Cape Breton Highlands National Park is known for its spectacular highlands and ocean scenery. The Cape Breton Highlands are the most striking feature of northern Cape Breton. Steep cliffs and deep river canyons carve into a forested plateau bordering the Atlantic Ocean. One-third of the Cabot Trail, a world-famous scenic highway, runs through the national park along the coasts and over the highlands.
The cool maritime climate and rugged landscape of the park permit a unique blend of Acadian, Boreal and Taiga habitats, plants and animals. This special mix of northern and southern species is not found anywhere else in Canada. Within the park, several dozen species of rare or threatened plants and animals can be found, as well as old growth forests of international importance. Small populations of arctic-alpine plants left over from the last ice age can also be found here.
The park stretches across the northern tip of Cape Breton Island between the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Atlantic Ocean.
There are many ways to get to Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Two main auto routes lead to the western entrance of the park near Chéticamp, while two other options lead to the eastern entrance in Ingonish.
GPS Coordinates:
Chéticamp visitor centre: 46.646414, -60.950784
Ingonish visitor centre: 46.644680, -60.403369
RV Campings on the territory of National Park
Chéticamp Campground
Operating season: mid-May – end October
122 sites; 112 reservable
Nestled in the Chéticamp River valley amongst the river and mountains, your sheltered campsite gives you easy access to four of the park’s 26 hiking trails.
Wooded and open sections. Showers, flush toilets, kitchen shelters, playgrounds, outdoor theatre, visitor center, nature bookstore, coffee, hiking trails, geocaching.
Ingonish Beach Campground
Operating Season: mid-May – end October
60 sites; 55 reservable
This small, open campground, located by the village of Ingonish Beach, is your gateway to fun-filled family camping. Just a 10-minute walk to beautiful Ingonish Beach with the ocean (supervised in July and August) and freshwater swimming, hiking trails (No.19-21) tennis courts, soccer field, and playground.
Equipped camping and oTENTiks are available. Showers, flush toilets, kitchen shelters with wood stoves, fireplaces, and playground. Hiking trails, geocaching, and the Highlands Links golf course are nearby.
Broad Cove Campground
Operating Season: mid-May – end October
202 sites; 182 reservable
Broad Cove Campground is your ideal beach getaway, close to the village of Ingonish and situated in a forest framed on one side by a long, sandy beach on the Atlantic Ocean. This stunning ocean setting, combined with world-class hiking trails and an extensive menu of evening activities, will provide memories to last a lifetime.
Wooded and open sections. Showers, flush toilets, kitchen shelters with wood stoves, fireplaces, playground, geocaching, outdoor theatre, and ocean swimming. Hiking trails, lake swimming, and waterfalls nearby.
Corney Brook Campground
Located 15 km from Chéticamp, Corney Brook is a very small, oceanside campground with 20 unserviced sites. There are fireplaces and one washroom building with flush toilets, but there is no potable water on site. There is ocean swimming and hiking nearby. Payment is by self-registration.
MacIntosh Brook Campground
Located in the Grande Anse Valley, 5 km from Pleasant Bay, MacIntosh Brook Campground is a small, open area nestled at the base of the mountains. It has only 10 unserviced sites, a large kitchen shelter, playground, flush toilets, and a hiking trail. Payment is by self-registration.
11. Acadian Trail
2. Corney Brook Trail
Mountain biking trails
There are no official mountain biking trails within the park’s boundaries.
There are some cycling trails, among them the best is the Cycling along the Cabot Trail, one of the world’s top ten cycling destinations.
Further Park trails suitable for cycling are:
Salmon Pools, Freshwater Lake, Clyburn Valley, Branch Pond Look-off, Le Vieux Chemin du Cap-Rouge, Le Chemin du Buttereau, Le Buttereau.
Also suitable for cycling are all secondary and campground roads.
Please remember that Nova Scotia law requires cyclists of all ages to wear a helmet (on and off-road) and states that cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists.
Attractions
The world-famous Cabot Trail loops around northern Cape Breton.
The Cabot Trail, one of North America’s most scenic roads, loops around northern Cape Breton and runs for nearly 300 kilometers. Approximately one-third (106 km) of the Cabot Trail is located within the park’s boundaries.
The scenery you experience while traveling the Cabot Trail will be vastly different depending on the direction you choose to travel—clockwise or counterclockwise—but either way, the views are breathtaking.
Cabot Trail sightseeing is one of the most popular activities offered by the national park. Numerous look-offs provide ample opportunities to admire the striking beauty of the landscape. A park pass is required to tour this section of the Cabot Trail.