Cabot Trail Campgrounds: Cape Breton Highlands National Park for 2025

Looking for where to camp along the stunning Cape Breton Trail?

Then you’ve come to the right place! I’ve spent the last 4 years exploring this area, both from my home, just a 4-minute drive off the Cabot Trail, and in my ’87 VW Westfalia.

And after 5 years, I’m still discovering new places. The area is full of inns, vacation cottages, guesthouses, and hostels. But if you really want to experience Cape Breton – go camping.

This is the perfect way to enjoy the incredible natural surroundings. And whether you prefer to camp with as many amenities as possible, or you’d rather curl up in a blanket under canvas, there’s an ideal place for you along the Cabot Trail.

👀 A great way to take a look at the spectacular Cabot Trail sights before settling on a spot to stay is a tour. This top-rated day tour will take you on an 8-10 hour adventure around the entire trail. You’ll see the top sights and sample the incredible food! Click here to find out more.

Cabot Trail Camping: Cape North to Cheticamp

The entire Cabot Trail is about 298 km (185 miles) from start to finish. Here we’re going to cover the few spots to camp in between the wee town of Cape North, where I live, and Cheticamp.

The majority of these are within the beautiful Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

This is the northernmost section of the loop, and I absolutely wouldn’t recommend it in the winter. The road is often closed due to snow. But once the snow melts, the drive is insanely beautiful, and the views are magical.

1. Big Intervale Campground

• Open May 17 to October 27, 2024
• Sites cost: $19.75 by self-registration
• Reservations: No
• Pets: Yes, on leash

Big Intervale Campground is the first one you’ll come to travelling counter-clockwise, after making the left curve just past Cape North. The curve is the 3-way intersection past the Cape Breton Food Store (called “the Red Store” locally, for obvious reasons).

Big Intervale is at the base of North Mountain, about 10 km from Cape North, and is inside Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

This is a very small spot along the Aspy River, with 5 unserviced sites, pit toilets, a hiking trail (a few minutes drive away), and campfire cooking grates. Note that there is no potable water available on site. The campground is right on Cabot Trail, so you will hear the traffic.

I’ll stop here for a break or to let my dog out, but unless you just can’t drive anymore, I recommend waiting for the next campground to stop for the night. It is popular with cyclist on the Cabot Trail to stay at, though.

🔥 Be sure to check the current fire restrictions before starting a campfire. These restrictions are updated daily, and can be found on the Parks Canada website.

Payment is by self-registration. That means that you take an envelope from the box pictured above and fill out the requested information.

Put the right amount of cash or cheque in the envelope, and put it into the designated drop box. Parks officials will be around to check, so don’t try to camp for free.

2. MacIntosh Brook Campground

• Open May 17 to October 27, 2024
• Sites cost: $24.00 by self-registration
• Reservations: No
• Pets: Yes, on leash

MacIntosh Brook Campground is about 5 minutes before the town of Pleasant Bay inside the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. It has 10 unserviced sites, a large kitchen shelter with tables, a wood stove, and sinks with running water – boil it before drinking.

There are also flush toilets, a playground, and the Lone Sheiling hiking trailhead right at the camp. Plus, you’ll find several stations to recharge electric vehicles here.

This is a nice, roomy campground, and while nothing separates the different campsites from each other, it is set back from the road a bit. This does help dampen the traffic noise a bit.

There are no ocean views here, though. MacIntosh is on the other side of the road, away from the water.

3. Fishing Cove BackCountry Campground

• Open May 17 to October 27, 2024
• Sites cost: $13.50
• Reservations: Yes, 877-737-3783 or email cbinfo@pc.gc.ca. There’s a $9 fee per reservation
• Pets: Yes, on leash

If you prefer a backcountry experience, you’ll love Fishing Cove Campground. This is the only designated “wild” camping area in the park. It’s got 8 basic sites for tent camping, and it’s right on the ocean. You’ll have a moderate 6 km hike down to the coast, so pack light.

You’ll set up your tent on one of 8 wooden tent platforms, and will have access to a pit toilet and a bear pole. A bear pole is a tall, sturdy post with hooks or crossbars near the top. It’s used for hanging your food out of the reach of bears.

You can divide your time between the pebble beach and the neighbouring river. Fish, hike, and steep your mind in the sights and sounds. Bring your dog, but keep them leashed.

I don’t have personal experience at Fish Cove, but I’m told that it’s a perfect for spot to unplug and enjoy nature. Keep in mind that you’ll need to register for a backcountry permit at Chéticamp or Ingonish Visitor Centres.

You can bring a camp stove, as no open fires are allowed, and some way to purify water from the river.

3. Corney Brook Campground

• Open May 17 to October 27, 2024
• Sites cost from $26.50
• Reservations: No
• Pets: Yes, on leash

Within Cape Breton Highlands National Park and about 25 km further along the Cabot Trail, Corney Brook Campground is lovely. There are fewer trees to separate it from the road, and less shade, but it is set back from the road, and the views are sublime.

Still about 15 km from Chéticamp, Corney Brook has 22 unserviced sites for tents, vans, and small trailers up to 6.5 meters. No generators are permitted.

The campground has campfire cooking grates, flush toilets (though these are both out of order as of June 12, 2024), plus access to hiking and ocean swimming.

