Cabot Trail

The Cabot Trail is a scenic highway loop on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, running roughly 298 kilometres around the island’s northern highlands and coastline. It is celebrated for coastal cliffs, highland vistas and cultural communities.

The route passes through Cape Breton Highlands National Park and a series of lookouts, short trails and small communities offering viewpoints over the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Atlantic coast. Signature stops include the Skyline Trail viewpoints and seaside villages with local food and crafts.

Developed in the 20th century from older roads and coastal routes, the Cabot Trail grew into a purpose-built scenic drive as tourism on Cape Breton expanded, with infrastructure improvements and viewpoints added over time.

Encircling the northern tip of Cape Breton Island, the trail is accessible from multiple entry points including Baddeck and Ingonish and forms a loop that returns to its starting area.

• Length and driving time: Runs in a roughly 298 kilometre loop around the northern end of Cape Breton Island and is usually driven over multiple days to allow stops and hikes.
• Best seasons to visit: Recommended in autumn for fall foliage and in summer for roadside services; several short hikes and viewpoints are spread along the route.

What to See #

• Skyline Trail: A cliffside hiking trail inside Cape Breton Highlands National Park that ends at a dramatic coastal viewpoint with steep drop-offs and expansive ocean views.
• Scenic communities: Small coastal communities and fisheries-oriented towns along the loop that serve as access points and service centres for the route.
• Major lookouts: A collection of coastal and highland lookouts and short trailheads that provide the most photographed viewpoints along the route.