Hike the Highlands is a 10-day festival held annually along the Cabot Trail. This year, the festival is scheduled to run from Friday, September 13th to Sunday, September 22nd. Take your pick from 24 different guided hikes led by a team of passionate naturalists, historians, arborists, meteorologists, and local residents.

Whether you want to challenge yourself with a steep hike up a mountainside or simply enjoy some relaxing walks through nature, the Hike the Highlands Festival offers something for everyone. Some hikes follow groomed trails on easy and even terrain while others take you along rocky or rooted paths up steep hills to panoramic views.

The hiking schedule for the 2019 Hike the Highlands Festival promises a variety of hikes with a good mix of distances and difficulty levels. The festival begins with the Broad Cove Mountain Trail, a relatively short hike of only 2.3 km but with a moderately challenging incline and terrain. The effort is well worth it, as you’ll get to take in beautiful ocean views from the top.

There will be plenty of easier hikes over the course of the festival, such as the relaxing North Bay Beach Trail the following day. The Cabot Landing and Gypsum trails are also on the shorter and less challenging side. If you’re looking forward to pushing yourself, then you’ll want to join in on the Statey Point, Cape St. Lawrence, and North Big River Falls hikes instead. There are plenty of moderate options as well.

Once the day’s hikes have concluded, you can kick off your hiking shoes and relax at an evening social. Meet fellow hikers at sunset barbecues or at local pubs where live musical acts will keep you entertained all evening.

Joining the hikes and social activities does require a registration fee. A festival pass costs $90 for individuals, $130 for couples, and $140 for families. If you’re only going to attend the festival for a day, then you can pay $15 for one hike or pick up a daily pass which includes two hikes and an evening activity for just $25.

Note that all of the hikes which take place in Cape Breton Highlands National Park require a park pass. If you do not have a pass, you can bundle it with the cost of your festival entry.

While you are in the area, there are a number of other activities to check out and enjoy. If you want to give your feet a rest for the day, then consider going whale watching in Neil’s Harbour or Pleasant Bay. You can also take out a kayak or simply relax on Ingonish Beach. Many festivalgoers like to go to the nearby museums to take in some history and culture, play a round of golf at Highlands Links, or visit a local artisan studio.

The Hike the Highlands Festival is a wonderful way to experience the beauty and adventure that the Cape Breton Highlands have to offer. It is a truly memorable event designed for people from all walks of life and of all skill levels to enjoy.