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Nova Scotia

Hiking Nova Scotia: Cape Breton Highlands National Park

Program No. 21494RJ
Hike the great trails of Cape Breton and learn the region’s story as you discover ancient geology, picturesque villages, unique wildlife and historic national parks.

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Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone? 800-454-5768
Select your type of room
Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Jun 15 - Jun 23, 2024
Starting at
3,499
Jul 6 - Jul 14, 2024
Starting at
3,499
Aug 3 - Aug 11, 2024
Starting at
3,499
Sep 7 - Sep 15, 2024
Starting at
3,499
Sep 21 - Sep 29, 2024
Starting at
3,499
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Jun 15 - Jun 23, 2024
Starting at
4,269
Filling Fast!
Jul 6 - Jul 14, 2024
Starting at
4,269
Aug 3 - Aug 11, 2024
Starting at
4,269
Sep 7 - Sep 15, 2024
Starting at
4,269
Sep 21 - Sep 29, 2024
Starting at
4,269

At a Glance

Explore Cape Breton while hiking some of the most memorable landscapes in the Maritimes. Low mountains, verdant valleys, wind-raked barrens and varied seacoast expose an ancient geological saga, transforming a simple hike into an outdoor lesson in the history of our planet. Experience small-town charm, coastal vistas and the natural beauty of the Cape Breton Highlands and world-famous Cabot Trail. Go on daily hikes in a breathtaking Atlantic setting rich in wildlife like whales, moose and eagles. Learn about coastal ecology and the cultures that shaped the province, from the Mi’kmaq and Basque fishermen to Loyalists and Gaelic immigrants.
Activity Level
Outdoor: Spirited
Hiking 2-5 miles for 2-4 hours daily over varied terrain, including rock-strewn hills, river canyons, highland taiga, steep inclines, boardwalks, and dirt trails. Elevation change varies from 50-500 feet, with max elevation of 1,350 feet. Sturdy hiking boots are required.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Enjoy an eagle’s view of the Cabot Trail and watch for whales in the Gulf of St. Lawrence from the Skyline Trail.
  • Hike the Salmon Pools Trail along the Cheticamp River into a gorge with deep salmon pools where black bears are sometimes spotted.
  • Learn about Cape Breton Island’s first inhabitants — the Mi’kmaq people - and the settlers that followed from England, France, Ireland and Scotland.

General Notes

Due to the nature of this program, listening devices will be unavailable.
Featured Expert
All Experts
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Linda Lavoie
Linda Lavoie was born and raised in Prince Edward Islands and graduated with a master’s in modern languages. She worked for the federal government in Halifax and Ottawa for 33 years before returning to PEI. In these years she taught project management at University and has tutored adults and children in English and French. In her spare time, Linda loves to keep active biking and hiking. After retiring in 2013, she began working in the travel industry for Parks Canada and other organizations.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Linda Lavoie
Linda Lavoie View biography
Linda Lavoie was born and raised in Prince Edward Islands and graduated with a master’s in modern languages. She worked for the federal government in Halifax and Ottawa for 33 years before returning to PEI. In these years she taught project management at University and has tutored adults and children in English and French. In her spare time, Linda loves to keep active biking and hiking. After retiring in 2013, she began working in the travel industry for Parks Canada and other organizations.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Bradt Guide Nova Scotia
by David Orkin
A comprehensive guide in the growing series by Bradt, noteworthy for its focus on culture, nature and responsible travel, with plenty of practical travel details.
Fall on your Knees
by Ann-Marie MacDonald
A best-selling epic following the lives of a Lebanese-Canadian family from Cape Breton Island throughout the first half of the 20th century; also set in WWI-era Europe and 1920s NYC.
Fifty Places to Hike Before You Die, Outdoor Experts Share the World's Greatest Destinations
by Chris Santella
Santella (Once in a Lifetime Trips) includes insider tips, color illustrations and concise descriptions of 50 hikes from the Lunana Snowman Trek in Bhutan to the Amalfi Coast.
The Ice Bridge
by D. R. Macdonald
MacDonald sets this lyrical romance on a on isolated Cape Breton island in the 1990
The Atlantic Coast, A Natural History
by Harry Thurston
Thurston illuminates the geology, plant and animal life and nature of the Atlantic coast from Newfoundland and Labrador through the Maritime Provinces and the Northeastern United States south to Cape Hatteras in this illustrated, engaging survey.
Four Fish
by Paul Greenberg
New York Times journalist Paul Greenberg interviewed producers, fisherman and conservationists from across the globe for this eyewitness report on the past and future of wild fish, offering sensible alternatives to our current unsustainable interest in eating mostly sea bass, cod, salmon and tuna.
My Famous Evening: Nova Scotia Sojourns, Diaries and Preoccupations
by Howard Norman
For his National Geographic Directions book, Howard Norman returned to Nova Scotia over a period of 30 years to interview local legends and research the folklore of the area. Norman writes with an impressionistic intimacy to create a portrait of an enchanting place and its people.
The Grey Seas Under
by Farley Mowat
Mowat captures the drama and courage of the men of the famous Foundation Franklin, an ocean-going tug involved in dozens of rescues at sea between 1930 and 1948.
A Field Guide to North Atlantic Wildlife
by Noble S. Proctor, Patrick J. Lynch (Illustrator)
A comprehensive pocket guide to commonly encountered marine mammals, seabirds and other marine life of Northeastern North America, from North Carolina to Newfoundland and the Canadian Maritimes.
National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America
by Jon Dunn
This guide is the veteran's choice for birding anywhere in the United States. Practical to use in the field, it has maps, illustrations and descriptions of the birds on facing pages.
Atlantic
by Simon Winchester
The subtitle tells it all -- Winchester squeezes "Great Sea Battles, Heroic Discoveries, Titanic Storms, and a Vast Ocean of a Million Stories" into the covers of this latest entertaining and digressive tale.
Island, The Complete Stories
by Alistair MacLeod
Raised in Cape Breton, Alistair MacLeod writes of family, the pull of old Gaelic traditions, love and the landscape and folkways of Nova Scotia in this collection of 16 stories. Winner of the Pen/Malamud Award.
Cape Breton Road
by D.R. MacDonald
A young car thief from Boston is sent to live with his uncle on Cape Breton Island.





Important registration tip:
If you want to attend the live lecture, please do not wait until the last minute to enroll.
If you enroll after a lecture is complete, we’ll send you a recording of the event.