Outdoors & Nature in Cabot Trail

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

Type
Region
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.

Broad Cove Beach

beach

Black Brook Beach and Still Brook Falls

waterfall

Neils Brook Beach Trail

beach

Green Cove Trail – Cape Breton Highlands National Park

trail

Lowland Cove Loop – Meat Cove

trail

Tenerife Mountain

trail

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.

Meat Cove Campground

park

Cliffside oceanfront campground at the very tip of Cape Breton.

Hideaway Campground & Oyster Market

park

Halfway around the Cabot Trail with on-site oyster market.

Broad Cove Campground

park

The largest national park campground, near Ingonish.

Ingonish Beach Campground

park

Parks Canada campground a short walk from Ingonish Beach.

North River Falls

waterfall · 18.00 km

Tallest waterfall in Nova Scotia, reached by an 18-km return wilderness hike.

Beulach Ban Falls

waterfall · 0.10 km

Tall ribbon waterfall in the Aspy Fault valley reached by a quiet gravel road.

Bay St. Lawrence Drive

scenic drive · 40.00 km

Side trip off the Cabot Trail to the northernmost villages of Cape Breton.

Cabot Trail

scenic drive · 298.00 km

298-kilometre loop ranked among the world's great coastal drives.

MacKenzie Mountain Lookoff

lookoff

Switchback summit lookoff with northern views over Pleasant Bay and the Gulf.

Cape Smokey Lookoff

lookoff

Roadside lookoff at the top of Smokey Mountain with views down the Atlantic coast.

Neil's Harbour Lighthouse

lighthouse

Picturesque red-and-white lighthouse and ice-cream stand above a working fishing village.

Englishtown Ferry & Park

park

Two-minute cable ferry crossing St. Anns Harbour, a Cabot Trail shortcut and photo stop.

Black Brook Beach

beach

Sheltered cove with a small waterfall spilling onto pink granite sand.

Broad Cove Mountain Trail

trailmoderate · 1.90 km

Short steep climb to a panoramic ridge over Ingonish and the Atlantic.

Lone Shieling Trail

traileasy · 0.80 km

Tiny loop through 350-year-old maples to a replica Scottish crofter's hut.

Jigging Cove Lake Trail

traileasy · 2.50 km

Quiet flat loop around a small forest lake near Neil's Harbour.

Meat Cove Mountain Trail

Meat Cove Mountain Trail

traildifficult · 3.00 km

Steep, rewarding climb behind the village to a Cape Breton summit panorama.

Polletts Cove Trail

traildifficult · 16.00 km

Demanding 16-km wilderness hike to a roadless meadow-and-beach valley north of the national park.

Cape Smokey Provincial Park Trail

trailmoderate · 11.00 km

Cliff-edge trail along a 366-metre headland with a gondola, suspension bridge, and viewing tower.

Aspy Trail

traileasy · 9.60 km

Gentle forest hike to a lookout over the broad Aspy Fault valley.

Coastal Trail

trailmoderate · 11.00 km

Rugged shoreline ramble between Black Brook and Halfway Brook with wave-carved cliffs and cobble beaches.

Franey Trail

traildifficult · 7.40 km

Steep climb to a granite summit with the best view of the Clyburn Valley and Atlantic coast.

Mary Ann Falls

waterfalleasy · 0.50 km

Tiered waterfall and natural swimming hole reached by a short gravel road off the Cabot Trail.

Ingonish Beach

beach

Unique double beach—Atlantic surf on one side, warm freshwater pond on the other.

Middle Head Trail

traileasy · 4.00 km

Easy peninsula walk past the Keltic Lodge to a tern-nesting headland between two bays.

Around Cape Breton

More news →
Government of Nova Scotia · Aug 26, 2026
Location Selected for New Cape Breton Trades Exhibition Centre

Location Selected for New Cape Breton Trades Exhibition Centre Government of Nova Scotia

Cape Breton Hiking, Beaches & Outdoors | Cape Breton First