National park · Canada
Cape Breton Highlands National ParkParc national des Hautes-Terres-du-Cap-Breton
Drive the Cabot Trail through the park and walk the Skyline Trail at sunset; pay the Parks Canada entry fee at a gate or visitor centre, and go late June or September–early October to dodge the July–August crowds.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
948 km²366 sq mi
approximate
Established
1936
Best months
Jun, Sep–Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 6Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- Canada ↗Visa-exempt travellers flying to or through Canada usually need an eTA; check your passport on the official Government of Canada site (canada.ca) and apply only there.
- Canada ↗A Parks Canada pass is needed to stop in national parks such as Banff and Jasper; some spots (for example Moraine Lake) are reached only by shuttle or tour, so book ahead.
- Canada ↗Keep well away from bears, elk and moose; carry bear spray on Rockies trails and follow trail closures.
At a glance
- Country
- Canada
- Area
- 948 km²366 sq mi
- 948 km² (366 sq mi); the largest national park in the Maritime provinces.
- Established
- 1936
- Best months
- Jun, Sep–Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
Cape Breton Highlands National Park covers 948 km² of the northern tip of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, and the Cabot Trail runs about 108 km around its west, north and east edge. It is the largest national park in the Maritimes and the second largest in Atlantic Canada. The interior is roadless highland; almost everything a visitor does happens from the coastal road, on 26 maintained trails, at a handful of beaches, or at the one golf course and one resort inside the boundary. Two visitor centres, at Chéticamp in the west and Ingonish in the east, sell permits and hand out trail maps from mid-May to mid-October.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1936.
Size and age
948 km²366 sq mi · national park since 1936
948 km² (366 sq mi); the largest national park in the Maritime provinces.
Why go
- The Cabot Trail: roughly 108 km of coast road with the highlands on one side and the Gulf of St. Lawrence or the Atlantic on the other.The Cabot Trail: roughly 67 mi of coast road with the highlands on one side and the Gulf of St. Lawrence or the Atlantic on the other.
- The Skyline Trail headland, the park's signature walk and its best chance of seeing moose at dusk.
- Fishing Cove, a 12 km round trip down 355 m to a cove that held a small Scottish fishing settlement, with the park's only backcountry campsites.Fishing Cove, a 7.5 mi round trip down 355 m to a cove that held a small Scottish fishing settlement, with the park's only backcountry campsites.
- A coast that feels like two parks: Acadian Chéticamp and the French west side, English-speaking Ingonish and the busier east.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarAvoid
- AprCaution
- MayGo
- JunBest
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovCaution
- DecAvoid
- JanDeep snow; most services closed
- FebSnow; Cabot Trail can be icy
- MarLate snow; quiet
- AprMuddy trails; visitor centres still closed
- MayCentres open mid-May; cool, wet, few people
- JunLong days; trails dry; moose active
- JulPeak crowds; surf guards at Ingonish Beach
- AugBusiest and warmest; book campsites early
- SepWarm sea, thinner crowds, clear light
- OctColour on the highlands; centres close mid-Oct
- NovMost services shut; short days
- DecWinter conditions; little open
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moose, often on or beside the Cabot Trail at dawn and duskMay–Oct · Drive slowly at dusk; collisions are a real risk. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Black bearMay–Oct · Usually avoidable with normal precautions; store food properly. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| CoyotesAll year · There have been serious encounters; follow the advice posted at the visitor centres and do not feed or approach them. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Whales offshoreJun–Oct · Seen from look-offs and on boat trips from Pleasant Bay. | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Wild blueberries and bunchberriesJul–Aug · Pick only what you can identify with certainty. | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Halifax
Drive via the Trans-Canada Highway and the Cabot Trail to either park entrance.
4 h
Open the page →
From Sydney
Drive the eastern leg of the Cabot Trail to the Ingonish entrance.
1.5–2 h
From Chéticamp
The west gate sits just outside town on the Cabot Trail.
10 min
From Ingonish
The east gate is at Ingonish Beach, north of the village.
5 min
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| West coast (Chéticamp side) | Acadian villages, the western Cabot Trail, look-offs over the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the road up MacKenzie Mountain. | Open; entry permit needed past the gate. |
| North highlands | The roadless interior and the highest ground, including White Hill, the tallest point in Nova Scotia. | No trails into the interior; view only from the road. |
| East coast (Ingonish side) | The busier, more accessible side: Ingonish Beach, Black Brook Beach, the golf course and the Keltic Lodge. | Open; entry permit needed. |
| Fishing Cove | A coastal cove reached only on foot, with the park's backcountry campsites. | Hike in; registration required to camp. |
Sketch map
- 1Chéticamp Visitor Centre · Headquarters≈46.647, -60.951Map ↗
- 2Ingonish Visitor Centre · Headquarters≈46.646, -60.402Map ↗
- 3Skyline Trailhead · Trail≈46.741, -60.877Approximate; on the west side of the park off the Cabot Trail.Map ↗
- 4Fishing Cove · Trail≈46.797, -60.876Map ↗
- 5MacKenzie Mountain look-off · Viewpoint≈46.819, -60.832Map ↗
- 6Ingonish Beach · Beach≈46.645, -60.392Map ↗
- 7Black Brook Beach · Beach≈46.776, -60.333Map ↗
- 8Cape Breton Highlands Links · Town≈46.656, -60.385Map ↗
- 9The Keltic Lodge · Sleep≈46.656, -60.382Map ↗
- 10Pleasant Bay · Town≈46.828, -60.798Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry, adult | CAD 8–9 | person | 2026 estimate; Parks Canada entry is charged per person per day. |
| Park entry, family or group | CAD 16–18 | group | 2026 estimate; covers up to seven people in one vehicle. |
| Discovery Pass, annual | CAD 70–75 | person | 2026 estimate; pays for itself on a multi-park Canada trip. |
| Camping, unserviced site with showers | CAD 25–28 | night | 2026 estimate; higher in peak season. |
| oTENTik equipped site | CAD 100 | night | 2026 estimate; tent-cabin with beds at Chéticamp, Broad Cove and Ingonish Beach. |
| Fishing Cove backcountry, per person | CAD 9–10 | person | 2026 estimate; per night, advance registration. |
| Cape Breton Highlands Links green fee | CAD 100–150 | person | 2026 estimate; on top of the park entry permit (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit permit or guide
Camping reservation permit or guide
Fishing Cove backcountry permit or guide
Park rules
- Park entry permit
- Required for anyone entering past the gates; buy at a gate or visitor centre and keep it visible.
