Cape Breton, Nova Scotia is one of the most beautiful places I’ve been to. The scenery is breathtaking and there are some incredible hikes all around the island.
When my husband Sam and I visited Cape Breton in May 2022, we took a detour from the Cabot Trail to explore Meat Cove and hike the Meat Cove Overlook Trail.
If you’re looking for a short, relatively easy hike with grand views as a reward, then the Meat Cove Overlook Trail is for you!
Here’s everything you need to know about hiking the Meat Cove Overlook Trail in Cape Breton!
Where is Meat Cove?
Meat Cove is the most northerly village in Nova Scotia. It’s a small fishing community in the Cape Breton Highlands that’s located about 28 km (17.3 miles) from Cape North and the Cabot Trail.
While it’s a bit off the beaten path for most visitors, if you’ve got the time, I’d highly suggest making the drive. Not only is there great hiking, but the coastal views are gorgeous and there are a couple of great places to get a bite to eat or just relax (more on that later).
Directions to the Meat Cove Overlook Trail
To reach the Meat Cove Overlook trailhead from the Cabot Trail, turn onto Bay St. Lawrence Rd. in Cape North and follow that road for about 15 km (9.5 miles).
When you reach St. Margaret’s Village, turn left onto Meat Cove Rd. and drive another 13 km (8 miles) until you reach Meat Cove.
NOTE: The last 6 km or so of Meat Cove Rd. is unpaved, and while there are sections that are a little rough, any vehicle should be able to make the drive as long as you take your time.
When you reach Meat Cove, keep driving until you see Meat Cove Campground. Just a little further up the road on the right by the telephone pole is the trailhead. It’s a little overgrown but if you poke around you can find it pretty easily. You can park along the side of the road.
Hiking the Meat Cove Overlook Trail
The Meat Cove Overlook Trail is 0.7 miles out and back and has 259 feet of elevation gain. It’s not a difficult trail, but in my opinion, the hardest part is the downed trees and brush you’ll need to maneuver around.
You’ll start the hike going through the woods. When we were there in May 2022, there were quite a few downed trees and the trail was a bit overgrown. It took a little time to weave around them, but if you take your time, it’s not difficult. You’ll be going uphill but it’s not too steep.
Once you get through the trees, the trail will open up and you’ll start walking through some lower brush. You’ll continue heading uphill, but you’ll see the peak of the trail not far ahead. You will also start to get a bit of a view behind you of the hills.
Then you’ll reach the top!
The view is spectacular, even on a foggy day like we had.
Once you reach the peak, you can head down even further along the point and explore the area a little more. We went down a bit further but didn’t go all the way, mostly because we were feeling a bit lazy.
Then once you’ve done some exploring, you’ll need to hike back up to the peak and then continue back down through the brush and then the trees again.
Even though the hike itself was short, we really enjoyed this area. The view is beautiful, and best of all, we didn’t run into any other people while we were there. I’m sure in peak season this wouldn’t have been the case, but in mid-May, we didn’t run into any other tourists in Meat Cove.
Other things to see and do in Meat Cove
While we didn’t get to do anything else when we were in Meat Cove (mostly because nothing was open yet for the season), if you visit in the summer months, there are several other things you can check out while you’re there.
Meat Cove Mountain Trail
If you’re up for more hiking trails, the Meat Cove Mountain Trail is right down the road from the Overlook Trail. This one is longer at 2.3 miles and a lot more strenuous, but the reviews make it sound like a great hike. We didn’t have time for this one, but hopefully next time!
Meat Cove Community Centre
The Meat Cove Community Centre is the hub of the village. It’s got a visitor center, computers with high-speed internet, and a restaurant. It’s also the start of the boardwalk hike to the beach.
Meat Cove Boardwalk Hike & Beach
The Meat Cove Boardwalk Hike starts at the community centre. This walk will take you down to the beach through the trees. It’s not a very long walk, and it’s easygoing.
You can also access the beach from a turn-off on the road right before the campground if you’d rather not take the walk.
Meat Cove Chowder Hut
After hiking, you might be getting hungry, so swing into the Meat Cove Chowder Hut.
The Chowder Hut serves up all kinds of delicious seafood, from mussels and lobster to their popular seafood chowder and crab rolls.
The restaurant is part of the Meat Cove Campground and is open seasonally, usually from June to September.
Meat Cove Campground
If you’d like to spend more time in Meat Cove, check out the Meat Cove Campground. These rustic sites boast an impressive view of the coast and also offer free showers and wifi as well as flush toilets and drinking water.
Sites are first-come, first-served, but you can call the same day to see if any sites are open. There are also cabins to rent if you don’t have a tent or RV.
Is Meat Cove worth the drive?
If you have some extra time on your Cabot Trail itinerary and want to explore something off the beaten path, then Meat Cove is definitely worth the drive.
It will take about 35 minutes one way to get from the Cabot Trail in Cape North to get to Meat Cove, but it’s a nice drive and the views are lovely.
Is the road to Meat Cove paved?
Most of the road from Cape North to Meat Cove is paved. However, the last 6 km or so of Meat Cove Rd. is unpaved. Even so, any vehicle should be able to make the drive as long as you take your time.
Conclusion: Hiking the Meat Cove Overlook Trail
Hiking the Meat Cove Overlook Trail is worth the drive. It’s an area that few tourists make the effort to reach, and therefore feels a little more undiscovered. If you want to discover a unique detour on the Cabot Trail, check out Meat Cove!
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