Accessibility

Before you arrive

We recommend that you reserve a wheelchair accessible campsite via the Campground Reservation Service.

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Once you arrive

• Visitor centres
• Washrooms
• Picnic and day use areas
• Campgrounds
• Roadside exhibits and viewpoints
• Trails

Visitor centres

The visitor centres are fully accessible. 

A self-guided tour is available on compact disc. The audio tour describes landscapes and features as you drive, and is available for purchase at Le Nique, the bookstore operated by Les Amis du Plein Air, located at the Chéticamp visitor centre.

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Washrooms

Visitors are welcome to use the accessible washrooms in Cape Breton Highlands National Park's campgrounds and visitor centres. 

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Picnic and day use areas

Ingonish Beach day use area

Wheelchair accessible

• Parking (compacted gravel)
• Temporary public washroom with accessible stalls are in place while permanent accessible structures are being constructed
• 2 wheelchair accessible picnic sites
• 1 beach wheelchair available at Freshwater Lake. To reserve, please contact us at cbinfo@pc.gc.ca or 902-285-2535
• 1 access mat to improve accessibility to the sand and water at Freshwater Lake
• Freshwater Lake beach. Ramp and decking to the sand beach during July and August
• Freshwater Lake Trail 1.7 km trail

Black Brook North picnic area

• Accessible washroom (may require assistance)
• Accessible picnic table
• Paved accessible parking lot

Black Brook South picnic area

• Minimally accessible washroom (may require assistance)

MacIntosh Brook day use area

• Washrooms minimally accessible (may require assistance)
• One accessible picnic table inside shelter

Chéticamp day use area

• Accessible washrooms at the adjacent visitor centre, accessible unisex washroom in the adjacent campground
• Accessible kitchen shelter with accessible picnic table

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Campgrounds

Ingonish Beach campground

• Accessible washroom and shower

Broad Cove campground

• Two accessible tent sites (both with 15 amp hook-ups)
• Two accessible sites (both with 3-way hook-ups)
• One accessible oTENTik (#128)
• Accessible washroom and shower

Chéticamp campground

• Two accessible tent sites (both with electrical hook-ups) near accessible washroom
• One accessible 3-way hook-up, near accessible washroom
• One accessible oTENTik (#O76)
• Wheelchair accessible unisex washroom and shower building
• Wheelchair accessible kitchen shelter

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Roadside exhibits and viewpoints

All of Cape Breton Highlands National Park's viewpoints on the Cabot Trail are wide and paved, and are wheelchair accessible. At the Lakie's Head viewpoint, a ramp has been installed to the viewing platform and exhibit panels.  At the three viewpoints on MacKenzie Mountain, there are wheelchair accessible viewing decks.

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Trails

Bog trail

A half-hour drive from Chéticamp, this 0.5 km (0.3 mi) boardwalk loop trail features bumpers all around. Fourteen self-guiding sign panels describe the life, importance and complexity of the bog.  Accessible unisex pit privy.

Freshwater Lake trail (at Ingonish Beach day use area)

This is a 1.7 km (1.1 mi.) compacted, fine gravel, wheelchair accessible loop trail, with handrails and a 5% grade. The trail follows the ocean and lakeshore through the woods and past a beaver pond, returning along an old paved road to the parking area. There are three viewpoints (lake, ocean and beaver pond), as well as rest areas with benches. A large-print orientation map is accessible at the Ingonish Beach trail head, and an accessible washroom is available at the Ingonish Beach day use area.