1)
Pollett's Cove Trail Once a small settlement, Pollett's Cove
is said to be one of the most beautiful places in Canada. Elevation:
0 to 366 m (0 to 1200ft) You may camp in Pollett's Cove or reside
in Pleasant Bay where there are several accommodations and camping.
Length: 19 km (11.5 miles) return. Hiking time: 8 hours Skill Level:
Advanced
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2)
L'Acadien Trail Length: 9.6 km (6 miles) loop Hiking time: 3
to 4 hours Elevation: 0 to 365 m (0 to 1200 ft) L'Acadien Trail
is a pretty light trek both up and down. The trail offers panoramic
views at the top of the climb, and some benches to rest on. Keep
an eye out for bears, hikers often spot them feasting on the many
wild strawberry plants in the beginning of summer.
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3)
Trous de Saumon Trail Length: 13 km (8 miles) Hiking time: 4
to 5 hours Elevation: 15 to 75 m (50 to 250 ft) Not far from the
Cheticamp Information Centre, you'll find this trail following the
Cheticamp River upstream. The walk to the first poll is an easy
one, located only 3.6 km up the river. Here the trail narrows to
a footpath, and continues for another 9.4 km to the end of the trail.
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4)
Le Chemin du Buttereau Trail Length: 5 km (3 miles) Hiking time:
1.5 to 2 hours Elevation: 15 to 122 m (50 to 400 ft) The trail begins
at the fringe of Melane's Pond close to the Cheticamp Campground
entrance. This trail is the remnants of the old Cabot Trail, along
this road you will see the foundations and fields of the Acadien
settlers who once lived here.
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5)
Corney Brook Length: 8 km (5 miles) Hiking time: 2 to 3 hours
Elevation: 0 to 75 m (0 to 250 ft) The trail begins just across
the road from the parking lot. As the trail winds its way up the
box canyon keep an eye out for bobcats they are seen quite often
on this trail. Garter snakes the largest of Cape Bretons four harmless
snakes may also be encountered on the trail.
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6)
Skyline Trail Length: 7 km (4.3 miles) loop Hiking time: 2 to
3 hours Elevation: 320 to 400 m (1050 to 1350 ft) As you hike the
Skyline Trail keep an eye out for moose as well as spruce grouse
both of which frequent the area. You may notice that the forest
seems to be disturbed, this was caused by a forest fire in the 1950's,
and by moose eating the spruce in winter. The view at the end of
the trail cannot be adequately described. You can peer down on the
Cabot Trail, or turn and look for whales in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
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7)
Bog Trail Length: 0.6 km (0.4 miles) loop Hiking time: 20 to
30 minutes Elevation: 410 m (1350 ft) The Bog is a short self-guiding
boardwalk trail which navigates through a late development bog.
Here you will learn about the plants and animals that live in this
highlands plateau bog, including: pitcher plants, orchids, green
frogs and gray-cheeked thrushes.
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8)
Benjies Lake Trail Length: 3.2 km (2 miles) return Hiking time:
1 to 2 hours Elevation: 396 to 400 m (1300 to1350 ft) The trail
at Benjies Lake takes you through wet barrens and evergreen forests
typical of the highland plateau. Some portions of the trail boardwalks
to protect the trail, and about two thirds of the way to the lake
there is a bench you can sit and rest at. Many hikers report seeing
moose in and around Benjies Lake at all times of the day.
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9)
Fishing Cove Trail Length: 16 km (10 miles) Hiking time: 4 to
5 hours Elevation: 0 to 330 m (0 to 1100 ft) The trail follows the
Fishing Cove River as it winds its way down to the Gulf of St. Lawrence,
1100 feet bellow. The area was once a small fishing community, it's
now one of two wilderness campsites located in the Cape Breton Highlands
National Park. Fishing Cove offers swimming in either salt or fresh
water, and is said to be a good spot to fish for trout.
