Cape Breton has another pretty major bragging right.
Cape Breton Highlands National Park has been voted Best National Park in Canada in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, an honour Tourism Nova Scotia continues to highlight in its 2026 travel materials.
And if you’ve ever driven through the Highlands in October, watched the sunset from the Skyline Trail or looked out over the ocean from one of the Cabot Trail’s many look-offs, the recognition probably isn’t too surprising.
The park combines mountains, rugged coastline, beaches, waterfalls and some of Nova Scotia’s most recognizable hiking trails, all within one incredible part of northern Cape Breton.
Cape Breton Highlands Was Voted Canada’s Best National Park
The recognition came through USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, which use public voting to select winners from a group of nominees.
Tourism Nova Scotia lists Cape Breton Highlands National Park as the winner of Best National Park in Canada, alongside several other major travel awards earned by destinations around the province.
The award is also highlighted in Nova Scotia’s official 2026 Doers & Dreamers Travel Guide.
But there’s a lot more to the park than one famous view.
There Are 26 Hiking Trails To Explore
Cape Breton Highlands National Park has 26 hiking trails, ranging from short walks to more challenging hikes through the Highlands.
The Skyline Trail is easily one of the most recognizable.
Its dramatic views over the Gulf of St. Lawrence have become synonymous with Cape Breton, particularly around sunset and during the fall when the Highlands turn shades of red, orange and yellow.
Other popular trails include Middle Head, Franey, Acadian and Bog, while lesser-known options include Mica Hill, Corney Brook, Fishing Cove, Aspy and Broad Cove Mountain.
There are even several trails that lead to or pass waterfalls, including Corney Brook Falls, Mary Ann Falls and MacIntosh Brook Falls.
The Cabot Trail Runs Right Through The Park
One of Canada’s most famous road trips also passes directly through Cape Breton Highlands National Park.
The Cabot Trail loops for nearly 300 kilometres around northern Cape Breton, and approximately 106 kilometres of the route are located within the national park.
The road climbs through the Highlands before winding along the coast, with look-offs offering views over mountains, valleys and the ocean.
And interestingly, the Cabot Trail has earned its own USA Today recognition, previously being voted Best Scenic Drive in Canada.
So you can essentially drive Canada’s award-winning scenic route through its award-winning national park.
There Are Beaches, Waterfalls And Campgrounds Too
Hiking isn’t the only reason to visit.
Cape Breton Highlands National Park has eight campgrounds and eight national park beaches, including Ingonish Beach, North Bay Beach, Broad Cove Beach, Black Brook Beach and Warren Lake.
Visitors can also go swimming, cycling, wildlife watching and sightseeing throughout the park.
And because the park stretches across northern Cape Breton, you can enter near Chéticamp on the western side or Ingonish on the eastern side, making it possible to incorporate it into a full Cabot Trail road trip.
One Important Change For The Skyline Trail In 2026
Anyone planning a fall trip this year should know about a new rule.
For the 2026 peak season, visitors arriving at the Skyline Trail between June 26 and October 25 require a parking reservation. Parks Canada says the system was introduced to reduce congestion, improve safety and help protect the surrounding ecosystem.
The rest of the park remains packed with alternatives if you’re looking for a quieter hike, including several trails offering coastal or mountain views.
Another Major Win For Cape Breton
Cape Breton already has an international reputation for its scenery, but having Cape Breton Highlands National Park voted Canada’s best gives the island another pretty impressive title.
With 26 hiking trails, beaches, waterfalls, mountains and more than 100 kilometres of the Cabot Trail running through the park, there’s a lot packed into this one corner of Nova Scotia.
And fall might just be the most spectacular time to see why it earned the title.
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