cabot trail nova scotia

[tjay]

We are thinking of vacationing in Nova Scotia this summer. We want to spend most of our time along Cabot Trail. Its doesn't seem logical to take our 32' travel trailer along the hills and turns. Cape Bretton Highlands looks great but I'm not sure I want to pull trailer out there. Does anyone have any recommendations for a base campground to do day trips from. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

TJay

[Capt. Mike]

Originally Posted by tjay

We are thinking of vacationing in Nova Scotia this summer. We want to spend most of our time along Cabot Trail. Its doesn't seem logical to take our 32' travel trailer along the hills and turns. Cape Bretton Highlands looks great but I'm not sure I want to pull trailer out there. Does anyone have any recommendations for a base campground to do day trips from. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

TJay

TJay, Bras d'Or Lakes Campground. We've stayed there twice, in 2016 and 2018. Easy to get to, great folks, located half-way between the two ends of the Cabot Trail. FHU.

https://brasdorlakescampground.ca/

Enjoy. The scenery on the Cabot Trail is beautiful.

[JEG]

We visited the Cape Breton area this past September, and stayed at the Baddeck Cabot Trail Campground. We found it to be a very nice, well-run campground where we based our stay for three days. We were scheduled to stay two more nights, but were forced to leave Nova Scotia during the hurricane that came through. We enjoyed they area very much, and were able to drive the Cabot Trail in its entirety. One day we drove the eastern side, and another day the western side. We found that the western side was more spectacular, and would probably base our next visit in the Cheticamp area. I would not want to pull a trailer over the whole Cabot Trail.

[itat]

We stayed at the North Sydney KOA. It was fine but I’d probably try one of the other suggestions if I were going back again. It was a great location as a base though. If you can handle a long walk, do the Skyline Trail. Fortress Louisbourg was a great surprise - we spent the better part of a day there.

[kenandterry]

Yup.....North Sydney KOA worked out as a base camp, but the campground itself is a little tired. It could do with a little freshening up. That said, the campground is built into the side of a hill, and each row has a view overlooking the row in front of them, so everyone gets a view overlooking the bay.

You do not want to circle the Cabot Trail with an RV. Disconnect and tour by car. Whenever we stopped at any of the lookouts, we could smell brake pads from the RV rental units.

[mzweili]

Arm Of Gold - The Closest Newfoundland Ferry Campground
is another nice campground you may consider

[MilCop4523]

as earlier stated the camp sites identified are awesome. do the trail counter clockwise though as it will put you in the water side for better viewing.
going in the summer is a lot better than winter for sure...

[kenandterry]

Originally Posted by MilCop4523

as earlier stated the camp sites identified are awesome. do the trail counter clockwise though as it will put you in the water side for better viewing.
going in the summer is a lot better than winter for sure...

Yeah......not much of a view at this time of year.....clockwise or counter.

[Jeff from Burlington Ont]

we traveled PEI, Nova Scotia a Cape Breton in 2017..
In Nova Scotia we stayed at Halifax West KOA.. it is close to the action around Halifax and the other attractions near by, ie Peggy's Cove for 7 days
In Cape Breton, we stayed at North Sydney KOA for 6 days
the owners were great.. will bring firewaood and the ring to your camp spoy
with so much to see, we were only there to sleep
- check out Captain Mark's - Whale and Seal Cruise, miners museum and Men of the Deeps men's show, Grape Escapes Nova scotia wine tours,bannockburntours.com
Bannockburn Tours: Cabot Trail Tours

[MilCop4523]

Originally Posted by kenandterry

Yeah......not much of a view at this time of year.....clockwise or counter.

that's an understatement lol

[tc cruiser]

Originally Posted by tjay

We are thinking of vacationing in Nova Scotia this summer. We want to spend most of our time along Cabot Trail. Its doesn't seem logical to take our 32' travel trailer along the hills and turns. Cape Bretton Highlands looks great but I'm not sure I want to pull trailer out there. Does anyone have any recommendations for a base campground to do day trips from. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

TJay

TJ
I stayed at the Hide Away Campground a few years ago. It is about half way around the Cabot trail. Beautiful views and convenient. I did not pull a camper but rented a trailer to stay in for 3 nights as we were on motorcycles. But there were plenty of campers around and on the roads. Make sure you visit and take the tour of the Glenora distillery if your into that sort of thing.
https://www.campingcapebreton.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TC9S4Ehgq1s

Your gonna love it. Enjoy!
Tom

[rlocicero]

Originally Posted by tjay

We are thinking of vacationing in Nova Scotia this summer. We want to spend most of our time along Cabot Trail. Its doesn't seem logical to take our 32' travel trailer along the hills and turns. Cape Bretton Highlands looks great but I'm not sure I want to pull trailer out there. Does anyone have any recommendations for a base campground to do day trips from. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

TJay

We did a 5 week tour of the Canadian Maritime Provences. The Cabot trail was wonderful but we left our trailer at a cacmgrond and took just the truck. We left the trailer at a campground. If you have the chance, PEI and Hopewell Rocks are great destinations to tour also. Also try Peggie’s cove and Halifax. How much time do you have. You will need a lot.