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10)
MacIntosh Brook Length: 2.8 km (2 miles) Hiking time: 50 minutes
Elevation: 30 m (100 ft) The trail is located at the MacIntosh Brook
camp ground, and follows the brook up one side to a beautiful water
fall. Then returns on the other side of the brook with a few bridges
to cross.
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11)
The Lone Shieling Length: 0.8 km (½ miles) Hiking time: 2 to
3 hours Elevation: 0 to 75 m (0 to 250 ft) The Lone Shieling has
a short trail that will take you through a forest that was never
cut by the early settlers in the area. Nature just resumes what
it has been conducting for the past 10,000 years. The forest is
alive with different kinds of life, including great horned owls
and barred owls.
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12)
Aspy Trail Length: 9.6 km (6 miles) Hiking time: 2 to 3 hours
Elevation: 60 to 450 m (200 to 1500 ft) Past the warden station,
across the road from the Big Intervale Campground you will find
the Aspy Trail. The trail is an old fire access road which follows
the valley and finally climbs up into the highlands. There are some
magnificent views from up here of the North Mountain, and the river
valley below.
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13)
John D. and Lobster Lake Trail Length: 15 km (9 miles) return
Hiking time: 6 to 7 hours Elevation: 206 to 460 m (850 to 1500 ft)
The trail begins at the parking lot by Paquette Lake. This trail
is a long and hard one, and be sure to bring a compass with you
on this hike, because it is easy to wander off the trail and loose
your way in the barrens. You may encounter moose, bear and swarms
of mosquitos during the trip.
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14)
Jigging Cove Lake and Brook Trails Length: 7 km (4.5 miles)return
Hiking time: 2 to 2 ½ hours Elevation: 15 to 45 m (50 to 150 ft)
The lake is only a short distance away from the parking area (1
km), keep an eye open for moose who may be hiding in the spruce
trees on your way to the lake. After hiking for two kilometers from
the trail head you have the choice to continue hiking on the loop
around the lake or take another trail 3 km return, to the Atlantic
Ocean.
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15)
Coastal Trail Length: 11 Km (6.6 miles) Hiking time: 3 to 4
hours Elevation: 0 to 30 m (0 to 100 ft) Considered the best coastal
trail in the park, it follows the Atlantic Ocean North from Black
Brook to almost Neil's Harbour. From the trail you may see northern
gannets diving straight into the water catching fish. If the tide
is out go down to a tidal pool a and take a look at what kinds of
sea life you can find.
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16)
Jack Pine Trail Length: 2.8 km (1.7 miles) Hiking time: 1 hour
Elevation: 30 m (100 ft) This trail has the same starting point
as the coastal trail. You begin the hike in a forest of trembling
aspen, mixed with spruce and pine. As you climb higher, and the
ground becomes dryer, you enter the jack pine area. This trail is
unique because there are only two stands of jack pine in the park
and very few on Cape Breton island.
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17)
Broad Cove Mountain Trail Length: 3.2 km (2 miles) Hiking time:
1 ½ to 2 hours Elevation: 30 to 180 m ( 100 to 600 ft) Broad Cove
Mountain is a real climb, at 500 ft this trail is almost straight
up! Don't worry there are steps in the tough spots to help you along
and benches at the look-offs to give you a well deserved rest. The
views from the top of the mountain are worth the hike, you can see
Warren Lake and Middle Head below you, as well as Smokey Mountain.
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18)
Warren Lake Trail Length: 8.5 km (5.3 miles) loop Hiking time:
2 ½ to 3 hours Elevation: 15 m (50 ft) This trail will guide you
around Warren Lake, it's quiet here and if your lucky you might
see a white tailed deer early in the morning. The trees are mostly
hardwoods here and they seem to be alive with all the birds looking
for insects to eat. At the end of the lake there is a sandy beach
where you can take a swim or just sit back and relax for a while.
