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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9 days
8 nights
22 meals
8B 7L 7D
2
Cape Breton, Uisge Ban Falls Trail, Baddeck Ceilidh
Baddeck, Nova Scotia
3
Hiking, Cape Breton Island History, Alexander Graham Bell
Baddeck, Nova Scotia
5
Hiking Skyline Trail, Trois Pignons, Église St-Pierre
Cheticamp, NS
6
Hiking Mica Hill
Ingonish, NS
7
Hiking Middle Head Trail, Fresh Water Lake Trail
Ingonish, NS
8
Highland Village, To Halifax
Halifax, NS
9
Program Concludes
Halifax, NS
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 50-600 feet, with max elevation of 1,350 feet. Sturdy hiking boots are required.
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 trip experts
Linda Lavoie
Linda Lavoie was born and raised in Prince Edward Island and graduated from the University of P.E.I. with a degree in modern languages. She worked for the federal government in Halifax and Ottawa and Charlottetown for 33 years. In these years she also taught project management at the University of P.E.I. and has tutored adults and children in English and French. 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.
Linda Lavoie
View biography
Linda Lavoie was born and raised in Prince Edward Island and graduated from the University of P.E.I. with a degree in modern languages. She worked for the federal government in Halifax and Ottawa and Charlottetown for 33 years. In these years she also taught project management at the University of P.E.I. and has tutored adults and children in English and French. After retiring in 2013, she began working in the travel industry for Parks Canada and other organizations.
Routes Adventures Mobile Phone
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Please call the toll free line at 1-866-745-1690 during regular business hours or for non-urgent matters (Mon - Fri 8:30 - 4:30 EST). The mobile phone #1-613-331-5777 is for after hours and weekends for emergency use only. The phone is carried by a staff member.
Suggested Reading List
(13 books)
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.
Hiking Nova Scotia: Cape Breton Highlands National Park
Program Number: 21494
Island, The Complete Stories
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.
The Grey Seas Under
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.
Atlantic
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.
Bradt Guide Nova Scotia
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.
Cape Breton Road
A young car thief from Boston is sent to live with his uncle on Cape Breton Island.
The Ice Bridge
MacDonald sets this lyrical romance on a on isolated Cape Breton island in the 1990
Fall on your Knees
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.
The Atlantic Coast, A Natural History
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
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
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.
National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America
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.
Fifty Places to Hike Before You Die, Outdoor Experts Share the World's Greatest Destinations
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.
A Field Guide to North Atlantic Wildlife
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.
