One of my favourite fall activities is to visit Cape Breton to go hiking. The fall is the perfect time to visit for hiking because the weather is cooler, and the foliage is gorgeous to look at. Below is a 3 day hiking itinerary for how to see the fall foliage around the Cabot Trail in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
Tip: Are you interested in visiting Sydney, Nova Scotia too while you are in Cape Breton? If so, then read this post here: 3 day Cape Breton Itinerary.
Important to know before you go
Cape Breton is a 3 hour drive from Halifax, Nova Scotia. To maximize your time in Cape Breton, it is suggested that you drive to Cape Breton the night before.
The Cabot Trail is a loop, so you can do this itinerary in either direction. Read everything you need to know about the Cabot Trail here.
Check the time it gets dark and plan your day accordingly. On this itinerary it got dark at around 6pm. This allowed for enough time to do one big hike (7-10km), and one shorter hike (4-5km).
The best time to visit Cape Breton for fall foliage
The best time to visit Cape Breton for the foliage depends on the weather, but anytime between the 2nd or 3rd week in October. The photos from this trip are from October 21 to October 23rd. But I have gone in the 1st week of October and the leaves were still very beautiful then.
Summary: 3 Day Hiking Itinerary around the Cabot Trail
Day 1: Drive from Baddeck to the National Park. Hikes: Freshwater lake look-off (less than 1km), Franey Trail (approx. 8.5km) and Middlehead Hike (approx. 4.5km) OR Smokey Mountain Gondola. Overnight in Ingonish.
Day 2: Broad Cove Mountain Trail (2.5km), Mary Ann Falls (0.5km), Theodore Fricker Hike (3.5km) OR Skyline Trail & MacIntosh Brook Trail; Beulach Ban Falls (0km). Overnight in Cheticamp.
Day 3: Gypsum Mine Lake (2.5km), Acadian Trail (9.5km), and Egypt Falls (1km). Overnight in Port Hood or Mabou
Day 4: Drive back home to Halifax (or to your next destination).
Day 1 in Cape Breton
9:30AM: We start off our 3 day hiking itinerary around the Cabot Trail in Cape Breton by driving 1 hour from Baddeck to the entrance of the National Park. The views are very pretty along the way, and there are LOTS of spots to pull over.
10:30AM: Freshwater Lake Look-off (0.3km)
This is a short and steep hike which only takes about 15 minutes total. If you want a beautiful view to see the fall foliage without committing to a long hike, then THIS is the one to do!
11:00AM: Franey hike (approx 8km)
The second trail of the day is Franey, a personal favourite of mine. It’s a looped trail, and challenging, but the views make it all worthwhile. The reasons why it is challenging is because of the length and the steepness. There are a few staircases – but nothing too crazy!
Bring your lunch snacks so that you can eat when you get to the top!
Go in a counter-clockwise direction if you want it to be less steep on the way up, and more steep on the way down. If you go in this direction, the way up will be an old ATV path with no viewpoints. But, there is a short path that will lead you off the trail to Warren Lake (it isn’t marked, so use the AllTrails App so you don’t miss it). But, it will be more steep on the way down and hard on the knees.
Go in a clockwise direction if you want it to be more steep on the way up, and less steep on the way down. In this direction there are more look-offs and views. You will start the trail by going through wooded pathways with staircases. Most people complete the trail in this direction.
4:00PM: Middle Head Hiking Trail (3.8km) OR Smokey Mountain Gondola
The Middle Head Hiking trail is conveniently located only 8 minutes away from Franey. It goes along the peninsula overlooking the ocean, with a backdrop of mountains.
TIP: If you are too tired to hike after Franey, then an alternative to see the fall foliage from above is by going up the Gondola at Smokey Mountain. The fee is $45 for an adult.
6:00PM: Dinner
Make your way back to your accommodation for the night in Ingonish. A lot of places close early, so I recommend bringing food to make in your hotel.
Day 2 in Cape Breton
10:30AM: Broad Cove Mountain Hike (2.6km)
After breakfast, begin your day of hiking at Broad Cove Mountain. This is a short and steep hike. It isn’t TOO strenuous because of the short length, but there are a few stairs. There are a couple of look-offs along the way, and a great panoramic view at the end. If you are short on time but want a good view, this is also another great choice.
