Famous for its beaches, lakes and hiking trails, this community on the northeast coast of Cape Breton Island is also a gateway to a national park.
Gorgeous scenery, hiking trails, year-round sporting activities and wildlife spotting lure visitors to Ingonish. This collection of five communities is spread around a picturesque bay on the northeastern coast of Cape Breton Island.
With its coastal location and lakes and rivers, visitors can enjoy both sea and freshwater swimming. Spend long, lazy summer days on Ingonish Beach, which gets washed away by the Atlantic in the winter and is reformed during the spring. Swim in the crystal-clear water of Freshwater Lake and fish for salmon and trout in lakes, rivers and the sea. A good fishing spot is Dunphys Cove at Ingonish Harbour. Join a boat trip and go in search of dolphins, seals and whales. June to October is the best time for whale watching.
Ingonish is also a popular destination for golfers. Play 18 holes at Highlands Links, designed by the famed Canadian golf course architect Stanley Thompson.
Rent a car or bike and explore the Cabot Trail, a renowned scenic highway that circles the northern peninsula of Cape Breton Island for approximately 186 miles (300 kilometres). Stop at viewpoints and admire the sweeping coastlines, dramatic cliffs and forested mountains of Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Visit the park to hike along its trails and to look for wildlife such as moose, deer and numerous bird species.
Find more hiking and wildlife spotting opportunities at Cape Smokey Mountain, which is also along the trail. When the winter snow arrives, try skiing and snowboarding at Ski Cape Smokey.
During your drive along the trail, stop by some of its communities to sample fresh crab and lobster at their pubs and restaurants. Visit handicraft stores for leather goods and glassware made by local artisans. Stay overnight at one of the many campgrounds, cottages, guesthouses and resorts situated along the Cabot Trail.
Ingonish is a 2-hour drive from Sydney and about a 5-hour drive from Halifax. Get here via rented car and combine your visit with tours of other parts of Cape Breton Island, such as Baddeck and Louisbourg. Whether in the sun-drenched summers or snowy winters, Ingonish is a destination for year-round adventure.
