Cape Breton Highlands National ParkCape Breton Highlands National Park is located on northern Cape Breton Island . One-third of the Cabot Trail passes through the park, featuring spectacular ocean and mountain views. The National Park covers an area of 366 sq.mi. It is one of 42 in Canada's system of national parks.
At the western entrance of the park is the village of Chéticamp, known for its hook rug creations and its fiddle music, overlooking the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and a park information center. On the eastern side of the park are the beaches at Ingonish on the Atlantic Ocean. Also on the east side of the park, located in Ingonish, is the Keltic Lodge resort and the Highlands Links, an 18-hole golf course, Golf Magazine ranked it as one of the top 100 courses in the world and the best public course in Canada. In between are mountains, valleys, forests, waterfalls, rocky coastlines and a tundra-like plateau known as the Cape Breton Highlands National Park.
The Park’s mountains were first formed over a billion years ago, and erosion, formed by the swift streams and rivers formed the steep sides of the present day mountains. Basically the area consists of a boreal forest, tundra-like plateau, consisting of bogs and spruce and juniper trees, while deciduous trees and conifers are found on the lower elevations, especially the southern end of the Park. Park wildlife includes moose (only Nova Scotia location), black bears and bald eagles. Wilderness ActivitiesCape Breton Highlands National Park is open all year, and serves as a great wilderness activity area.The park is a hikers haven. There are over 20 hiking and walking trails in the park and are over 93 miles of trails. There are 26 miles of backpacking trails in the park along two separate routes, one on either side of the park. This wilderness also accommodates mountain bikers and in the winter backcountry and cross country skiers with 43 miles of groomed trails and 41 miles of ungroomed trails. Take a whale watching cruise. To spot a whale is almost guaranteed. It’s also a photographer’s delight. It is truly an outdoor activity paradise.
Return from Cape Breton Highlands National Park to Cape Breton Island
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