Cape Breton
Welcome to the start of your challenging cycle adventure around the island of Cape Breton. The total distance is 546 km and you have 60 days to complete this ride.
Canso Causeway- Start
The Canso Causeway is a 1,385 m rock-filled causeway and is the start location of your ride. The causeway crosses the Strait of Canso, connecting Cape Breton Island by road to the Nova Scotia peninsula. Its crest thickness is 40 m, carrying the two vehicle traffic lanes of the Trans-Canada Highway, as well as the single track mainline of the Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway. Construction was finally completed on April 13, 1955 when the railway line and roadway were finished at a cost of $22 million (CAD).
Chéticamp - 137 km
Chéticamp is a traditional Acadian fishing village situated along the picturesque Cabot Trail, nestled between the majestic highlands of Cape Breton Island and the waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The community has almost 4,000 residents, a large majority of whom are Acadians and speak French natively. Settlement was formally established in 1785 by a grant of land to the 14 original settlers. Today Chéticamp, which is at the entrance of the Cape Breton Highlands National Park, is a popular tourist spot.
Skyline Trail - 160 km
The Skyline Trail is a seven-kilometre, looping, hiking trail at Cape Breton Highlands National Park in Nova Scotia, Canada. It lies on the western side of the Cabot Trail, near French Mountain's summit. It consists of a loop that at about half way leads to a boardwalk. The first half of the loop is very well maintained and virtually wheelchair accessible. The second half of the loop is an easy hiking trail over stony ground and meadows. The boardwalk at the middle of the trail yields majestic views of the Cabot Trail and the ocean. There are multiple interpretive panels along the trail. Moose as well as black bears have been spotted by hikers along this trail numerous times.
Ingonish Beach – 253 km
Ingonish lies at the eastern entrance to Cape Breton Highlands National Park. The regional economy is tied to the seasonal tourism and fishing industries. The community is in the federal electoral district of Sydney—Victoria. Ingonish was one of the first areas settled on Cape Breton Island, and is home to the Keltic Lodge resort, downhill skiing at Cape Smokey, and a public golf course, the Highlands Links.
Louisburg - 430 km
Surrounded by Cape Breton’s rocky shoreline, the Fortress of Louisburg brings you back to French colonial life between 1713 and 1758. First the home of L’nu, also known as the Mi’kmaq, the 18th century brought French, Basque, German, English, Irish, Scottish, and African people to its shores. Immerse yourself in this diverse history as you explore a beautiful coastal landscape. Take in the looming fortifications, kitchen gardens, and elegant houses of the reconstruction, then wander original 18th century ruins for a full experience of the past come to life.
St. Peters – 546 km
You have reached the end of the “Hope Da Wind’s At Your Back B’y !” bike tour. Congratulations!
The village of St. Peter’s in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia has a fascinating history. This area was one of the first sites in the New World to be settled by Europeans. Portuguese fishermen established San Pedro near the canal in 1521, however unaccustomed to the severe winters, they departed in 1525. Continuous occupancy dates back to 1650 when it was settled by adventurer Nicolas Denys. Today, the remains of forts, which were the first line of defence and a source of supply for the Fortress Louisburg, are waiting to be explored in Battery Provincial Park, where a series of walking trails takes you through the park and around the village.
The famous St. Peter’s Canal, a National Historic site which joins the Atlantic Ocean to the sparkling Bras D’Or Lake, winds its way through Battery Provincial Park, creating a popular spot for fishing, picnicking, swimming and site seeing. The Nicolas Denys Museum, adjacent to the canal, tells the story of this famous explorer and fur trader who founded this community.
Paste the following link in browser to view map
https://onthegomap.com/s/1trhjobc
