Start the counterclockwise drive beside the Bras d’Or Lakes, Cape Breton’s vast inland sea.

Pass through lively Baddeck, gateway to the Cabot Trail and home to the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site.

Pass Plaister Mines and discover traces of the area’s gypsum mining past.

St. Anns pairs sweeping coastal views with a rich Scottish heritage.

Goose Cove’s sheltered waters and wooded brooks make a scenic pause along the route.

The North River Wilderness Area protects rugged valleys and forested highlands beside the drive.

Enjoy the coastal scenery of St. Ann’s Bay as the road curves along its shore.

Pass the shoreline of Plaster Provincial Park, a peaceful stretch of the Cabot Trail.

The French River Wilderness Area offers a glimpse of Cape Breton’s protected backcountry from the road.

Pass the long-standing Wreck Cove General Store, a familiar Cabot Trail landmark.

Pause at a safe lookout on the ascent to Cape Smokey for dramatic Atlantic views.

Cape Smokey Provincial Park crowns the mountain with coastal lookouts and a picnic area.

Ingonish welcomes you with seaside villages, beaches and access to the national park.

Ingonish Harbour’s sheltered waters have long shaped life along this coast.

Pass Keltic Lodge on its coastal headland, with nearby views, trails and golf.

Ingonish Centre links several seaside communities with beaches and outdoor trails.

Cape Breton Highlands National Park brings forested mountains and ocean cliffs together along the road.

Neil’s Harbour is a colourful fishing village and a gateway to Cape Breton’s points north.

The Bras d’Or terrane reveals Cape Breton’s ancient geological links to three continents.

Aspy Bay opens onto a broad sandy coast framed by the northern highlands.

Pollett’s Cove and the Aspy Fault reveal a rugged wilderness shaped by deep geological forces.

Beulach Ban Falls is a forest waterfall beside the Aspy Trail trailhead, both optional side trips when open.

The Cape Breton Plateau offers sweeping lookouts over highland valleys and the Aspy Fault.

Pass the Lone Shieling area, home to a replica Scottish crofter’s hut; the site and nearby pull-offs are temporarily closed.

Pass MacIntosh Brook’s wooded valley; its trail and campground are temporarily closed.

Pleasant Bay is a scenic coastal village known for whale-watching excursions.

MacKenzie Mountain Lookoff opens onto broad views of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and nearby highlands.

Fishing Cove Lookout frames steep green headlands dropping toward the ocean.

Benjie’s Lake and its surrounding bog offer a glimpse of the highland landscape and moose habitat.

A roadside pull-off at French Lake overlooks still water and boreal forest.

The Skyline Trail overlooks the Gulf; parking reservations are required June 26–October 25, 2026 for anyone who plans to hike it.

Near Veterans Monument Lookoff, Le Vieux Chemin du Cap-Rouge traces a former Acadian settlement amid striking coastal scenery.

Le Buttereau Trail passes the remains of a small Acadian settlement near Chéticamp.

Chéticamp Campground marks the park’s western entrance near river scenery and trailheads.

Petit Étang Beach stretches across a tidal estuary beneath the red bluffs of Le Buttereau.

Chéticamp brings Acadian culture, coastal scenery and colourful village life to the drive.

Chéticamp Island Beach offers a sandy shoreline on a short side trip from the main road.

Grand Étang is a coastal Acadian community associated with the lively Mi-Carême tradition.

Look across the Gulf of St. Lawrence as the western coast opens into wide sea views.

Belle Côte lives up to its name with beautiful coastal scenery and a nearby wharf.

Margaree Harbour and Beach meet at a broad river estuary with open coastal views.

From East Margaree Crossing, see the river winding across its green valley.

The Margaree River runs through an Appalachian valley known for its scenic bends and salmon waters.

Pass Live Life in Tents at Margaree Forks, where river country meets the inland Cabot Trail.

Margaree Valley’s rolling scenery marks the gateway to the river’s inland communities.

Lake O’Law Provincial Park offers lakeside views beneath the Three Sisters mountains, with a picnic stop when open.

Middle River Wilderness Area protects forested hills and traces of the region’s mining past.

Pass the two distinctive churches standing side by side in Middle River.