Hike Nova Scotia : Cape Breton Island

Nova Scotia Hiking: Cape Breton Island

7 Days & 6 Nights 5 Read 5 reviews

Hike the wild coastline of Nova Scotia's iconic Cabot Trail
Explore quaint Acadian villages, rich in history, dotting Cape Breton's coastline
Enjoy malt whiskey and daily Scottish music at the Glenora Inn & Distillery
Feast on fresh-caught lobster, snow crab and mussels from the Gulf of St. Lawrence
Look for moose, whales and wildflowers on the Skyline Trail and Franey Mountain

Hike the stunning landscape of Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island, exploring by car and on foot and stopping at trailheads along the Cabot Trail and throughout Highlands National Park. Upon arrival in Halifax, enjoy a picturesque drive up to Baddeck for a waterfall hike, lobster supper and optional evening sail. Continue up to Ingonish Beach for a two-night stay at the Keltic Lodge, allowing plenty of time to soak in the panoramic views and nearby trails. Drive the coastal route to White Point, a memorial for an unknown sailor and seaside hike for spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean. Continue west to Cheticamp, for scenic views of the St. Lawrence seaway and hikes along the Skyline Trail. Strap on your boots for more hiking adventures and whale watching opportunities before heading to Glenora Inn & Distillery, an old-world inn with daily whiskey tours and nightly traditional Ceilidhs (Scottish) music.

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What To Expect

Travel restrictions and resources, to and from any destination

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.

Tour Type:

Slower Adventures | Where walking and cycling meet easy-going exploring, our Slower Adventures are the perfect combination. Most days are filled with picturesque journeys with some free time to dive into the destination and experience the people, local food and culture as you go.

Activity:

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

This trip is suitable for:

Solo Travellers

Ideal if you have an interest in:

Islands

Activity Level & Terrain

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.

Navigation

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.

Experience & Fitness

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.

Accommodations

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.

Included

6 Nights at charming historic B&Bs and inns
6 Breakfasts
Hand-picked daily hiking trails
Turn-by-turn directions and route notes
Macs Adventure Navigation App
Detailed pre-departure information pack
24/7 US telephone support

Excluded

International flights
Car Rental
National Park Pass
Sailing, whale watching, tours or other optional activities
Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
Additional nights before, during or after the trip
Personal equipment
Travel Insurance
Gratuities and tips

Extras

Extra Nights in Halifax, Baddeck, Igonish Beach, Cheticamp and Glenville
Room Upgrades (only where applicable)

When To Go

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 the Start

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.

General Information

National Park Pass

While hiking within Cape Breton National Park, a parking pass will have to be purchased upon arrival. Booths will be set-up at entrance stations to prompt you to purchase your pass before parking, or you can stop by the visitor’s center along the route. You can purchase each day’s pass all at once or per day if preferred. Costs are $7.80 CAD per person via cash or credit card. For more information click this link and visit the national park pass section found within the pre-departure information pack.

Equipment

Our pre-departure information pack has detailed advise and a packing list on what to bring. This includes warm and cold weather gear, hiking boots, rain gear and lots of other specifics.

Please be prepared by packing all the necessary items for a comfortable trip. If you have any questions about what to take, we'd be happy to share our own top tips and advice.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance helps protect your travel investment, your belongings and most importantly you, from unforeseen circumstances that may arise before or during your trip. For more information, please visit our travel insurance page

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Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Halifax Day 2 Drive to Baddeck & Hike Uisage Ban Falls 1.6 miles / 2.6 km

After breakfast, drive north to Baddeck, a quaint shire town in Victoria County (approx. 4 hours).

Pick-up a packed lunch or head straight to the Uisage Ban Trailhead (Gaelic for “white water”) for a beautiful hike to a 50-foot waterfall. Enjoy walking along a shaded path through forest comprised of maple, birch and beech trees. Take a rest at the waterfall, admiring the deep stream valley and narrow walls of the 500-foot gorge tower, before heading back.

Drive back to Baddeck and check in to your B&B. If desired, head to the wharf to join an evening sailing tour aboard the Schooner Amoeba for an education narrative and wildlife viewing of Cape Breton’s Bras d’Or Lakes (approx. 1.5 hrs, additional costs apply).

Hike: Uisage Ban Falls (Easy, 2.5 miles, 1 hour, out-and-back)

Overnight Baddeck

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

The Water’s Edge Inn | Bed and breakfast

Situated in historic Baddeck and conveniently located a few blocks from town, enjoy overlooking the picture-perfect harbor and stunning vista of the Bras d’Or Lakes.

Dunlop Inn | Bed and breakfast

Enjoy a night at this polished bed-and-breakfast set on Baddeck Bay, with a private sandy beach and waterside deck. Located in the center of the village, this B&B provides the perfect combination of well-appointed accommodations and a relaxed sea side atmosphere. Friendly staff and attention to details ensures that guests have a relaxing and comfortable stay, for a home away from home.

Lynwood Inn | Hotel

Lynwood was built in 1868 and for many years was a private home, but later became a prominent local store, selling art, antiques and collectibles. The Inn is now tastefully decorated throughout with antique furnishings and fixtures collected over the years. It is conveniently located in the heart of the picturesque Village of Baddeck.

Day 3 Drive to Ingonish Beach & Hike Warren Lake and Franey Mountain 5 miles / 8 km Day 4 Drive to White Point & Hike Middle Head and White Point Trail 3.5 miles / 5.5 km Day 5 Drive to Cheticamp & Hike Benjie’s lake, Bog and Skyline Trail 4.5 miles / 7.5 km

Today, you will drive from the east side of Cape Breton to the west side, overlooking the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Before reaching Cheticamp (approx. 2 hours), stop-off at three incredible, yet diverse, hiking trails along the way. Located only a few blocks apart, start with the hike to Benjie’s Lake for views of moose, boreal forest and birds. Head over to the Bog Trail for a short loop along a level wooden boardwalk to view beautiful wildflowers, particularly orchids. Continue on to the famed Skyline Trail, one of the park’s best hikes and a local favorite for the perfect conclusion to this hiking day.

Drive down to the Acadian town and Francophone enclave of Cheticamp. Check into your B&B or join a whale watching tour to view whales, dolphins, seals, eagles and wildlife near Pleasant Bay (not included).

Hike: Benjie’s Lake (Easy, 2 miles, 1.5 hrs, out-and-back)

Hike: Bog (Easy, 0.3 miles, 15 min, loop)

Hike: Skyline Trail (Easy, 5 miles, 3 hrs, loop)

Overnight Cheticamp

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Maison Fiset House | Bed and breakfast

The Maison Fiset House is an elegant retreat on the magnificent Cabot Trail. Built in 1840 and situated in the heart of Cheticamp, enjoy exquisite accommodations with magnificent views of the highlands, harbor and ocean.

Auberge des Pecheurs Inn | Bed and breakfast

L'Auberge des Pêcheurs Inn, in Chéticamp, is the perfect inn along the Cabot Trail that will keep you coming back for years to come. The rooms, the atmosphere and the friendly personnel are second to none. Enjoy a night’s stay at this charming inn, partaking in all that the surrounding Acadian community has to offer.

L’Auberge Doucet Inn | Inn

Overlooking the Chéticamp Harbor and surrounded by the Cape Breton Highlands, this cozy inn is set in a quaint red building along the scenic Cabot Trail. The quiet and relaxing atmosphere which surrounds the Inn will lull you into a deep and peaceful sleep; while the food, atmosphere and friendly personnel offers an experience unlike any other.