Hikes

Cape Breton hiking runs from the Skyline Trail's dramatic cliff-edge boardwalk over the Gulf of St. Lawrence to Pollett's Cove, the remote wilderness cove with wild horses at the trail's end. The twelve hikes here cover the national park icons, family walks to falls and swimming holes, big canyon climbs, and the coastal networks at Meat Cove and Louisbourg. Two trails carry 4.8 ratings with more than 600 reviews each - and the most-reviewed walk of all draws 3,649 reviews - this is one of Canada's best hiking regions, and most of it sits on the Cabot Trail loop.

The Skyline Trail (4.6/900) is the Cape Breton hike: you emerge from forest onto a boardwalk that descends a headland to cliff-edge views of the Gulf of St. Lawrence so striking people forget to reach for their cameras - and moose sightings are routine. On the east coast, the Middle Head Trail (4.7/2,500) follows a narrow peninsula separating North and South Ingonish Bays; the newly rerouted loop runs about 4 km over moderate, rooted terrain near the Keltic Lodge grounds, ending on headland cliffs over the Atlantic, Cape Smokey and Ingonish Island. A park pass is required for both. Our Skyline parking guide solves the trailhead scramble.

Three shorter trails carry the easy days. Uisge Bàn Falls (4.7/307) is a well-maintained 2.6-kilometre walk with riverbank views, wooden bridges and hardwood forest ending at impressive waterfalls - an excellent effort-to-reward ratio. The Warren Lake Trail (4.6/286) loops gently around a beautiful freshwater lake with swimming opportunities and easy accessibility for families. And the Gypsum Mine Trail (4.5/869) walks 2.6-3 km to a man-made swimming hole in a former gypsum mine that operated from 1908 to 1939 - the perfect cool-off stop mid Cabot Trail drive.

For elevation, the park's two signature climbs. Franey Mountain Trail (4.5/1,697) has been recently realigned into two scenic loops with panoramic views over the Clyburn River canyon and the coast - challenging elevation gain, so verify current status with Parks Canada before heading out. The Acadian Trail (4.7/1,199) loops through Acadian forest to panoramic views of the Chéticamp River valley and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, a moderate-to-challenging route that starts near the trail's French-speaking gateway town. Both reward the climb with the canyon-and-coast views the highlands are famous for.

The island's wildest hikes end at the sea. Pollett's Cove (4.8/616) is a remote coastal wilderness hike to a secluded cove famous for its wild horses - a complete wilderness experience with challenging access. Fishing Cove Trail (4.8/10) makes a steep descent to a remote cove with backcountry camping options and spectacular ocean views. And the Meat Cove Hiking Network (4.8/53) strings rugged coastal trails from Nova Scotia's northernmost community, with wilderness camping and a small-community atmosphere at the top of the island.

The Atlantic side has its own pair. Cape Smokey Hiking (4.5/144) offers various trails around the famous ski area with spectacular coastal views, varied terrain and gondola access options - see our Cape Smokey gondola guide for the ride up. At Louisbourg, the Fortress Coastal Trails (4.8/3,649) combine historic sites with dramatic Atlantic coastline, coastal geology and educational signage - an easy pairing with a fortress visit, and the most-reviewed walking experience in this guide.

Split the twelve by geography: the national park holds Skyline, Middle Head, Franey, Acadian, Warren Lake and Fishing Cove (park pass required, trailheads on the Cabot Trail); the community trails hold Uisge Bàn Falls, Gypsum Mine, Pollett's Cove, Meat Cove, Cape Smokey and Louisbourg. Check trail status with Parks Canada before the big climbs - Franey was recently realigned. For the full park picture, read our Cape Breton Highlands National Park guide, and pair hiking days with the wider Cape Breton attractions list.