Cabot Trail, Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Nova Scotia, Canada With its quaint salt-tanged fishing villages, a woodsy and mountainous interior, and towering sea cliffs, Cape Breton is the scenic jewel of Nova Scotia. Complimenting the Cape’s natural beauty is its vibrant mix of Acadian and Gaelic cultures. On the Atlantic side of the Cape, towns like Ingonish preserve the influence of early Scottish settlers, while on the Gulf of St. Lawrence side, French-speaking towns such as Chèticamp still celebrate their Acadian heritage. The Cabot Trail makes a 185-mile loop around a sizeable chunk of the island of Nova Scotia, passing through Cape Breton Highlands National Park at its northernmost point. A 367-square-mile plateau cut by deep river valleys, Cape Breton is home to black bears, bald eagles, and a large number of moose—watch for them sauntering across the highway, especially at dusk. The town of Baddeck, on Bras d’Or Lake (not actually a lake but rather an estuary that teems with wildlife and has been designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve) is a good starting point for a
trip. Before you hit the trail, we suggest a visit to the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site in Baddeck to learn some fascinating things about the inventor of the telephone. If you are into boating, check at the Baddeck Wharf for a sailing trip on Bras d’Or Lake. From there, you can follow the Cabot Trail Loop in either direction, pausing to feast on fresh lob- ster, stay in hospitable inns, and hike your choice of 25 trails in the national park as the trail skirts the edges of the preserve, at times clinging to steep oceanside cliffs. Some of the best dining opportunities on the Trail include the purple Thistle Dining Room at the classy Keltic Lodge in Ingonish Beach, and the Rusty Anchor Restaurant in Pleasant Bay where you’ll be treated to what arguably are the tastiest lobster rolls in all of Nova Scotia. For fresh baguettes and other French pastries, drop by Aucoin Bakery in Petit Étang.
For more information: https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ns/cbreton 888-773-8888
The Cabot Trail makes a 185-mile loop around and through Nova Scotia’s scenic Cape Breton Highlands National Park.
Meat Cove Campground is one of a number of campgrounds along the 185-mile Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia.
EIGHT GREAT NATIONAL PARK SCENIC DRIVE
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