11:30AM: Mary Ann Falls (0.8km)
Drive 15 minutes down the road from Broad Cove Mountain (your GPS will show you the way!). This is a short walk to the waterfall from the parking lot, and there are two viewpoints to see it.
2:30PM: Theodore Fricker Mountain Hike (3.7 km) *OR* Skyline (8km) and MacIntosh Brook (1.8km) trail.
There are two options for how to continue your day: The Theodore Fricker Mountain Trail OR the Skyline and MacIntosh Brook trails.
Option #1: The Theodore Fricker Mountain Trail (aka: the Peak at Tenerife Mountain)
The reason why there are two options is because the Theodore Fricker mountain trail is VERY steep and challenging. The first 70% of the hike has a gentle incline. But this changes fast and the remaining 30% is all very steep and uphill.
There are no switchbacks, because it’s just straight up! There is a section near the top that is more rocky and almost like a scramble.
But the view from the top has the most beautiful view of all hikes, especially in the fall.
I did this with my two dogs, but they are athletic and experienced hikers. We kept them on leash the entire time. Keep this in mind if you decide to hike this trail. You can always turn around if it seems like it will be too difficult!
Option #2: The Skyline and MacIntosh Brook Trails.
If you decide NOT hike the Theodore Fricker Mountain Trail, then there are other hikes to add to your 3 day hiking itinerary around the Cabot Trail in Cape Breton. The good news is that there are SO many options, for all lengths and fitness levels.
If you have not been to Cape Breton before, then I recommend the Skyline Trail (8km) and Macintosh Brook Trail (1.8km).
The MacIntosh Brook Trail is a short, family friendly trail with a waterfall at the end.
The Skyline is THE Cape Breton trail that you see in all of the advertisements of Cape Breton. It is great for first-timers because of the view, it is long but easy to complete, and very well-maintained. I recommend doing it as an out-and-back since there isn’t much to see as a loop. This is also the only trail where dogs are not allowed. It is also VERY busy.
4:30PM: Beulach Ban Falls.
If you have completed the Theodore Fricker Mountain Trail, then the next stop will be Beulach Ban Falls. You can practically see the waterfalls from the parking lot, so it’s a very short walk.
If you choose option 2 and hiking the Skyline and MacIntosh Brook Trail, then you will visit this waterfall first.
6:30PM: Arrive in Cheticamp.
You will see A LOT of spots to pull-over to admire the view while you drive to Cheticamp. Take your time driving while the sun sets. A bonus is that the fall foliage will look like it’s glowing thanks to golden hour.
Grab a bite to eat in Cheticamp (listen to live fiddle music at the Doryman Pub & Grill). Or, cook dinner in your accommodation.
Day 3 in Cape Breton
10:30AM: Gypsum Mine Lake (2.6km)
This is a busy trail. But it’s short and easy, and has a lake that is great for swimming in the summer, and has a beautiful look-off that is popular on Instagram.
We arrived at 10:00AM and the parking lot was almost full. So if you want to be able to get your photograph from the look-off point without waiting in a line (literally), then get there early.
12:00PM: Acadian Trail (9km)
This is a looped trail which is so beautiful in the fall. It is rated moderate in difficulty because of the length and you are going uphill (although, the trail is definitely NOT as steep as Franey).
I recommend going in a counter-clockwise direction because then you will start your trail by going up a gentle incline throughout the forest and along a brook. There are no viewpoints during this half of the trail, and the trail is more uneven, but the forest and brook are really beautiful.
At the top of the trail there are panoramic views of Cape Breton, and then as you descend the mountain you will be able to see all of the look-offs on your way down. The trail is more even on the way down too.
5:00PM: Egypt Falls
A short and yet another steep hike to a HUGE waterfall. Follow the GPS directions, and then look for the orange pylon on the side of the road to find your entrance. There are ropes to assist you down, but it only takes 10 minutes to reach the waterfall.
6:00PM Dinner and drive to overnight accommodation
Spend your final night in Port Hood or Mabou before driving back to Halifax the next day.
I hope that you find this 3 day hiking itinerary helpful for planning your trip to hike in Cabot Trail in Cape Breton to see beautiful fall foliage. Have you visited Cape Breton, or hiked any of these trails? Let me know which trail is your favourite (or that you would like to do) in the comments below!
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