At the northern tip of Cape Breton Island, Meat Cove was once a hunting ground for early European settlers — its name comes from the game they found in these remote highlands. Today, it’s known for its raw beauty, and the Meat Cove Mountain Trail puts that front and centre.
This 3.5 km “up”-and-back hike starts near the entrance to the community of Meat Cove and climbs steadily through birch and spruce forest before breaking onto an open, grassy ridge. The climb is steep in places, gaining 233m over 3/4km, but the reward is a 360° view of the cliffs, highlands, and endless Atlantic. In late summer, wild blueberries grow along the ridge, drawing both hikers and the occasional black bear.
From the top, you can see St. Paul’s Island offshore, the coastline stretching in both directions, and the deep valley carved by the Meat Cove River. It’s the kind of view that makes the climb — and the remoteness — more than worth it.
