Photo: Guardrail on the Cape Smokey lookoff

The Cabot Trail Cycling Adventure

Day 1 – The Causeway to Baddeck

Day 2 – Baddeck to Ingonish, climbing Smokey

Day 3 – Ingonish to Meat Cove to Pleasant Bay, climbing North Mountain

Day 4 – Pleasant Bay to Glenora Distillery

Day 5 – Glenora Distillery to the Causeway

10 FAV Photos Cycling the Cabot Trail

The Cabot Trail hills

Chris George, providing reliable PR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer or experienced communicator? 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.

There are four sizable hills around Cape Breton’s Cabot Trail. Cycling counterclockwise, there is Smokey Mountain (south of Ingonish), North Mountain (east of Pleasant Bay), MacKenzie Mountain (south of Pleasant Bay) and French Mountain (north of Cheticamp). Here are the details on the climbs…

Smokey Mountain

climb is 7.2 kms from Wreck Cove to the Cape Smokey summit

366 m elevation at a 12-15 per cent grade

descent is approximately 10 kms

North Mountain

climb is 5.5 kms from Big Intervale to the summit

467 m elevation at a 12-15 per cent grade

descent is 4 kms

MacKenzie Mountain

climb is 4.7 kms from Pleasant Bay to the summit

370 m elevation at 9-12 per cent grade

this summit is linked to the French Mountain

French Mountain

linked to MacKenzie summit

descent is 5.5 km from summit to bottom

452 m elevation at 9-12 per cent grade

SOURCE:  Parks Canada @ https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ns/cbreton/activ/cyclisme-cycling

Chris George, providing reliable PR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer or experienced communicator? 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.

Here are our top ten photos of the ride…

Day 1, at the start of our Cabot Trail adventure.

Day 2, riding from the Englishtown Ferry. 

Day 2, atop Smokey. Mission Accomplished.

Day 3, Climbing out of Neils Harbour.

Day 3, on the way to Meat Cove in Capstick, where the blacktop ended.

Day 3, outside of Meat Cove.

Day 4/5, at the Glenora Distillery.

Day 5, on the Sea Walk.

Day 5, at the end of the trail.

and saluting the adventure!

Our Cabot Trail Cycling Adventure

• Day 1 – The Causeway to Baddeck
• Day 2 – Baddeck to Ingonish, climbing Smokey
• Day 3 – Ingonish to Meat Cove to Pleasant Bay, climbing North Mountain
• Day 4 – Pleasant Bay to Glenora Distillery
• Day 5 – Glenora Distillery to the Causeway

10 FAV Photos Cycling the Cabot Trail

Day 1 Route ~ August 29, 2022 (96 km)

• Starting on TransCanada just north of the Causeway
• Melford / Upper River Denys / Iron Mines
• First sign of water at approx. 45 km
• Whycocomagh Reserve / Whycocomaugh
• Nyanza Bay / Buckwheat Corner
• Exit TransCanada on 205 (Shore Road) into Baddeck
• Baddeck Bay Sojourn (Water Street along Chebucto Road)
• Finish Day 1 at the Lynnwood Inn

Crossing the Causeway… It would be five days before we saw this bridge again…

At the start of the Cabot Trail adventure.

The initial stretch was along the TransCanada Highway.

The first sighting of water at approximately 45 km mark.

Looking over Nyanza Bay opposite MacGregors Pond.

Stopped to refuel at a Cape Breton landmark.

It was a beautiful ride into Baddeck.

Baddeck Boardwalk is picture perfect.

We completed a Baddeck Bay sojourn to the far end of the bay.

Arriving into the Lynnwood Inn at the end of the first day — and still smiling!

Enjoying a walk along the waterfront with our #1 Support Team Member!

Our Cabot Trail Cycling Adventure

• Day 1 – The Causeway to Baddeck
• Day 2 – Baddeck to Ingonish, climbing Smokey
• Day 3 – Ingonish to Meat Cove to Pleasant Bay, climbing North Mountain
• Day 4 – Pleasant Bay to Glenora Distillery
• Day 5 – Glenora Distillery to the Causeway

10 FAV Photos Cycling the Cabot Trail

Day 2 Route ~ August 30, 2022 (94 km)

• Leave Baddeck along Chebucto Road to turn back onto TransCanada Hwy
• Exit TransCanada onto 312 to the Englishtown Ferry
• Cross on the ferry and proceed on the 312 to the Clucking Hen Bakery
• Little River / French River / Wreck Cove General Store
• Cape Smokey climb and the lookoff
• Descending Smokey into Ingonish Ferry
• Ingonish and arriving at Sea Breeze Cottages to end Day 2

Leaving Baddeck on Day 2.

The Englishtown Ferry – a cable ferry across a 125 metre channel.

Proceeding from the ferry…. 

… to arrive at the Clucking Hen Bakery for a rendezvous with our Support Team.

All fooling aside, here’s the first look at the Cape Smokey climb.

Looking down, half way up Smokey you can see in the distance the road we were just on.

The Cape Smokey Lookoff.

