

Cape Breton Highlands National Park's hiking trails range from easy strolls to challenging climbs with panoramic views of canyons, highlands and seacoasts. The trails provide a chance to intimately explore the complex habitat of northern Cape Breton Island. Nature doesn't end at the park's boundaries. Many surrounding areas boast equally breathtaking trails.
All these trails are right on our hostels back and front door step.
The following is a list of Cape Breton Highlands National Park's hiking trails. Distances are round-trip with average walking times. Click on the trail name for more detailed information.
The trails have been rated for difficulty with the internationally recognized symbols:
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Easy | Family-friendly trails that are suitable for all visitors. | ||
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Moderate | Medium-length trails with moderate elevation gain and some short, steep sections. Suitable for most visitors. | ||
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Difficult |
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Trail | Difficulty | Distance | Time | Elevation | |
1 | Acadian (loop) |
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8.4 km | 3 - 4 hours | 20 - 365 m |
2 | Salmon Pools |
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7.8 km | 3 - 4 hours | 15 - 110 m |
3 | Le Chemin du Buttereau |
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4.6 km | 1.5 hours | 25 - 65 m |
4 | Le Buttereau (loop) |
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1.6 km | 30 - 45 minutes | 0 - 55 m |
5 | Le vieux chemin du Cap-Rouge |
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9 km | 2.5 - 3.5 hours | 40 - 110 m |
6 | Corney Brook |
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6.5 km | 2 hours | 30 - 170 m |
7 | Skyline |
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7 km or 8.7 km (loop) |
2 - 3 hours | 290 - 405 m |
8 | Bog (loop) |
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0.5 km | 15 minutes | 410 m |
9 | Benjie's Lake |
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3 km | 1 - 1.5 hours | 400 m |
10 | Fishing Cove |
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12 km | 5 - 6 hours | 0 - 355 m |
11 | MacIntosh Brook |
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1.7 km | 30 - 45 minutes | 30 - 65 m |
12 | Lone Shieling (loop) |
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0.6 km | 15 minutes | 70 m |
13 | Aspy |
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9.6 km | 3 - 4 hours | 60 - 450 m |
14 | Mica Hill |
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7.9 km | 3 - 3.5 hours | 260 - 410 m |
15 | Jack Pine (loop) |
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2.3 km | 1 hour | 0 - 50 m |
16 | Coastal |
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11.3 km | 3 - 4 hours | 0 - 45 m |
17 | Jigging Cove (loop) |
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2.4 km | 40 - 50 minutes | 50 - 65 m |
18 | Green Cove |
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0.2 km | 10 minutes | 10 m |
19 | Broad Cove Mountain |
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2.3 km | 1 hour | 35 - 180 m |
20 | Warren Lake (loop) |
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4.7 km | 1.5 hours | 15 m |
21 | Branch Pond Look-off |
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8.4 km | 2 - 3 hours | 100 - 305 m |
22 | Franey (loop) |
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7.4 km | 2 - 3 hours | 95 - 430 m |
23 | Clyburn Valley |
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8.5 km | 2 - 3 hours | 5 - 50 m |
24 | Middle Head |
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3.8 km | 1.5 hours | 0 - 45 m |
25 | Freshwater Lake Look-off |
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0.3 km | 10 minutes | 10 - 45 m |
26 | Freshwater Lake |
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1.7 km | 30 - 40 minutes | 0 - 15 m |
Remember that you are hiking in a protected wilderness environment.