Skyline Trail – Cape Breton Highlands National Park

Hiking trails & Routes

Canada

Nova Scotia

Inverness, Subd. A

Skyline Trail – Cape Breton Highlands National Park

Moderate

4.7

(169)

1,368

hikers

Skyline Trail – Cape Breton Highlands National Park

02:32

9.33km

130m

Hiking

An easy-to-moderate trail suitable for all abilities, which offers a spectacular visual experience. It’s mostly flat, with wooden boardwalks and plenty of spots to pause and admire the views before ending at a dramatic cliff-top viewing platform.

Access to the trailhead is just off Cabot Trail, where you’ll find parking…

Last updated: December 9, 2025

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

4.42 km

View of the Atlantic Ocean from the Skyline Trail

Highlight • Viewpoint

Panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean from the dramatic headland of Cape Breton. The wind can whip across this exposed landscape, so bring appropriate gear.

Tip by

5.52 km

Skyline Trail lookout

Highlight • Viewpoint

At the end of the boardwalk is the terraced viewing platform. The view is fantastic. There are many benches where you can take a long break.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

6.69 km

Boardwalk Trail, Cape Breton Highlands National Park

Highlight • Trail

There are numerous sections of boardwalk along the Skyline Trail. These allow visitors to explore Cape Breton's lush ecosystem without causing it any damage.

Tip by

9.33 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

7.34 km

1.14 km

772 m

Surfaces

7.00 km

1.49 km

772 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Today

Tuesday 6 October

9°C

5°C

79 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 48.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

July 29, 2025,Sky Trail / Cabot Trail/ Canada 🇨🇦/ Nova Scotia

This hike is an absolute highlight of the vacation. I've done many hikes, and this one was one of the absolute highlights! 😇

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October 3, 2024,🇨🇦Cape Breton: 🌊Skyline Trail 🤩03.10.2024

We saved this highlight of the Cabot Trail (and in general) for the end of today😃.

A visit to Cape Breton without the Skyline Trail is like a visit to Hamburg without the harbor. It's impossible❗️

You can do the big or a small loop. With sunshine and little wind, we opted for the bigger one🌞. True to the motto: …

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October 11, 2023,464 - Skyline Trail

After a short night and had to look at a few stars quickly😉😄, today we went to the Skyline Trail, which was about 50km away from our yurts. So here the journey was the goal again. The Cabot Trail (length approx. 350km, opened in 1932) is a festival of colors and an attraction for some tourists, mainly from Europe, especially …

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August 25, 2024,Skyline Trail

The famous Skyline Trail. On a Saturday in mid-August the parking lot was full and the trail was closed. It's worth getting there early.

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November 20, 2025

An easy-to-moderate trail suitable for all abilities, which offers a spectacular visual experience. It’s mostly flat, with wooden boardwalks and plenty of spots to pause and admire the views before ending at a dramatic cliff-top viewing platform. 
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Access to the trailhead is just off Cabot Trail, where