On top of ol’ Smokey.

Descending Smokey into Ingonish Ferry.

At the Ingonish Beach — finishing a hot and humid Day 2.

A most memorable dinner at The Main Street Restaurant

( https://www.facebook.com/mainstreetrestaurantingonish/ )

Our Cabot Trail Cycling Adventure

• Day 1 – The Causeway to Baddeck
• Day 2 – Baddeck to Ingonish, climbing Smokey
• Day 3 – Ingonish to Meat Cove to Pleasant Bay, climbing North Mountain
• Day 4 – Pleasant Bay to Glenora Distillery
• Day 5 – Glenora Distillery to the Causeway

10 FAV Photos Cycling the Cabot Trail

Day 3 Route ~ August 31, 2022 (81 km)

• Leaving Ingonish / Lakies Head
• Exit Cabot Trail to Neils Harbour
• Neils Harbour to White Point, along White Point Road
• Continue to Cape North and exit Bay St. Lawrence Road
• Climb Sugar Loaf to Capstick (where the blacktop ends)
• Meat Cove
• From Cape North proceed to North Mountain
• The North Mountain climb
• Arrive at the Mountain View Cottages to end the ride for Day 3

Leaving Ingonish to enjoy sights of Lakies Head

Exit the Cabot Trail for Neils Harbour

Leaving Neils Harbour to White Point….

… and the most beautiful scenes along White Point Road.

Continue to Cape North and exit Bay St. Lawrence Road and

the climb of Sugar Loaf to Capstick where the blacktop ends.

Looking out over the cliffs of Meat Cove.

From Cape North proceed along the Cabot Trail…

… to North Mountain and a climb of six kms.

Alexander made it to the summit and I was rescued a little more than a kilometer from the top. Thank heavens for our Support Team!

Arrive at the Mountain View Cottages to put our feet up (only momentarily)…

… as we then completed an evening hike of the Skyline Trail.

Our Cabot Trail Cycling Adventure

• Day 1 – The Causeway to Baddeck
• Day 2 – Baddeck to Ingonish, climbing Smokey
• Day 3 – Ingonish to Meat Cove to Pleasant Bay, climbing North Mountain
• Day 4 – Pleasant Bay to Glenora Distillery
• Day 5 – Glenora Distillery to the Causeway

10 FAV Photos Cycling the Cabot Trail

Day 4 Route ~ September 1, 2022 (76 km)

• Drove in the rain over the mountain tops of both MacKenzie and French
• Enjoyed the classic Cabot Trail Lookoffs
• Began cycling in Petite Etang
• Through Cheticamp
• Through Acadian towns with sidetrip on #219
• Back onto #19 into Inverness
• End Day 4 at the Glenora Distillery

It was raining, so we drove the winding roads of both MacKenzie and French Mountains.

We enjoyed the classic Cabot Trail lookoffs.

day 4 we began cycling in Petite Etang, just outside the park…

… through Cheticamp and the Acadian towns…

… and south along the picturesque west shore of the Island…

…cycling the 219 where the rocky shore turns to sand dunes.

Back onto the 19 into Inverness (and passing the Route 19 Brewery).

Onto the Glenora Distillery to end Day 4 with a toast (well, more than one)! 

Our Cabot Trail Cycling Adventure

• Day 1 – The Causeway to Baddeck
• Day 2 – Baddeck to Ingonish, climbing Smokey
• Day 3 – Ingonish to Meat Cove to Pleasant Bay, climbing North Mountain
• Day 4 – Pleasant Bay to Glenora Distillery
• Day 5 – Glenora Distillery to the Causeway

10 FAV Photos Cycling the Cabot Trail

Day 5 Route ~ September 2, 2022 (81 km)

• Left Glenora Distillery on road via Route 19
• Mabou – turn onto the Celtic Shores Coastal Trail
• Side visit into Port Hood
• Rejoined rail trail south of Port Hood
• Celtic Shores Coastal Trail through Judique & Craignish
• Continued onto a washed out Sea Walk for 3 kilometres
• Cycled last kilometre to the Causeway
• Ended Day 5 with the traditional salutes

Left Glenora Distillery on road in fine spirits.

At Mabou we started out on the Celtic Shores Coastal Trail.

A quick side track to see Port Hood.

Then continued along the seaside rail trail…

… so many beautiful sights and great seaside breezes through Judique and Craignish.

We continued on the trail onto a washed out Sea Walk for 3 kilometres.

But the last kilometre we cycled to the Causeway…

… and ended Day 5 with the traditional salutes. 

Unfortunately, we had come to the end of our trail, a 450 km adventure that was a life experience.

Our Cabot Trail Cycling Adventure

• Day 1 – The Causeway to Baddeck
• Day 2 – Baddeck to Ingonish, climbing Smokey
• Day 3 – Ingonish to Meat Cove to Pleasant Bay, climbing North Mountain
• Day 4 – Pleasant Bay to Glenora Distillery
• Day 5 – Glenora Distillery to the Causeway

10 FAV Photos Cycling the Cabot Trail