Nova Scotia Hiking: Cape Breton Island

This tour is graded easy to moderate, with daily average hiking around 3-7 miles (3 to 5 hours). Enjoy hiking along hand-picked trails to stunning vistas, waterfalls or natural delights within the national park or coastal trails. Trails are signed, well-maintained, traveled frequently and near the road for ease of navigation and parking. Each night, drive to nearby villages to stay at historic B&Bs and inns influenced by Irish and Scottish settlements.

Discovery | Think of it as a ‘local’s guide’ to the best of the region. It includes a combination of activity and transportation to give you the freedom to explore and cover more ground at your own pace. We do all the research and organisation for you. All you have to do is turn up and enjoy!

Drive and Hike | Exploration of picturesque and remarkable destinations by car combined with walks that highlight the best of a country or region.

Solo Travellers

As a guide, we would suggest that the minimum age of traveler this tour would be suitable for is: 5 Years

This tour is graded easy to moderate with five days of hiking and a maximum distance of 8 miles. Daily hikes average around 3-7 miles (3-6 hours) along dirt nature trails or wooded boardwalks and stairs.

Although the trails are maintained by the park or local organizations, there is always the possibility of encountering washed out, overgrown or of muddy conditions. Almost all trailheads have parking lots with plenty of space, while only a few have pullouts or space to park on the side of the road. Distances and ascents/descents are approximations of the recommended routes.

Daily trails have been hand-selected by the Macs Adventure team and chosen for their level of difficulty, scenic qualities and high rank within top trailheads, so you can enjoy the best of the region. Due to the flexibility of this trip, you can always skip a hike or turn around whenever desired.

Note: Wildlife safety, cell service availability, and other trip specific information will be outlined within your pre-departure information pack.

We specifically hand-picked your accommodations in comfortable and charming inns and B&Bs to ensure that you enjoy every minute of your stay while exploring Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. 

All accommodations are located along the driving route and offer a warm welcome to tourists and hikers. Additionally, each offers individual character and welcoming hospitality.

Solo Travelers & Single Rooms

This trip is based on two people sharing a room. If you’d like separate rooms, a single supplement is required.

If you would like to request a twin room (same room with two separate beds), please notify us during booking so we can request this option.

Due to the number of tourists travelling the area and having access to a car, this trip is also available to solo hikers (a solo supplement is required).

Meals

Breakfast is included each morning and served buffet style or chosen from a menu. Most breakfasts include a hot dish (eggs, pancakes or waffles), coffee, tea, yogurt, granola, fruit and baked goods.

Lunches and dinners are not included in this trip, so you can choose from nearby options. For lunches, we recommend finding a market to create a picnic or packed lunch to take with you on hikes. Or you can choose to dine at local cafes located in towns and along the driving route. For dinner, you can dine at local restaurants all within a short walking distance from your night’s stay.

Navigating is easy using the Macs Adventure Navigation App. Your daily hikes will be mapped in the app with GPX tracks, route notes and turn-by-turn directions. All of these resources are available to download for offline use, which means you won’t need cell service or Wi-Fi (which are often unreliable or unavailable on trails within the national park).

Written turn-by-turn driving directions are included in the app; although the drives are straightforward, you may still consider using a GPS device while in the car. You will also have 24/7 Macs Adventure telephone support.

The best time to visit Cape Breton is during the summer months of July and August and the fall months of September and October.

July and August are the months when weather is warmest and driest, making hiking, driving and outdoor activities most enjoyable. September and October offer stunning autumn colors and changing foliage, creating very dramatic scenery when hiking, driving and exploring.

No matter when you decide to come, travelers should come prepared for rain showers or cooler weather at any point.

Availability

This trip is available to start on any day of the week from June to October.

We suggest you book as soon as your plans are finalized to ensure availability for specific dates. 

Getting to Downtown Halifax

By Air

Halifax Stanfield International Airport has flights from international and national destinations.

Rental Car

Upon arrival to the airport, follow signs pointing you in the direction of the rental car agency to pick-up your rental car. Budget, Enterprise and Hertz are some of the many agencies available should you need to rent a car from Halifax Stanfield International Airport. Driving to downtown Halifax takes about thirty minutes from the airport.