Driving the Cabot Trail in Cape Breton is one of the most spectacular activities to do in Nova Scotia. The scenery is so unique compared to the rest of Nova Scotia, with tall hills and winding roads. There are plenty of hikes, waterfalls and live musical events that make Cape Breton truly a worthwhile place to visit. Below are my top tips for visiting the Cabot Trail in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
First things first – what is the Cabot Trail?
The Cabot Trail is a scenic roadway 298km (or 186 miles) long that circles around the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. To enter the National Park, you need to pay a fee of $7.50 a day (as of 2020). This gives you access to the park and all of the hikes!
How long does it take to go around the Cabot Trail?
If you were drive around the Cabot Trail without stopping it would take about 5 hours. But where’s the fun in that! It is possible to drive the Cabot Trail in one day, but it would be really rushed. It is recommended a minimum of 2 full days to drive on the Cabot Trail.
Read my 3 day itinerary for Cape Breton here.
Which direction is the best way to drive around the Cabot Trail?
The short answer is – either direction. I promise! Each direction is incredibly scenic, but here is a breakdown of each direction so that you can choose:
If you drive clockwise: for the majority of the drive you will be on the inside lane. You will for the most part need to cross the road to get to the pull-over stops.
If you drive counter-clockwise: for the majority of the drive you will be on the outside lane and be closest to the water. It will be easier to pull off to the side of the road where the majority of the look-off points are too. In the morning, you will be on the same side as the sunrise.
When I drove the Cabot Trail, I drove counter-clockwise. There were sections when I was on the outside lane overlooking the water. As the road twists and turns you will end up with views on the left hand side, and be on the inside lane. There were occasions where we had to turn around to look at the view behind us, and it would have been easier to see them if we had travelled clockwise. The same could be said for driving clockwise too, though.
So to summarize: go in whichever direction you want and is most convenient for you. The views are equally as good. There are loads of pullover stops so that you can fully appreciate the views too.
Is it scary to drive on the Cabot Trail?
A lot of concerns before driving the Cabot Trail is if it is scary or not. If you are driving in the dead of winter in ice and snow, then yes it is. BUT, chances are you will be driving in the summer or fall months (the best time to go).
It isn’t scary to drive the Cabot Trail. It can get twisty and have steep inclines, but the roads are wide and you aren’t close to the edge. Here is a video showing the most “extreme” part of the trail (driving in the counter-clockwise direction):
When is the best time to visit?
In my personal opinion, Autumn (from around October 8th-18th) is the BEST time to see the Cabot Trail. Seeing the vibrant fall foliage from above is stunning.
The waterfalls in the fall are exploding with water and extra “water-y.” In the summer, the waterfalls are still incredible, but they are a bit more dry. Read my 5 most beautiful waterfalls to visit in Cape Breton – with minimal hiking.
The weather in the fall is much cooler, so you won’t feel like dying from heat exhaustion during an uphill hike. The only downside to traveling in the fall is that the weather can be more unstable. It also gets dark earlier, which means less time exploring during the day.
For crowds, the autumn months are generally less busy too. With the exception during Thanksgiving Weekend during Cape Breton’s Celtic Colours Music Festival. The added bonus to traveling during this time is that there are plenty of places to enjoy traditional fiddle music!
If you travel after the Thanksgiving weekend, a few places start to shut down. If there is a restaurant or activity you want to do, check online beforehand to make sure they are open.
Tips for Hiking
If you are planning to hike, you have LOTS of options. There are 26 hikes that range in difficulty and length. My best advice is to research each trail on the National Park’s website to see which one’s peaks your interest. A good rule of thumb is 2 hikes per day.
Allow plenty of time for stops to enjoy the scenery too!
The AllTrails app is extremely useful for planning hikes. It provides a map and shows your location on the trail. It also shows tips, photos and time it took others to hike.
Dogs are not allowed on the Skyline Trail. If you want to bring your dogs, unfortunately this one isn’t for them.
Bring lots of snacks! Save money (and time!) by bringing breakfasts to eat in the morning, and snacks for hiking.
Be careful of the wild life. There are black bears, coyote and moose. It is best to hike with others. Bring either coyote or bear spray with you (can be purchased from Canadian Tire or Amazon). There are signs on every trail which will tell you what to do if you encounter an animal. Also, keep an eye out for them when driving!
Download an offline map of Cape Breton since cell service is VERY spotty. There are emergency phones along the Cabot Trail just in case you run into an emergency. The National Park provides a map too, so keep this too just in case.
Wear lots of layers! On one hike, it switched between rain, hail and bright blue sunny hikes – all within a 10 minutes. Wear a hat, gloves, and layers (I wore a T-shirt, sweatshirt and water-resistant winter coat and was fine).
Have you been to the Cabot Trail in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia? What would you recommend seeing? Let me know in the comments below!
