TRAVEL LIKE A LOCAL | Top 10,000 Places to Visit in Canada
The page created by Tony Zheng | Queen’s University | Photo by Tango7174, CC BY-SA 4.0
Cape Breton Highlands National Park is a natural park with various activities and services geared toward nature. Visitors can camp, hike, swim, kayak, and fish, and in the winter, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are offered. Within the national park, many famous hiking trails range in length and difficulty, all giving an amazing view of the landscape.
Photo: https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ns/cbreton/
Ingonish Beach is a beach on a freshwater lake blocked from the ocean. Visitors can enjoy a variety of water sports here, such as swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding, fishing, etc. Lifeguards are also present at certain times from July to August, and people are still allowed on the beach outside of those times. Besides the beach, there is also a 1.7km hiking trail nearby, and public bathrooms are free for all visitors.
Photo: Google Maps, John Paul Handrigan
Green Cove is a hiking trail located in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. The trail is relatively short and easy, and many hikers use it as a warm-up for the more strenuous activity. It is around 0.2km long and should take approximately 10 minutes to complete.
Although short, the trail has magnificent views of the shoreline and rocky terrain. Whales can be observed in the distance, and visitors can see unique, twisted trees growing on the tree line.
Photo: Google Maps, Henry Xu
Middle Head Trail is a famous hiking trail located within the Cape Breton Highlands park. The trail is a 3.8km loop and should take approximately 1 hour to complete. On the side of the trail, there are interpretive panels with information about each section of the trail. From the trail, there are opportunities to see seabirds, whales, seals, and eagles around the trail.
Photo: https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ns/cbreton/activ/randonnee-hiking/middlehead
Bog Trail is a hiking trail located within Cape Breton Highlands Park. The trail is relatively easy and very beginner friendly. It is around 0.5km and should take about 15 minutes to complete. The entire trail is on a flat boardwalk over a bog.
Visitors can see many different bog plants and insects. Interpretive panels are also placed around the trail to explain what plants and animals live in the bog.
Photo: Google Maps, T Hsu
Mary Ann Falls is a famous all-natural waterfall located less than 10 minutes from Ingonish. The falls are over 20 feet high, with amazing scenery and beautiful landforms shaped by the flowing water.
Around the falls, there are also a variety of hiking trails that allow visitors to explore the unique ecosystem in the area. The falls are also very good for bird watching, and many species are in the area.
Photo: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/nova-scotia/mary-ann-falls
Warren Lake is a hiking trail located within the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. The trail is perfect for long, relaxing walks and taking in nature. The trail is around 4.7km long and should take about 1.5 hours to complete.
Wildlife is very present on the trail, and visitors will definitely be able to observe some small animals on the trail. If lucky, a moose or a bear can be seen in the distance.
Photo: Google Maps, Trevor & Zofia Hodgson
The historic Cape Breton resort, Keltic Lodge Resort and Spa, is located in the heart of Cape Breton Highlands National Park, surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, with a spectacular view of Cape Smokey rising out of the sea.
It delivers the perfect getaway you’re looking for, with 120 rooms, multiple styles of accommodations, and a price point for every budget.
Photo: Skeezix1000, CC BY-SA 3.0
