, parks, and the wild beauty of Cape Breton Island

Type
Region
Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site
Featured

Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site

historic site

Largest historical reconstruction in North America, a partial rebuild of an 18th-century French fortress.

The Cabot Trail (Scenic Drive)
Featured

The Cabot Trail (Scenic Drive)

scenic drive · 298.00 km

The most famous drive in Canada — a 298-km loop around the northern Highlands.

Skyline Trail
Featured

Skyline Trail

traileasy · 8.20 km

Iconic boardwalk-ended headland trail with sweeping Gulf of St. Lawrence views, frequent moose sightings, and the most-photographed sunset in Atlantic Canada — reserve in peak season.

St. Paul Island Museum & Lighthouse

museum

Mabou Provincial Park

park

Trout Brook Provincial Park

park

Lennox Passage Provincial Park

park

Inverness Beach

beach

Long sandy Gulf beach with warm water, dunes, and a wooden boardwalk into town.

MacCormack Provincial Park

park

Quiet riverside campground on the Northeast Margaree salmon river.

Groves Point Provincial Park

park

Indian Beach

beach

Big Glace Bay Beach

beach

Jerome Point Lighthouse

lighthouse

Petersfield Provincial Park

park

Lockman’s Beach

beach

Le Buttereau Trail – Cape Breton Highlands National Park

park

La Bloc Beach

beach

Broad Cove Beach

beach

Black Brook Beach and Still Brook Falls

waterfall

West Mabou Beach Provincial Park

park

Louisbourg Lighthouse Trail

lighthouse

Port Hood Station Provincial Park

park

Neils Brook Beach Trail

beach

Mira Gut Beach

beach

Low Point Light House

lighthouse

Inverness Shean Trail (part of Celtic Shores Coastal Trail)

trail

Green Cove Trail – Cape Breton Highlands National Park

trail

Ceilidh Coastal Trail (part of Celtic Shores Coastal Trail)

trail

Lowland Cove Loop – Meat Cove

trail

Chestico Trail (part of Celtic Shores Coastal Trail)

trail

Baddeck Nordic Club

trail

Mabou Rivers Trail (part of Celtic Shores Coastal Trail)

trail

Judique Flyer Trail (part of Celtic Shores Coastal Trail)

beach

Second Branch Humes River Falls

waterfall

North River Falls Provincial Park

waterfall

Tenerife Mountain

trail

Salt Mountain Trail

trail

Grand River Falls

waterfall

Embree’s Brook Falls

waterfall

Skye River Trail

trail

Myles Doyle Falls

waterfall

Quieter Highlands waterfall — short hike through hardwood forest to a ledge-cascade, best in spring or after summer rain.

Morrisons Beach

beach

MacIsaacs Brook Falls

waterfall

Lower North River Falls

waterfall

Cape Mabou Highlands

trail

McNaughton’s Falls

waterfall

Irish Cove Brook Falls

waterfall

Hill Lake Brook Falls

waterfall

Capelin Cove

trail

Ghost Beach

beach

Gairloch Mountain Falls

waterfall

Bay St. Lawrence Harbour

historic site

Working fishing village at the top of Cape Breton, departure point for whale tours.

Money Point Lighthouse

lighthouse

Northern-tip lighthouse named for Spanish coins reportedly washed ashore from old wrecks.

White Point Lookout

White Point Lookout

lookoff

End-of-the-road lookoff over the Atlantic, north past Smelt Brook and South Harbour.

Sugarloaf Mountain Trail

trailmoderate · 3.00 km

Short steep climb up a distinctive cone-shaped mountain over Aspy Bay.

Cabot's Landing Provincial Park

park

Long stretch of golden sand on Aspy Bay, by tradition the spot where John Cabot first landed in 1497.

Salmon River Beach

beach

Quiet pebble cove on the road to Meat Cove where the Salmon River meets the Gulf.

Meat Cove Beach

beach

Wild black-and-cobble beach at the very top of Cape Breton, framed by 300-metre cliffs.

Bell Bay Golf Club RV Village

park

On-course RV sites at one of Canada's top public golf clubs.

Peck's Cottages & Riverdale RV Park

park

Two-bedroom housekeeping cottages with a co-located RV park, a five-minute drive from the Fortress of Louisbourg historic site.

Around Cape Breton

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Cape Breton Hiking, Beaches & Outdoors | Cape Breton First