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Motorcycle roads/Nova Scotia/Cabot Trail
Cabot Trail · Nova Scotia

Cabot Trail motorcycle ride

The Cabot Trail loops around the northern tip of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, through Cape Breton Highlands National Park. The road climbs from the sea to the highlands and back again on both coasts, with long views over the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Atlantic.

Distance
179 mi
Riding time
4 h 55 min
Lowest
0 ft
Highest
1,490 ft
Plan this rideDownload GPX

Opens a loop from Baddeck in the MotoCurve planner on the Curvy style. Change the start to your home or hotel, then send it to the app for voice navigation.

Highlights

  • The western climbs above the Gulf of St. Lawrence near Chéticamp.
  • Cape Breton Highlands National Park, with lookouts on the cliffs.
  • Acadian and Gaelic villages along the way.

Before you ride

  • The national park section needs a Parks Canada pass.
  • Many riders go clockwise to keep the ocean on the outside, others the other way for the inside lane on the cliffs. Both are good.
  • Moose are common in the highlands.

When to ride

Open all year, but late June to mid October is the riding season. Fall colour peaks in early October.

Questions

How long is the Cabot Trail?
As MotoCurve routes it, a loop from Baddeck is about 179 miles, roughly 4 h 55 min of riding without stops.
When can you ride the Cabot Trail?
Open all year, but late June to mid October is the riding season. Fall colour peaks in early October.
How high does the Cabot Trail go?
The route runs between about 0 and 1,490 feet above sea level.
Can I get turn-by-turn directions for the Cabot Trail?
Yes. Open it in the free MotoCurve planner, change the start to your home or hotel, and send it to the MotoCurve app for voice navigation on Android or iPhone. You can also download the GPX for a Garmin or another GPS.

Put this road on your site

Riding club, blog or ride report? Paste this and your readers get a card of the Cabot Trail that opens its map, GPX and directions. Free to use.

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