highlands hostel

Highlands Hostel

 Call: 1-902-383-2371

Spring Break - Christmas or Summer holidays - your year round vacation destination

Our Backyard - Your 4 season playground to enjoy

The view.

Spring in cape breton

Highlands Hostel
"Remember one night is never enough"
"Book one night and you won't regret it, book 4 or more nights and you won't forget us"

To check availability and make your booking

Just click on the moose below.

Summer vacation  Fun

Beach

Hiking

Cycling the Trail

Cycling the Cabot Trail
Cycle the cabot trail

Cycling the Cabot Trail 298km - 4 Mountains

Cycling the Cabot Trail: Conquer 4 Mountains Over 298 KM

Cycling the Cabot Trail is a bucket-list adventure for cyclists seeking a thrilling challenge. Spanning 298 kilometers around Cape Breton Island, this world-renowned route features breathtaking coastal scenery, winding roads, and four legendary mountain climbs: North Mountain, Smokey Mountain, French Mountain, and MacKenzie Mountain.

Riders will experience exhilarating ascents and rewarding descents, with panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and Cape Breton Highlands National Park. The steepest climbs, particularly North Mountain with its 13% grade, test endurance, while the winding descents offer an adrenaline rush.Mackenzie with it's 10 switchbacks.

The journey takes cyclists through charming fishing villages, lush valleys, and rugged cliffs, showcasing Nova Scotia’s rich Acadian and Scottish heritage. The best times to ride are late spring to early fall, with autumn offering a stunning display of fall foliage. Along the way, cyclists can refuel at local cafés, enjoy fresh seafood, and rest in cozy accommodations or campgrounds.

Whether tackling the full loop in three to five days or selecting specific segments, proper preparation is key. Riders should plan for unpredictable weather, bring essential gear, and train for the demanding elevation changes.

The Cabot Trail is more than just a cycling route—it’s an unforgettable adventure. With its combination of natural beauty, cultural charm, and challenging terrain, this epic ride is a must-do for cyclists looking to push their limits while experiencing one of Canada’s most scenic landscapes.

Either way you are traveling the Trail, the Highlands Hostel is a mid way stop on your trip.

Cape Breton, Canada

Circling Cape Breton Island, off Canada’s Atlantic coast, the Cabot Trail passes through fishing villages where Gaelic is still spoken, Miꞌkmaq reserves and Acadian towns. It winds through old-growth forest to the edge of rust-coloured bluffs, before dropping hundreds of metres to sandy beaches and picturesque ports, where the locals sell fresh lobster and chowder. Whether you do the 300km loop in a day or a week, the Cabot Trail is one of the best bike rides in North America. Go in the spring or fall. It can get very busy in summer, and winter is, well, winter in Canada.

Fresh lobsters right off the fishing boat...yummmy

We will even show you how to cook them. When in season ( we only like to cook fresh lobster) ask us to pick up the lobsters for you, We will let you know the price of lobster closer to the season.

Hiking Trails

If you want to do some hiking there is not enough time to do all the hikes so let us know what your competencies are and we will pin out some jawdropping hikes for you on your cell phone or map

HIking trails

Your Day Planner

Can't figure out what to do, then let us help you plan your days activities with our Day Planner, we can help you select the hikes, then the beaches and where to eat.

Hike Nova Scotia

Here is another excellent resource Hike Nova Scotia

Empowering Midlife Women to Explore the Backcountry with Confidence!

It’s never too late to step outside your comfort zone, try something new, and experience the life-changing magic of nature. Whether you’re a first-time hiker or a seasoned trekker, Healthy Hiking offers the tools, guidance, and motivation you need to hike stronger, smarter, and with more confidence than ever before.

Led by award-winning fitness and wellness expert, backpacking adventurer, and hiking advocate Deborah Peddle-Hann, Healthy Hiking is all about inspiring midlife women to rediscover the joy of the outdoors - whether it’s on local trails, in remote backcountry, or through multi-day backpacking adventures. Here is more info for you

Beaches

We have so many world class beaches with 15 minutes from the church, if your lucky Bricin may fire up the Crib Bomb and take you to the beach for an evening lobster feast.

Cool off at our local swimming hole

Tourism Nova Scotia

Cape Smokey in the summer

  • Tricycle Rental

  • Lazy River Tubing

  • Canoeing

  • Rowing

  • Slip & Slide

  • Ocean water slide

  • Orienteering

  • Kiting

  • Bike Park/Trails

  • Concerts

  • Birding Tours

  • Beer Fests

Autumn and the Celtic Colours

Celtic colours

Mountain Biking

South Ridge Wilderness Trails (SRWT)

Tommy has set these hills up for mountain biking, there are plenty of technical runs for you to enjoy.check out his Face Book page for more information, or here

Montain bike trails

Winter Snowshoeing

Cape Breton - Cabot Trail - Hostel  Staycations

Book your Staycation now

Now you have no excuse not to visit Highlands national park. Highlands Hostel is open 12 months of the year, so Spring Break, summer and don't forget Autumn with the fantastic Celtic colours or Christmas come enjoy the season with us. Hiking in the summer, cross country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter or just a vacation .

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.

Hiking Trails

In the Highlands national park we have over 39 world class hiking trails, one of our go to apps for these is "All Trails"here is a link to the all trails website.Or load the app from here They will tell you the degree of difficulty the hikes have so you can measure your skill levels to the hikes, also hikers leave notes on the site to let you know what the trails are like in real time.

Happy Hiking

Hiking Trails outside the national park

Remember that you are hiking in a protected wilderness environment.

  • Do not approach, disturb or feed wild animals.
  • Hike with friends and a solid walking stick.
  • If you choose to walk alone, tell somebody where you are going.
  • Pack in, pack out. Littering attracts wildlife and puts you and the animals at risk.
  • Stay on boardwalks to protect fragile vegetation.
  • Mountain bikes are permitted only where indicated, for public safety and protection of the environment.
  • Dress appropriately. Weather may change rapidly on the plateau and along the coast.
  • Bring water, especially for longer trails, climbs and open barrens.
  • Bring insect repellant. Black flies and mosquitoes are common all summer.