Skyline Trail Cape Breton Highland National Park — Attraction in Cape Breton Highlands National Park

Update August 5, 2025. I have downgraded this NOT based on anything I posted in my original review below. All of these remain true. Moving from 5 stars to a generous 3 stars based on the toxic staff you encounter when you enter the parking lot and the total unpredictability of whether the trail is open or not. Parks Canada needs to fix this IMMEDIATELY. After driving hundreds of kilometers to do this trail you encounter a sign saying "trail closed, enjoy one of the other trails". No explanation given. Later driving by noticed it was opened. Apparently, the trail is so crowded that there needs to be restrictions on how many people can be on the trail at one time. I agree with this in the interest of safety. There's so many other ways Parks Canada could handle this. Maybe reservation system for the peak season. Or staff counting and enforcing limits on the boardwalk on the cliffs at the end of the trail. But the toxic student staff has to go. Rudeness and yelling at tourists in a place where tourists are their bread and butter is deplorable. As a taxpayer, I am shocked at the rudeness of the staff. Reading reviews on other sites, these actions have become commonplace. Ratings are plummeting. Please! Parks Canada fix this for the sake of Cape Breton tourism!

ORIGINAL REVIEW It is hard to describe the amazing beauty that this trail offers! At the end of the 3km walk, you will be rewarded with the most beautiful views. Very important to stay on the paths and respect any wildlife that you may encounter. Very highly...

Long hike, be prepared for at least three hours (walking fast)if you want to stop off and view. NOt much safety on high ledges. Lovely view of ocean and beautiful echoes. Wildlife is always present. Lookout is gorgeous. Very easy to get lost on side paths. Outhouses are terrible. The views are amazing. WAterfalls, winding roads, mountains, you name it. The first part is quite boring, but it is worth the view towards the end. If you don't want to do the first part or if you have young children/elderly adults, I reccomend doing the trail backward and turning back once you get to the lookout for a shorter hike that still gets the spectacular view. Another thing to watch out is for the fog. It comes in very rapidly and once it has descended, you cannot see even three feet in front of you so we almost bumped into a fence multiple times. It is also hard to drive out down the mountain once the fog hits, as you cannot see a thing in your vehicle. Had to have someone walk in front of the vehicle to guide the vehicle out onto the main road. Once you get down the mountain the fog gets better. You are literally in the clouds at some points, so this trail is awesome. If you start at the actual beginning, do not get discouraged for the first 6 KM, it...

As part of our road trip to Nova Scotia, we stopped by the Skyline Trail in Cape Breton, and it was absolutely amazing. The views were breathtaking—you can see the sunset, the waves, and all the water from the high point on the left side of the trail. It’s a loop, and we spent about an hour to two hours walking it. The views alone made it a must-see.

The park does have a small fee, but it wasn’t expensive at all, and there was plenty of parking available. Plus, the drive to the trail was just as incredible, with stunning scenery along the way. The walk itself was pretty easy, but it does take some time. It’s a mix of a gravel road and a boardwalk, which makes it accessible, but you’ll want to take your time to soak in the views.

Pictures don’t do it justice—it was so stunning that it almost felt unreal, like something out of a simulation. We saw mountains, trees, and the beautiful winding path. Cape Breton was a highlight of our trip, and this trail is a must-see. It's absolutely worth going out of your way to experience this incredible...