There is no potable water on-site, but there are sinks with running water on the outside of the washroom building, around to the left. Payment is by self-registration.

The most irresistible feature of Corney Brook is the down the stairs at the back of the campground. The pebble beach is what makes this spot special for me. Whether you’re after a swim or just want to stare out across the water – this is it.

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4. Mkwesaqtuk/Cap-Rouge Campground

• Open May 17 to October 27, 2024
• Sites cost $30.50 for tents; $111 for oTENTiks
• Check-in at 2 pm; check-out by 11 am
• Reservations: Yes, starting mid-March, 877-737-3783 or email cbinfo@pc.gc.ca. There’s a $9 fee per reservation
• Pets: Yes, on leash, but none in the oTENTiks

Sitting on a cliff overlooking the sea, Mkwesaqtuk/Cap-Rouge Campground is the newest campground in the park. It’s a bigger one, too, with 47 sites, including 5 oTENTiks ( one accessible), pictured above.

The sites are walk-in, but the campground has a cart for you to use to move your things into your campsite. The tent sites have no services, and there are a range of sizes and locations. Try to get one with an ocean view, and not one right next to the road

This campground has luxuries like solar-powered lighting, propane heat, and accessible amenities like washrooms and kitchen shelters. There are even mobile charging stations around the campground. It also has no less than 1,100 rose bushes.

They were actually planted to protect the coast from erosion, but what a beautiful way to do it! It’s a perfect spot, with a hiking trail right there and a pebble beach to explore. Pets on their leashes are welcome too, but not in the oTENTiks.

This is a great campground to stay in and not just because of the amenities it offers. The views are stunning, and each site is surrounded by trees – or at least shrubs, giving you some privacy. Sound carries a bit, but most sites feel surprisingly isolated.

5. Chéticamp Campground

• Open May 17 to October 27, 2024
• Sites cost from $28.50 to $111.00
• Check-in at 2 pm; check-out by 11 am
• Reservations: Yes, beginning mid-March, 877-737-3783 or email cbinfo@pc.gc.ca. There’s a $9 fee per reservation
• Pets: Yes, on leash, but none in the oTENTiks

Chéticamp Campground is near the west entrance to Cape Breton Highlands National Park, 10 minutes before the town of Cheticamp. It’s big, with a total of 122 sites and a variety of serviced and unserviced sites for tents and RVs.

Some have 3-way service (electricity, water, and sewer) with and without campfire cooking grates, some have no services at all.

Plus, there are 10 oTENTiks. Unfortunately, only a total of 3 sites are accessible: a 3-way site with a campfire cooking grate, and 2 sites with electricity and a campfire cooking grate.

You have access to washrooms that are nice and clean, hot showers, kitchen shelters, fire pits. Potable water is available, and there’s poor Wifi and a little nature bookstore in the visitor’s center. There’s also easy access to 4 hiking trails and a playground for the kids.

There are a lot of facilities at the Cheticamp Campground, and it’s a popular place. This does mean that it tends to be full of people and noise. I find it just the opposite of what I look for when I go camping, but that’s a personal preference.

I’d recommend one of the oTENTiks – they set back a bit from the RV sites, where units are crammed together. It’s quieter there – but there’s no cooking inside. The tent sites, too, are in narrow and very close together.

BONUS: Riverside Retreat Campground

• Open May 01, 2024 – October 31, 2024
• Sites cost from $25.00 to $35.00
• Reservations: Inquire at Shannon@exploringriverside.com
• Pets: Yes, on leash; there’s a $5 fee per pet

Riverside is a smaller campground outside of the park, in the little town of Petit Etang. It’s along the Cheticamp River, just minutes outside of Cheticamp. They have unserviced sites as well as 50 amp sites. They also have a couple of campers that can be rented for the night or the weekend.

Luxuries include flush toilets and pay showers. The highlight for me is the fact that you can rent canoes and kayaks.

It’s a nice spot with lots of trees, and tends to be much quieter than Cheticamp Campground, just 7 minutes down the road. Riverside is a good alternative if you decide you’d like fewer neighbours.

Parks Canada Pass

Once you reach the Cape Breton Highlands National Park, you’ll need to buy a park pass. This is only if you intend to stop at viewpoints, use hiking trail, and generally stop for any reason in the park.

And I hope you do, because the sights and activities here shouldn’t be missed. But in order to make use of the park, a pass is necessary.

Details of the passes available and what they can be used for can be found in their own article. But here’s what you need to know in a nutshell.

Cabot Trail Map – Cape North to Cheticamp

Summing It Up: Cabot Trail Campgrounds

There are some terrific options for camping around the Cabot Trail, and they’re all easy to find. Plus, if you’re just after a beautiful spot, you can’t go wrong with any campground you find in Cape Breton.

Just decide how ‘back to nature’ you’d like to get, and which hiking trails you’d like to be closest to. The rest takes care of itself! If you have any questions about camping on the gorgeous Cabot Trail, you can contact me.

Happy Travels!

Read more:

🚵🏻 29 Things to Do On the Cabot Trail: An Epic List for Your Cape Breton Road Trip
🏞️ Canada Park Pass to Explore the Cabot Trail in 2024
🌅 The Best African Sunset and Where You Can Find It

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