TRAIL INFORMATION

The Hike the Highlands Festival offers 18-guided hikes from their experienced local guides There are several trails to choose from during the Hike the Highlands Festival. The hikes range from short easy walks to more difficult hikes and terrain.

TRAILS

1) Jack Pine Trail - 6:00 pm. on Friday, September 14
(CBHNP*)
You begin the hike in a forest of trembling aspen, mixed with spruce and pine. As you climb higher, and the ground becomes dryer, you enter the jack pine area. This trail is unique because there are only two stands of jack pine in the park and very few on Cape Breton Island. 2 hrs, 2.3 kms (1.7 mi)
Difficulty Rating: 2B

Trail head/Starting Point:
Turn off the Cabot Trail at the Black Brook day use area and turn left to the upper parking lot.

2) Guided Wilderness Hiking Adventure – 10:00 am Saturday, September 15
The Guided Wilderness Hiking Adventures offers beautiful and remote scenery, and steady climb to ocean views. 5-6 hours
Difficulty Rating: 4D

Trail head/Starting Point:
Drive to Ingonish Harbour and then follow the signs for Guided Wilderness Hike on the Barron Road.

3) Broad Cove – 10:00 am. on Saturday, September 15
(CBHNP*)
This hike will give you a really good workout. The steep climb up Broad Cove will be well worth the steps as you enjoy the panoramic ocean view. 1.5 hrs, 2.3 km (1.4 miles)
Difficulty Rating: 3C

Trail head/Starting Point:
A small parking lot on your right about 1/3 of the way in on the Warren Lake road.

4) Jigging Cove Lake– 2:00 pm. On Saturday, September 15
(CBHNP*)
Wildlife. Distance 2.4km (loop). Time 1-1.5 hours)
Difficulty Rating : 1B

Trail head/Starting Point: Jigging Cove Lake Parking Lot

5) Cape St. Lawrence-Lowland  Trail – 10:00 am. On Sunday, September 16
The  trail starts in Meat Cove and follows the old road into the backlands. For about 2 km one climbs steadily, about 300 m, over the ridge that runs along the west coast of Cape Breton and then descends about 2 km to the site of the old lighthouse at Cape St. Lawrence. One then walks along the coast through old pastures, cranberry fields, and scrub spruce for about 2.5 km to Lowland Cove, the site of a former fishing community. From Lowland Cove the trail again follows the old road back up over the ridge and down into Meat Cove., about 5 km. The entire hike can be done in 4.5 hours.

The hike will take 6 to 6.5 hours. There is one steep short descent and one steep short ascent as well as one bridgeless stream. Hikers should be in good shape, carry plenty of water, lunch, and should be ready for a change of weather in the different biospheres.
Difficulty Rating : 4D

Trail heads/Starting Point:  Meat Cove Welcome Center

6) White Point Trail Hike – 10:00 am.  on Sunday, September 16
Walk back in time to an old settlement. Hear stories of ghosts and gold. This trail offers spectacular views of Sugarloaf and North Mountains. 1.5 hours, 4 kms (2.5mi)
Difficulty Rating: 2B

Trail heads/Starting Point:
Drive to Neil’s Harbour and turn right to go onto Alternate Scenic Route Drive. You will pass thru Neil’s Harbour and New Haven communities before coming to White Point. Turn right at White Point and continue to the community. Turn down at the wharf and park your car. Walk up to the Trailhead where the pavements meets the gravel.

7) Sugar Loaf Trail - at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, September 17
Climb from near sea level for about 2 km to 1400 feet. The first part of the trail follows an old wood road. Very scenic with views at the top of Aspy Bay, Sugar Loaf mountain and beach reaching to Dingwall and South harbor. Also, view the highlands and Bay St. Lawrence from a look-off. 3-4hrs, 4 kms
Difficulty Rating: 4D

Trail heads/Starting Point:
From Cape North continue straight on the road to Bay St. Lawrence. Drive towards Asby Bay and Sugarloaf. Follow the signs to the Cabot landing Provincial Park and and approximately 2km past the park look for the yellow stones and a sign indicating “Hike the Highlands festival”.

8) Salmon Pool – 10:00 am. On Tuesday, September 18
(CBHNP*)
River trail, bird-watching, rough sections. Distance 12.2 km return, 4-5 hours.
Difficulty Rating: 1B

Trail Head/Starting Point: Salmon Pool Hiking Trail Parking Lot

9) Acadien Trail – 10:00 am. on Tuesday, September 18
(CBHNP*)
Steady climb to panoramic views of the coastline and canyon. Distance 8.4 km loop, 2.5 to 4 hrs.
Difficulty Rating : 3C

Trail head/Starting Point : Acadien Hiking Trail Parking Lot

10) Skyline Trail Hike – 10:00 am. on Wednesday, September 19
(CBHNP*)
This dramatic headland overlooks the rugged coast; whales, eagles, moose sightings. 2-3 hrs, 7.5 kms (4.7mi)
Difficulty Rating: 1A

Trail heads/Starting Point:
Turn left at Cape North on the Cabot Trail to Cheticamp. Continue to the top of French Mountain. Look for the trail sign.