[rlocicero]

Originally Posted by MilCop4523

as earlier stated the camp sites identified are awesome. do the trail counter clockwise though as it will put you in the water side for better viewing.
going in the summer is a lot better than winter for sure...

100% agree.

[camaraderie]

Originally Posted by Capt. Mike

TJay, Bras d'Or Lakes Campground. We've stayed there twice, in 2016 and 2018. Easy to get to, great folks, located half-way between the two ends of the Cabot Trail. FHU.

https://brasdorlakescampground.ca/

Enjoy. The scenery on the Cabot Trail is beautiful.

Ditto...we spent a week there and it is a wonderful spot and ideal base for exploring the Cabot and the rest of the north.
Leave plenty of time for Halifax and the Southeast coast and stop at Nellie's Diner in Pugwash on the way on or off island!

[tjay]

Thanks all for great info and suggestions! looking forward to a great trip!

[H3N]

We’ve been fortunate enough to have been to Cape Breton twice (2016 & 2018) and plan to go again this year. We have stayed at Baddeck Cabot Trail Campground, North Sydney KOA and Arm of Gold. Because we have planned our Cape Breton trips with extended stays in Newfoundland Labrador, the Arm of Gold has been terrific for staying the night before and the night after the ferry portion of our trips.

The Arm of Gold has reasonably spacious sites, clean facilities and nice people, an RV wash (very handy after NL), and live music in the barn. Wonderful place to stay, and we plan to stay there again this year.

We also enjoyed staying at the Baddeck Cabot Trail Campground. There are decent sites, clean facilities, friendly and helpful staff (they arranged an ambulance for me when I got sick), along with hiking trails and a beach. Wonderful place to stay, and we plan to stay there again this year.

We stayed at North Sydney KOA for a couple of days and agree that the views are fantastic but also agree that it was very tired and found that the facilities weren’t as clean as we’d like. Granted, we stayed there almost 2 years ago so it may be dandy now.

We used the Baddeck Cabot Trail Campground as our base camp for both exploration of the Cabot Trail as well as the general area. The Cabot Trail is is glorious as everyone says it is. If you are a history buff, please check out the Parks Canada’s Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site in Baddeck. The last time we were there there was live music in addition to the fabulous displays. Have tea in the small but delightful cafe. They serve Mr Bell’s favorite tea biscuits and they are delicious.

[Spragueman]

Oh please don't even think Bout pulling your trailer around the Cabot Trail. The roads are good but lots of hills and turns. I have stayed in a campground in English Town just outside the park. Owners are great but it is very crowded.
I have also stayed in Cheticamp in the National park on the Gulf side. Decent place but reserve ahead. Lots of trails in the National Park and the drive is enjoyable but considering the traffic and hills not with a trailer

[Campincarters]

I just booked 3 nights at Broad Cove Campground up by Ingonish. I have a 2017 Class C and I tow my Chevy Spark. Hopefully the road to Broad Cove will be nice. Will be staying in late June. We plan to do some hiking at Franey Trail and Middle Head Trail and maybe a whale watch. We will drive the car over to the west side for the Cheticamp area and the skyline Trail. Is it woth the drive to Meat Cove?

[Spragueman]

Good afternoon
Stayed at the Cheticamp Campground in the National park two years ago. The entirety of the Cabot trail in the park is amazing. If you have a choice do the trail counter clockwise that way you are in the outside lave for the trip. You can enter the park at Englishtown via a small cable propelled ferry Cross the channel or south of that there is the main road into the park. That portion of the road was rebuilt 2 years ago. The skyline trail is amazing but long. I think 11k rt but it's flat. The view of the Gulf is fantastic. If you have the time do the entire Cabot trail in the park it's worth the drive. Another trail on the Atlantic side by a large upscale hotel / lodge can't remember the name but also magnificent.
Happy travels