Road Trip Baddeck to Ingonish – East Cabot Trail Section

Baddeck Ingonish
115
km
1h48
drive
All seasons
season

The Itinerary

The east section of the Cabot Trail, between Baddeck and Ingonish, is one of the most dramatic: the road climbs and plunges in tight switchbacks toward the Atlantic, with breathtaking views at Smokey Mountain.

Baddeck hosts the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site (the telephone inventor lived and is buried here). Ingonish is the heart of Cape Breton Highlands National Park: Keltic Lodge (historic 1940 hotel), Highlands Links golf course (one of the world's best) and the red sand beach. The Franey trail offers a spectacular 360° vista.

Points of Interest

  • ✦
    Alexander Graham Bell NHS
    Maison et tombe de l'inventeur du téléphone à Baddeck.
  • ✦
    Keltic Lodge
    Hôtel historique 1940 sur un promontoire panoramique.
  • ✦
    Highlands Links Golf
    Top 100 mondial, design Stanley Thompson 1941.
  • ✦
    Franey Trail
    Sentier de 7 km, vue 360° sur Cap-Breton, automne idéal.

Fishing Spots Along the Route

🎣
Aconi (Fifes) Brook
Stream
🎣
Adelaide Brook
Stream
🎣
Alder Brook
Stream
🎣
Allans Brook
Stream
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Allans Brook
Stream
🎣
Amaguadees Pond
Lake
🎣
Angus Brook
Stream
🎣
Angus Farquhars Brook
Stream

Protected areas along the route

🌿
Baddeck Bay Consevation Lands
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Cape Smokey Provincial Park
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Plaister Mines Conservation Lands
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Ponys Point Conservation Lands
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MacAulays Hill Nature Reserve
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Barra Forest and MacNeils Vale Provincial Park
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Washabuck River Nature Reserve
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Maskells Harbour Conservation Lands
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Plaister Cliffs Conservation Lands
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🌿
Mary Harper Nature Reserve
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🌿
Baddeck River Conservation Lands
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🌿
Cains Mountain Wilderness Area
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Take this route offline

Cell coverage thins out fast once you leave Baddeck. Export the map as a geo-referenced PDF before you go and open it in BorealMaps — your GPS position shows on the map with no signal at all.

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Practical info
  • Departure Baddeck
  • Destination Ingonish
  • Distance 115 km
  • Duration 1h48
  • Category Medium (100–250 km)
  • Best season All seasons
Themes
Ocean park Fall heritage golf Iconic

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