11) Fishing Cove Trail Hike – 10:00 am. On Wednesday, September 19
Steady descent to rugged ocean coastline. Steep Uphill returning. 6 hrs., 12km
Difficulty Rating: 4C

Trail Head/Starting Point: The first Fishing Cove parking lot north of Cheticamp. Second Fishing Cove Parking Lot if you are coming from Cape North

12) North River-Big Falls Hike - 9:00 a.m. on Friday, September 22
This hike takes you through forest valleys and canyons of one of the most scenic salmon rivers to the highest waterfall in Nova Scotia. The trail winds through older stands of maple, birch, fir and scattered pine that blanket the steep-sided canyon walls looming overhead. The wilderness trail is narrow and uneven with sections of coarse stone, steep loose-rock slopes and rock outcrops. This is for the hardcore hiker! Two guides will accompany the group. Those who wish to turn back at the halfway point will have that option. 6-7 hrs, 18 kms
Difficulty Rating: 4D

Trail heads/Starting Point:
Follow the map to North River. Drive past 3.8 kms down the Oregon Road and Follow the signs to the North River Provincial Park. Meet in the parking lot.

13) North River-Little Falls Hike - 10:00 a.m. Friday, September 22
Walking to the Falls provide fine views along the North River past idyllic salmon pools and red sandstone bluffs. The trail surface is mostly firm and moderately uneven with gentle slopes, but descends abruptly from the picnic area to the forested river terrace below. MacDonald Brook joins the North River before spilling over a series of rock ledges, forming an impressive array of falls and cataracts.

For those hikers who wish to continue, you will return to the picnic area and travel over a small hill before joining an old cart road. This road was the main access route for the Scottish settlers who established farmsteads along the east side of the river in the mid 1800s. This trail is relatively wide with slight to moderate slopes, surface is uneven with sections of loose rock, exposed tree roots and shallow washouts. 3-4 hrs, 5 kms (3mi)
Difficulty Rating: 3C

Trail heads/Starting Point:
 Follow the map to North River. Drive past 3.8 kms down the Oregon Road and Follow the signs to the North River Provincial Park. Meet in the parking lot.

14) Red Island (Barrachois) Trail - 2:30 pm Thursday, September 21
The trail begins behind the St. Ann's Bay United Church. The fairly level trail winds along the Barrachois River through a mostly spruce forest with a few oaks along the way. You hike a trail along the river to some excellent viewing spots where the river opens up into a large open salt and freshwater estuary (Barachois) before it empties into the sea. Here you may see some resident Canada geese, black ducks, great blue herons and common goldeye to name a few common bird species.

The trail then goes on to the shore of St. Ann's Bay with a magnificent view of Cape Dauphin and the Englishtown shoreline - once again a favorite spot for birders looking for seabirds, shorebirds and loons. The trail then makes a loop on the return section past a large freshwater lake with some nice views. 3hrs. 4km.
Difficulty Rating: 2C

Trail heads/Starting Point:
Located at Indian Brook on the Cabot Trail near the St. Ann’s Bay United Church ( next to the bridge) . Meet in the parking lot of the church.

15) Franey Mountain Hike - 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 20
(CBHNP*)
Climb 366 metres in 3 hours. Enjoy a panoramic view of the Clyburn Valley and Middlehead. Hike through mixed woods to a cliff-top look off providing breathtaking views of the Clyburn Valley and the surrounding highlands, extending ridge upon ridge into the distance. You are in the domain of ravens and eagles and they can sometimes be seen below you, soaring among the walls and buttresses of the cliffs. 3-4 hrs, 7.4 kms (4.6mi)
Difficulty Rating: 4C

Trail heads/Starting Point:
Drive north from the Ingonish Beach campground for 1.5 km, past the church and golf course and over the Clyburn bridge. Take the next left at Franey Trail sign. Continue on this road from pavement to a gravel road up the hill for about km to the trailhead & parking lot.

16) Middle Head Hike - 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, September 24
(CBHNP*)
Along this walk there are views on both sides of the path of the mountains and sea and the rocky cliffs. The trail begins near the Keltic Lodge and travels to the tip of Middle Head and back. The Corson's who were befriended by Alexander Graham Bell owned this estate during the early part of the century. This was also the site of a fishing village at the turn of the century. 2 -3 hrs, 4 kms (2.5 mi)
Difficulty Rating: 2C

Trail head/Starting Point:
Follow the road signs to Keltic Lodge in Ingonish Beach. Proceed past the main lodge to the parking lot . A set of stairs on the left side marks the beginning of the trail.

17) Corney Brook – 10:00 am. On Sunday, September 23
(CBHNP*)
Waterfall, Acadian hardwood forest in a river canyon, wildlife. Distance 6.5 km,  3-4 hours.
Difficulty Rating: 2B

Trail head/Starting Point: Corney Brook Parking Lot across the road from the hiking trail

18) Uisge Ban Falls - 1:30 pm Sunday, September 23
A 4km (2.4mi) trail through a climax hardwood forest, provides access to view the 16m (50ft) high waterfall. The walls of the gorge tower 50m (500ft)) on either side of the falls. 2.5 hrs, 4 kms (2.5mi)
Difficulty Rating: 2C

Trail head/Starting Point:
Take Exit 9 off the Trans Canada Highway and follow the sign for Forks Baddeck, cross a single lane bridge while keeping right. Continue along till you come to a sign pointing out the Uisge Ban Provincial park, drive down that gravel road until you reach the park. 14kms from Baddeck