Cape Breton is filled with incredible natural beauty with rugged coastlines, sandy beaches, meandering rivers, rolling hills, cascading waterfalls, and scenic lakes that offer outdoor adventure seekers something to do in every season. Over the next three issues, we will travel through Cape Breton and spotlight why this amazing island needs to be on your adventure bucket list in 2025!
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Cape Breton Island’s most famous resident, Alexander Graham Bell, once said, “I have traveled around the globe. I have seen the Canadian and American Rockies, the Andes, the Alps and the Highlands of Scotland, but for simple beauty, Cape Breton outrivals them all.” We could not agree more.
While summer may bring warmth to the Island, it also brings humidity and crowds. The Fall’s cooler, more comfortable temperatures are perfect for outdoor adventures. So, whether you’re hiking, biking, kayaking, fishing, or simply exploring the Island, the weather in the fall is usually mild, with fewer insects to bother you. This makes it the ideal time to enjoy Cape Breton Island’s natural beauty without the discomfort of summer heat, black flies, and mosquitos.
Cape Breton’s Fall season may be short, but we believe it is when the Island literally shows its true colours to those visiting Cape Breton. As the summer crowds fade, the Island’s Mountain landscapes transform into vibrant hues of red, orange, and yellow, making it a must-visit for foliage followers and offering amazing photo opportunities that will keep you coming back year after year for this amazing visual display of nature.
The views from Smokey Mountain are unique and vast. The Atlantic Gondola will transport you to the top of Cape Smokey where you can see the Cabot Trail, the village of Ingonish, and the national park, along with the fishing boats coming and going in the waterways, remember to keep your eyes peeled for wildlife maybe even a whale tail in the distance!
The drive up North Mountain is one of the best parts of the Cabot Trail, especially due to the look-offs. This mountain climb has four unique look-offs. However, one in particular steals stand above the rest, the Aspy Fault look-off which offers amazing views of the incredible Acadian Forest, considered one of the best views on the Trail.
Not to be outdone by North Mountain, MacKenzie Mountain offers unique views of Pleasant Bay, Robert’s Mountain, Gampo Abbey, and Pollet’s Cove. Be sure to keep your eyes on the ocean as you’ll often see whale-watching tours taking people from Pleasant Bay on the search for whales.
The 298 km of the World Famous Cabot Trail offers more than beautiful vistas and mountain views that you see from your car, and we recommend that you break your road trip into multiple days and get out and truly explore all that this area offers. No trip around the Cabot Trail is complete without a hike on one of the island’s trails or viewing one of the amazing waterfalls.
So, remember your hiking boots when packing as the island has dozens of hiking trails varying in length and difficulty. Fun fact. Cape Breton has so many hiking trails that if you were up to the challenge, you would have to stay for a month to attempt them all.
There are waterfalls all over Cape Breton Island and they’re some of the most beautiful in the province! Don’t worry if you’re not a hiker, a few of our most beautiful waterfalls along the Highlands National Park require little to no hiking at all.
The Aspy Fault is known as a ‘strike-slip’ fault and runs through the Cape Breton highlands. It’s best viewed by air or as we mentioned before from the look-off found on North Mountain on the Cabot Trail. The fault is home to amazing old-growth Acadian forests and the whole valley turns yellow during peak fall colours. Hiking the Aspy Trail allows hikers to view the 21 metre (69-foot) Beulach Ban Falls that are found here.
The Clyburn Valley is the unsung hero of the hike up Franey Mountain. While Franey Mountain is a great hike, what makes it special is the view of the Clyburn Valley below. The valley reaches from the Atlantic Ocean and extends deep into the Cape Breton Highlands. The valley is home to a wide variety of wildlife but it’s the deciduous forest in the valley that really makes it extraordinary in the fall.
If you’re up for the challenge you can hike 18 km (return) to North River Falls, Nova Scotia’s tallest waterfall at 30 metres (100 feet). An adventurous hike down to the Egypt Falls might only be 15 minutes but it is quite the journey getting there and you want to give yourself a bit more time to make it back up the hill. That being said, the payoff is worth it. As you will experience one of the most beautiful waterfalls in all of Cape Breton whose beauty is only multiplied when surrounded by beautiful fall colours.
Looking to get a little fishing in while in Cape Breton well you are in luck as the Margaree River is one of the most beautiful rivers in all of Cape Breton. The northeast branch of the river flows from the Cape Breton highlands, while the Southwest Margaree flows northeast from Lake Ainslie. It is known as one of the best salmon fishing rivers in all of Canada and is home to over 50 salmon pools. Fly fishers call the Margaree the crown jewel of salmon rivers for its beauty and sport fishing.
Now something that should be on everyone’s bucket list who likes to be on the water is gliding through lakes and rivers admiring the coast while experiencing the autumn colours reflecting on the water as you paddle through the water. Thankfully Cape Breton offers a wide variety of kayaking experiences from kayaking on the Atlantic to paddling through lakes and rivers and enjoying the views of the island’s magnificent wildlife.
The Bras d’Or Lake is a designated UNESCO Biosphere that is surrounded by rolling hills and dotted with islands, the Bras d’Or Lake UNESCO Biosphere Reserve is the heart of Cape Breton Island. Offering a unique blend of both fresh and salt water, the Bras d’Or Lake is a great location to view everything from the majestic bald eagle to curious grey seals. The Bras d’Or Lake is often referred to as an inland sea and is one of Cape Breton’s most important geographic features.
It’s hard to travel anywhere in Cape Breton and not see wildlife. Cape Breton Island has an amazingly diverse eco-system that you can explore so make sure you bring your binoculars or telephoto lenses so you can observe coyotes and deer at a safe distance and take pictures to capture these animals like the majestic moose.
It’s hard to think that Cape Breton Island’s fall colours could be any more stunning until you see them during a sunset or sunrise when the Sun’s lights take the fall foliage to another level and one that you will not soon forget and put a trip to Cape Breton on your bucket list for every fall moving forward.
Fall on Cape Breton Island isn’t just about nature; it’s also a time when the Island’s rich cultural heritage comes to life through festivals and events. The Celtic Colours International Festival, held every October, is a celebration of Celtic music and culture that attracts artists and visitors from around the globe. Over nine days, communities across the island host concerts, workshops, and cultural events that showcase the best of Cape Breton’s music, dance, and storytelling traditions.
In addition to Celtic Colours, fall is also the harvest season, and local markets and festivals are brimming with fresh produce, homemade crafts, and traditional foods. Visiting these events offers a taste of the island’s local flavour and a chance to engage with the friendly, welcoming communities and the people that call Cape Breton Island home.
There’s no denying the unique charm and beauty that fall brings to Cape Breton Island. With its stunning foliage, ideal weather, rich cultural events, and peaceful atmosphere, fall is undeniably one of the best times to visit. And whether you’re a nature lover, a culture enthusiast, or simply someone looking to unwind from the hustle and bustle of your daily life, Cape Breton Island in the fall offers an experience that will stay with you long after the leaves have fallen.
by Ryan Myson