About
Cape Breton Highlands National Park lies on the island of Cape Breton in Nova Scotia, Canada. It is a rugged coastal park where the land rises from the sea into high plateaus, and where the ocean views are often the first thing visitors remember.
What the park offers
The park is best known for the Cabot Trail, a scenic road that winds through its landscape and gives drivers and cyclists sweeping views of the coast. Along the way the scenery shifts between dramatic cliffs above the water, dense boreal forest, and the open, windswept Highland plateau.
- Hiking trails lead from the coast into the forest and up onto the plateau, so walkers can choose anything from a short outing to a longer day on the heights.
- Ocean views are a constant presence, with cliffs that drop toward the sea.
- Boreal forest and Highland plateau give the park two very different kinds of landscape within a short distance of each other.
Planning a visit
Because the park is large and the terrain is rugged, it suits visitors who enjoy being outdoors and who are comfortable with varied, sometimes steep ground. The Cabot Trail makes it easy to see a good portion of the park from the road, while the trails reward those who want to get out on foot. Visitors should check current trail and road conditions before setting out, as these can change with the weather and the season.