- Camping
- Only in the designated campgrounds and at Fishing Cove; no camping elsewhere in the interior without a park warden's permission.
- Fires at Fishing Cove
- Not permitted at the backcountry sites.
- Drinking
- Alcohol is banned inside the park on Canada Day; the Keltic Lodge is the only place in the park to buy it.
- Wildlife
- Do not feed or approach moose, bears or coyotes; keep food in a vehicle or locker.
- Cyclists and motorcycles
- The Cabot Trail is a known cycling route; give riders room and expect them on blind corners.
Where to stay
In the park
The Keltic Lodge
The only lodging inside the park boundary, near Ingonish; resort rooms and cottages.
In the park
Broad Cove campground
The park's largest campground, with serviced sites and oTENTiks.
In the park
Chéticamp campground
122 sites on the west side, including oTENTiks and serviced pitches.
In the park
Mkwesaqtuk/Cap-Rouge campground
Walk-in tent sites with carts to haul gear; kitchen and picnic shelters.
In the park
Corney Brook, MacIntosh Brook and Big Intervale
Small austere campgrounds, no potable water, no reservations.
Near the park
Chéticamp and Ingonish
Motels, B&Bs and cabins in the two service towns on either side of the park.
Safety
Moose on the road at dusk and dawn high
Coyotes medium
Cold ocean water and rip currents medium
Steep, narrow Cabot Trail with fog and rain medium
Long climbs on Fishing Cove medium
Accessibility
- Visitor centres, the Ingonish Beach area and several look-offs are reachable by car with short, level walks.
- The Skyline Trail's first section is a wide, graded path, but the headland loop includes stairs and rough ground.
- Fishing Cove and the steeper summit trails are not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Stay on marked trails; the highlands' vegetation is slow to recover from foot damage.
- Pack out all rubbish and use the food lockers at campgrounds to keep wildlife wild.
- Respect the coyote and moose advisories: feeding or approaching animals changes their behaviour and puts the next visitor at risk.
- Buy fuel, food and supplies in Chéticamp, Ingonish or Dingwall so the money stays on the island.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Cape Breton Highlands National Park?
Parks Canada charges per person per day, with a lower group rate for a vehicle of up to seven people, and an annual Discovery Pass that covers this park and others. Treat the figures on this page as 2026 estimates and confirm the current rate on the Parks Canada page before you go. Camping, oTENTiks and golf green fees are charged separately.
What are the best hikes in Cape Breton Highlands National Park?
The Skyline Trail is the one most people come for: 6.5 km out-and-back or an 8.2 km loop to an ocean headland, best at sunset. For something harder, Fishing Cove drops 355 m over 12 km round trip to a cove with backcountry campsites. Easy half-days include Clyburn Valley (8.5 km), Le vieux chemin du Cap-Rouge (9 km) and Broad Cove Mountain (2.3 km with a 168 m climb).
When is the best time to visit Cape Breton Highlands National Park?
Late June and September to early October. You get dry trails, long days and far fewer people than in July and August, and October brings colour to the highlands. Visitor centres and most services run mid-May to mid-October; outside that window the Cabot Trail is still open but almost everything else is shut.
Do I need a reservation to camp in the park?
Yes for the serviced campgrounds, oTENTiks and the Fishing Cove backcountry platforms, which should be booked through Parks Canada in advance. The small austere campgrounds at Corney Brook, MacIntosh Brook and Big Intervale cannot be reserved and have no potable water.
Can I drive the Cabot Trail in one day?
The park section is about 108 km and the full loop is longer, so a single day means driving with only short stops. Two days lets you walk the Skyline Trail, stop at look-offs and beaches, and sleep in Chéticamp or Ingonish. Driving clockwise puts passengers on the inside of the sharp turns.
Is there public transport inside the park?
No. The park is served by road only and bus service to the area is limited, so you need a car, a campervan or a bike. Fuel is scarce inside the park; fill up in Chéticamp or Ingonish.
Are there moose and bears in the park?
Yes, both. Moose are the bigger hazard because they stand on the road at dawn and dusk. Black bears rarely cause trouble if you store food properly, but coyotes have been involved in serious encounters, so follow the advice posted at the visitor centres.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go