Route leaf · counter-clockwise
Baddeck → Ingonish → Pleasant Bay → Chéticamp → Baddeck
Driving counter-clockwise puts Cape Smokey and Ingonish’s beaches first, tackles the highland climbs through the middle of the trip, and finishes on the gentler Acadian coast and Bras d’Or Lake road.
Leg 1 of 4
Baddeck to Ingonish.
The route climbs Cape Smokey before reaching the beaches and Middle Head Trail at Ingonish — a strong opening if you want the loop’s easiest hiking and swimming out of the way while you’re fresh.
Read the Ingonish guideLeg 2 of 4
Ingonish to Pleasant Bay.
This leg crosses the park’s northern highlands, the loop’s highest and most exposed grades, before dropping to the small harbour at Pleasant Bay — arrive with enough daylight left for a whale-watching trip if the season and weather allow.
Read the Pleasant Bay guideLeg 3 of 4
Pleasant Bay to Chéticamp.
The western park stretch and the Skyline Trail come in this direction toward the end of the highland climbing, arriving at the Acadian coast and Chéticamp’s services after the hardest driving is behind you.
Read the Chéticamp guideLeg 4 of 4
Chéticamp back to Baddeck.
The final leg leaves the coast for inland Bras d’Or Lake, a calm way to close the loop and arrive at Baddeck’s ceilidhs and Bell museum with the driving effort already done.
Read the Baddeck guide