Tips For Driving The Cabot Trail In The Fall

Inside: Tips for driving the Cabot Trail in the Fall; When you should plan your Cabot Trail Road Trip; What to pack for your Cabot Trail Trip.

We finally checked an item off my bucket list and drove Cape Breton’s Cabot Trail to see the Fall colours! The Cabot Trail is beautiful any time of year but the leaves changing made everything extra beautiful.

There are some things I wish I knew before I went, and that’s what I’m going to tell you about today! It can be an amazing trip, especially with some advance planning so you don’t miss out on what makes the Cabot Trail (and Cape Breton in general) so amazing.

What Is The Cabot Trail?

The Cabot Trail is a 298KM (186 mile) driving route around the Cape Breton Highlands National Park and along the coastline. It is a loop, so it doesn’t have a technical beginning and end, but most people start either in Baddeck or Margaree/Cheticamp.

The trail is named for John Cabot, an explorer who landed in Atlantic Canada in 1497 (although he most likely landed in Newfoundland, not Cape Breton).

Cape Breton Island makes up the northern part of Nova Scotia, it is connected to the mainland by the Canso Causeway, which is the only way on/off the island except for the ferry to Newfoundland.

What To Do On The Cabot Trail In October

Autumn is a very popular time to visit the Cabot Trail because of the leaves changing colours!

Hiking is a very popular activity in the Fall, and the Cape Breton Highlands National Park has 26 hiking trails to choose from! All different lengths and abilities available.

There are many beaches along the way as well. Although October may be a bit chilly for a beach day, they are still nice to walk along.

Fall can be a great time to golf, and there are many choices around the trail, including Highland Links, at the Keltic Lodge in Ingonish, which is rated #9 in Canada by Score Golf Canada! #1 rated course Cabot Cliffs and #5 rated course Cabot Links are both in Inverness, not technically ON the Cabot Trail, but very close by. Safe to say that Cape Breton is a golf destination! (Thanks to my Dad for the golf info… he’s the golf expert in the family)

Driving along, you’ll want to stop at most of the amazing look offs, because this is what you came for, all these amazing views!

Driving the Cabot Trail for a few days? Check out my Cabot Trail long weekend itinerary

Tips For Visiting The Cabot Trail in October

Book In Advance

It’s hard to know when peak colours will be on the Cabot Trail as it depends on the weather. It also peaks at different places at different times. On this trip we found the Ingonish side to be vibrant, but the Cheticamp side a bit duller. We also had a lot of wind storms in September and October that blew leaves off the trees before they turned.

But you still need to book your accommodations in advance, as this is a very popular time of year, places book up quickly! Especially if you are visiting over Celtic Colors, or (Canadian) Thanksgiving weekend.

Celtic Colours Festival

This annual festival starts the Friday of Thanksgiving weekend (early October) every year and goes on for about 8 days. Celtic Colours takes place all over Cape Breton, not just on the Cabot Trail and consists of concerts, learning workshops, meals, markets, and more. Many events are held at local fire halls and community halls all over the island.

2021 is still virtual! Keep an eye on their website for further announcements.

Read more about other things to do in Nova Scotia in the Fall

Visiting In Late October

After the Celtic Colours Festival everything begins to shut down for the winter. Restaurants may be closed completely or only be open on weekends. I recommend calling places in advance to make sure they are open before you visit.

You can certainly still have a great trip (with less crowds) later in the month, but it will take a little more advance planning.

Prepare For Any Weather

If you’re from Atlantic Canada, then you know how difficult it is to dress (and pack) for our Fall days. Sometimes it’s 0C in the morning and 17C by the afternoon. In 2020 parts of Nova Scotia had snow in early October.

The key to being comfortable is packing layers. On most of our hikes we wore thin long sleeve shirts with thicker sweaters that we could take off, and that was just right! We also brought hats and gloves too because the wind can be quite chilly, even in the sun. When in doubt, pack as many layers as you can (and a raincoat!).

Prepare To Go Offline

Parts of the Cabot Trail (and Cape Breton), especially in the Northern part of the Cape Breton Highlands National Park don’t have any cell service. Make sure to bring a GPS and a map so that you aren’t relying on your phone GPS. You can get a park map at both of the entrances to the park (Cheticamp and Ingonish).

There are emergency phones on the side of the road in places throughout the northern part of the trail.

Watch For Wildlife

You will be in parts of Cape Breton where moose, bears, coyotes, and other wild animals live. You will need to watch for them on the roads and also when you are hiking.

Generally you should carry a stick while hiking, and bear spray if possible. People have been attacked and even killed in the past so familiarize yourself with what to do should you encounter wildlife. Parks Canada gives you a brochure with instructions when you buy your park pass.

Final Thoughts

October is an amazing time to visit Cape Breton and the Cabot Trail! The weather is usually great for hiking, and the leaves changing are something you must see in person.

I hope you’re planning your trip to Cape Breton right now!

You might also want to check out the Fortress of Louisbourg on your trip.