The two main options for traveling to the Ingonish entrance of the park are:
- via the Cabot Trail (East) through St.
- via the Englishtown Ferry (Route 312), accessed from Exit 12 of the Trans-Canada Highway 105, at the western base of Kelly’s Mountain.
Where is Cape Breton Highlands entrance?
You can access the Cape Breton Highlands National Park via Cheticamp on the west side or Ingonish on the east side. Either way you will be on the world-famous Cabot Trail which forms a loop around the park.
Do you have to pay to drive through Cape Breton Highlands National Park?
Entry and service fees are charged at most national parks and national historic sites, where revenues are kept to support visitor services and facilities.
How do I get from Halifax to Cape Breton Highlands?
Cape Breton Island is a 2.5-hour drive from Halifax. Cross onto the island via the Canso Causeway, then drive another 2 hours to the park along the Cabot Trail.
Where is the best place to start the Cabot Trail?
Here are the most commonly used entrances onto the Cabot Trail: Take the Ceilidh Trail (Route 19) from Port Hastings as you enter Cape Breton Island to meet the Cabot Trail in Margaree Forks. Drive along Hwy 105, passing alongside the Bras d’Or Lake and hop on the Cabot Trail in Nyanza/Baddeck at Exit 7.
What is the most scenic part of the Cabot Trail?
Top 10 Scenic Stops Along the Cabot Trail
- Baddeck.
- The Uisge Bàn Falls.
- North River.
- Ingonish Beach.
- Middle Head.
- Pleasant Bay.
- MacIntosh Brook Trail.
- Skyline Trail.
Do you need a park pass to drive the Cabot Trail?
The permit is basically your parking pass at park facilities. If you are spending a day driving the Cabot Trail, I assume you’re making stops at some trails or viewpoints along the way inside the park, so for that day yes you’d need a permit, but not for days you’re just driving from Wreck Cove to Meat Cove.
Do you need to take a ferry to Cape Breton?
To reach Cape Breton Island, you can drive from mainland Nova Scotia via the Canso Causeway; take a Marine Atlantic ferry from Newfoundland; or fly into Sydney’s J.A. Douglas McCurdy Airport. Maritime Bus has service from the mainland, with stops at Port Hawkesbury, Whycocomagh, Baddeck, and North Sydney.
How many days should I spend in Cape Breton?
I spent a week in Cape Breton driving along the Cabot Trail and still didn’t have enough time to do everything I wanted! Even though the Cabot Trail is just under 300km, most people recommend spending 3-5 days as there is so much to do.
Is the Cabot Trail difficult to drive?
The Cabot Trail is mainly a scenic drive. Choose the best weather days available to make this trip. This is easy if you plan to drive the loop in one day, but becomes more difficult if you are spending a couple of days on the Trail. Gas stations are few and far between on the Cabot Trail.
Is there a ferry from Halifax to Cape Breton?
There is no ferry to Cape Breton. The ferry lands near Pictou and from there you’ll need to drive on to Cape Breton. Depending upon schedules the ferry may slightly shorten your trip, depending upon where you would be in PEI when you are ready to leave. The actual ferry ride time is just over an hour.
Is there a bridge to Cape Breton Island?
The Canso Causeway Swing Bridge, spanning the Canso Canal, connects Cape Breton Island with mainland Nova Scotia. Comprising a two-lane highway and a railway line, the bridge carries a significant volume of vehicular and railway traffic, and is a vital link to Cape Breton Island and Newfoundland.
Is there a ferry from Nova Scotia to Cape Breton?
The Little Narrows Ferry in Cape Breton is one of the shortest ferry routes in Nova Scotia. Although short, it helps connect the Baddeck and Sydney areas of Cape Breton decreasing driving times for locals and tourists.
Is Cabot Trail worth the drive?
Located on Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island, the Cabot Trail is a 298 km (185 miles) scenic drive through Cape Breton Highland’s National Park and the Atlantic Coast. It is considered one of the best road trips in the world.
How long should you spend on the Cabot Trail?
The Cabot Trail is well-marked, easy to drive, and filled with tons of attractions. At 298 kilometers (185 miles), it’s ideal for a four-day road trip.
Which is better Cabot Cliffs or links?
While Links is low-profile and subtle, Cliffs is quite the opposite. It’s high-profile — literally, it sits on a dramatic site well above the shore — and as in-your-face as quality golf course design gets, a series of ever higher notes that culminates in a clifftop crescendo that rivals anything you’ll find in golf.
Can you do Cabot Trail in one day?
You can definitely drive the Cabot Trail in one day. And some people do end up driving the entire trail in one day, finishing the full 185 mile-loop (298 km). But, you’ll likely miss out on some cool hikes and highlights. (It’s better to split the road trip in two!)
Which is the best way to drive the Cabot Trail?
Since most of the views around the cabot trail will be on the water side, for the driver to have the easiest drive and take in the views a clockwise direction make sense. Anticlockwise is also good, so that the pullover spots are on the right side of the road.
How long does it take to drive the Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia?
Everyone tells you that you should plan for 3 to 5 days on the Cabot Trail – a 185 mile drive around the tip of Cape Breton Nova Scotia passing along and through the scenic Cape Breton Highlands.
Where should you stay on Cabot Trail?
5 Unique Places To Stay Along The Cabot Trail
- CABOT SHORE WILDERNESS LODGE.
- CAPE BRETON HIGHLAND NATIONAL PARK.
- CAMPGROUNDS: CHETICAMP CAMPGROUND AND INGONISH BEACH.
- KELTIC LODGE RESORT AND SPA, INGONISH BEACH, NS.
- CLIFF WATERS COTTAGE, PLEASANT BAY, NS.
Are there bathrooms on the Cabot Trail?
As far as washrooms go along the Cabot Trail, they are located all along the trail at most stops within the national park.