Cabot Trail

The epitome of gorgeous scenic temperate coastal drives, the Cabot Trail rings the northern half of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia with 185 miles of winding, cliff-hugging roadway. Between the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Atlantic Ocean, visitors who take in the entire Cabot Trail will get ample glimpses of both. Along the way, you’ll find red-topped lighthouses, rocky shorelines with pine and deciduous forests that erupt in a riot of color come autumn, popular hiking trails including many in Cape Breton Highlands National Park, quaint towns and inns and popular attractions such as the quirky Salmon Museum in Margaree, art studios and galleries in St. Ann’s and the start/end point of the trail at the summer home of Alexander Graham Bell, now a museum, in Baddeck. The waters off Cape Breton Island are also popular with pilot, finback, minke and humpback and you may be able to spot them on your journey—to get a little closer, a number of whale watch tours make the journey out to see them—as well as seabirds and seals—between June and mid-October. The road trip is not for the faint of heart—or those afraid of heights—in some places there is little between you and the ocean. For all of its many features, and perhaps also the thrill factor, USA Today called it the best motorcycle drive in the world.

Practical Info

It’s possible to circumnavigate the Cabot Trail ring in about 5 hours, not counting stops. Many visitors opt to take several days to stop off for hikes or whale watch tours. For those weary of heights, travel clockwise to stay on the “inside lane” and further away from drop-offs. The adventurous willing to travel counter-clockwise will be rewarded with less traffic. The best time to go is between June and October, and a number of tours operators—particularly fall foliage tours—will do the driving for you.