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19)
Lake of Islands Trail Length: 25.8 km (16 miles) return Hiking
time: 8 to 9 hours Elevation: 100 to 300 m (350 to 1250 ft) This
is a back-packing trail which runs for thirteen kilometres along
an old fire access road. It will take you through many different
terrains including: bogs, barrens, hardwoods, softwoods, and mixed
forests. After hiking for about six kilometres you'll come to a
cabin, this is a good place to rest after climbing nearly 300 metres.
When you reach the Lake of Islands there is a cabin and a place
where you can camp for the night.
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20)
Franey Trail Length: 6.4 km (4 miles) loop Hiking time: 3 to
4 hours Elevation: 120 to 425 m (400 to 1400 ft) This trail climbs
365 metres in only four kilometres, so it's a steep climb to the
top. After a kilometre and a half you'll come across a trail heading
to MacDougal Lake. After hiking for four kilometres you reach the
fire tower and a small look-off that offers spectacular views of
the area. The last 2.5 kilometres is almost straight down, while
hugging the wall of the valley so be careful.
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21)
Clyburn Valley Trail Length: 9.2 km (5.7 miles) return Hiking
time: 2 to 3 hours Elevation: 30 m (100 ft) This trail follows the
old Clyburn Valley Road as it winds it's way up the valley. After
travelling for 1.5 kilometres you'll come across the hotel and storage
area of an abandoned gold mine that closed down in 1916. A little
farther you come to the path leading to the mine shaft, but there
isn't much to see. At the end of the trail the river offers a good
place to fish, however, you are restricted to fly fishing only.
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22)
Middle Head Trail Length: 4 km (2 ½ miles) Hiking time: 1 ½
to 2 hours Elevation: 30 m (100 ft) The trail begins near the Keltic
Lodge and travels to the tip of Middle Head and back. This trail
not only offers wonderful views but also a little history. The Corson's
who were befriended by Alexander Graham Bell owned this estate during
the early part of the century. This was also the site of a fishing
village at the turn of the century. At the end of the trail you
can view the nesting areas of arctic and common terns.
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23)
Freshwater Lake & Look-Off Trail Length: 2.5 km (1.5 miles)
Hiking time:45 minutes Elevation: 0 to 30 m (0 to 100 ft) The trail
follows the edge of Freshwater Lake, which is only 3 feet above
sea level. There are loons nesting in this area and evidence of
beaver chews are all around. If you continue on the Look-Off Trail
you will be guided to the top of a hill where you have views of
the entire area.
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24)
Cape Smokey Trail Length: 8 km (5 miles) Hiking time: 3 hours
Elevation: (600 to 900 ft) The Cape Smokey trail displays extraordinary
coastal views of the area and offers pic-nic and washroom facilities.
A fire ravaged this area not long ago resulting in white birch establishing
itself as the primary tree in the area. The end of the trail offers
views of the Ingonish area and Middle Head , but be careful how
close you get to the edge of the 600 ft drop.
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25)
North River Trail Length: 16 km (9.5 miles) Hiking time: 7 to
8 hours Elevation: (200 to 1000 ft) At the parking area walk about
a hundred feet up until you reach the old cart road. The trail cling
to the side of the valley, above the river for about 3 kilometres.
You'll cross a bridge and encounter numerous wild life on this excursion.
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| 26)
Uisge Ban Falls Length: 7 km (4.3 miles) Hiking time: 2 ½ hours
Elevation:(250 to 650 ft) After leaving the parking area you come
to a fork in the trail, go right and follow the North Branch Baddeck
River. There are benches along this trail that offer a place to
rest as well as some nice views of the river. The trail turns inland
and you eventually reach the bridge crossing the Falls Brook, there
is a bench here so you can take a break before continuing on to
the falls. The area around the falls is a mystic place, you feel
the coolness and the mist as you approach the 50 ft falls. On the
return route take the other route in the fork, it's a little shorter. |
