I grew up going to Cap Breton Island since I was an infant to visit family and friends; now I am guilty of this, but I’ve never done the 300km(186Miles) drive called the Cabot Trail, which is a highway that brings you through and around the Cap Breton Highlands witch is on the northern tip of the Island. The drive takes roughly five, not including the stops you make along the way to take pictures or stretch. There is also an area where you may park and go on hikes to lookout points. You also pass-through villages, some port villages and some up into the mountains. Fair warning if you get motion sick, this drive is very windy, and you go through a lot of altitude change.

The Cap Breton Highland is a national park, so there is a fee to drive through it, and unfortunately, there is no avoiding it to make the entire loop. However, it’s not a very expensive fee; this money goes to help preserve and keep the national Park running with staff and cleanliness. The Park also has various camping areas where you may stay the night or night if you wish.
If camping is not, you’re like there are many Inns, cabins, and B&B along the Trail you may find lodgement. Be aware that they do book up quite fast, so if you plan on visiting, make sure you book ahead. There are also souvenir shops and restaurants for you to stop in. But I encourage you to pack a picnic lunch, find a nice place to park, enjoy the view, or hike to a lookout for your lunch or supper. Please keep in mind that whatever you brought with you waste-wise into the Park, get it back out and dispose of them properly. Park officials and the locals take pride in the area and work hard to keep it clean, so if we can help by keeping it clean, everyone and everting can thrive and enjoy the beauty. The wildlife thanks you.
My parents have done It a few times, but it never interested me much. So, in 2021 when we went down for thanksgiving at the beginning of October, the fall colours were setting in, so I said, why not? Let’s do it. I thought the view would be beautiful. They were lots of lovely foliage changing, and the views out to the Atlantic were majestic. But I won’t be doing it any time soon. Maybe it was because I was in a small car and I was not the most comfortable in the back. Now I’m not the tallest person, but I am 5.7, sitting in the back seat of a Honda civic with my 5.10 mother driving. My knees touched the driver’s seat, and the winding rods nauseated me. I would also recommend bringing music that does not require the radio or cellular service because it can sometimes get quite a spotty service. I also brought a book and my kindle to entertain myself during the lesser scenic moments.
Now you can choose to make the Cabot trail clockwise or counterclockwise. Clockwise you go up most of the way to the lookout points, whereas on the other way, you go down onto the lookout points, and you get to look at the view in front of you and not behind you. You may also not wish to do all the tail, which is okay. You may make day trips to the villages or even hikes. We also came across some so cyclists and good on them, but I am not enough in shape to do that, but good on them.

Here are a few photos that I took on the Trail.