Ingonish

Travel Guide

Ingonish which includes a sandy beach and a house
Ingonish
Ingonish featuring a beach
Ingonish showing rugged coastline
Ingonish showing a house

Famous for its beaches, lakes and hiking trails, this community on the northeast coast of Cape Breton Island is also a gateway to a national park. 

Gorgeous scenery, hiking trails, year-round sporting activities and wildlife spotting lure visitors to Ingonish. This collection of five communities is spread around a picturesque bay on the northeastern coast of Cape Breton Island.

With its coastal location and lakes and rivers, visitors can enjoy both sea and freshwater swimming. Spend long, lazy summer days on Ingonish Beach, which gets washed away by the Atlantic in the winter and is reformed during the spring. Swim in the crystal-clear water of Freshwater Lake and fish for salmon and trout in lakes, rivers and the sea. A good fishing spot is Dunphys Cove at Ingonish Harbour. Join a boat trip and go in search of dolphins, seals and whales. June to October is the best time for whale watching.

Ingonish is also a popular destination for golfers. Play 18 holes at Highlands Links, designed by the famed Canadian golf course architect Stanley Thompson. 

Rent a car or bike and explore the Cabot Trail, a renowned scenic highway that circles the northern peninsula of Cape Breton Island for approximately 186 miles (300 kilometers). Stop at viewpoints and admire the sweeping coastlines, dramatic cliffs and forested mountains of Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Visit the park to hike along its trails and to look for wildlife such as moose, deer and numerous bird species.

Find more hiking and wildlife spotting opportunities at Cape Smokey Mountain, which is also along the trail. When the winter snow arrives, try skiing and snowboarding at Ski Cape Smokey. 

During your drive along the trail, stop by some of its communities to sample fresh crab and lobster at their pubs and restaurants. Visit handicraft stores for leather goods and glassware made by local artisans. Stay overnight at one of the many campgrounds, cottages, guesthouses and resorts situated along the Cabot Trail. 

Ingonish is a 2-hour drive from Sydney and about a 5-hour drive from Halifax. Get here via rented car and combine your visit with tours of other parts of Cape Breton Island, such as Baddeck and Louisbourg. Whether in the sun-drenched summers or snowy winters, Ingonish is a destination for year-round adventure.

Glenghorm Beach Resort
Glenghorm Beach Resort
2.5 out of 5
36743 Cabot Trail, Ingonish, NS
The price is CA $199 per night from Jul 13 to Jul 14
CA $199
CA $234 total
Jul 13 - Jul 14
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this beach hotel in Ingonish. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a private beach. Popular attractions Franey Mountain and Groovy Goat Farm are ...
7.4/10 Good! (258 reviews)
"Room was very basic but it was comfortable and had A/C."

Reviewed on Jul. 10, 2025

Glenghorm Beach Resort
Sea Breeze Cottages And Motel
Sea Breeze Cottages And Motel
2.5 out of 5
36104 Cabot Trail, Ingonish, NS
The price is CA $214 per night from Jul 13 to Jul 14
CA $214
CA $251 total
Jul 13 - Jul 14
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Ingonish. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a garden. Popular attractions Groovy Goat Farm and Middle Head Trailhead are located ...
7.6/10 Good! (80 reviews)
"We selected one of the motel rooms instead of the cottages. The room was very small. The air conditioner was a portable unit which took up a good bit of floor space. The view of the water would have been great except 4 trucks parked overnight on the opposite side of the road blocking the view. Not ..."

Reviewed on Jul. 11, 2025

Sea Breeze Cottages And Motel
Ingonish Chalets
Ingonish Chalets
3 out of 5
36784 Cabot Trail, Ingonish, NS
The price is CA $296 per night from Jul 14 to Jul 15
CA $296
CA $348 total
Jul 14 - Jul 15
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star cottage in Ingonish. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a picnic area. Popular attractions Franey Mountain and Groovy Goat Farm are located ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (429 reviews)
Decent Stay.
"Nice updated cabin. Clean and well equipped. Tucked away in the woods down a long gravel driveway. Not very scenic location, but accetable given the price point."

Reviewed on Jul. 9, 2025

Ingonish Chalets
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Ingonish Chalets
Ingonish Chalets
3 out of 5
36784 Cabot Trail, Ingonish, NS
Stay at this 3-star cottage in Ingonish. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a picnic area. Popular attractions Franey Mountain and Groovy Goat Farm are located ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (429 reviews)
Decent Stay.
"Nice updated cabin. Clean and well equipped. Tucked away in the woods down a long gravel driveway. Not very scenic location, but accetable given the price point."

Reviewed on Jul. 9, 2025

Ingonish Chalets
Ocean Breeze Relaxing Ocean Front
Ocean Breeze Relaxing Ocean Front
Ingonish
Book a stay at this beach condo in Ingonish. Enjoy a beach locale, laundry facilities, and patios. Popular attractions Franey Mountain and Highlands Links are ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (17 reviews)
"Space was immaculate. Very clean, great location and everything we needed was available. Host was very responsive. Would recommend this place to anyone looking to stay in Ingonish beach area."

Reviewed on Jul. 10, 2025

Ocean Breeze Relaxing Ocean Front
Maude's Place. Idyllic seaside property in beautiful Ingonish, Cape Breton.
Maude's Place. Idyllic seaside property in beautiful Ingonish, Cape Breton.
Ingonish Beach
Enjoy laundry facilities and air conditioning. Popular attractions Groovy Goat Farm and Middle Head Trailhead are located nearby.
9.4/10 Exceptional! (7 reviews)
Cape Breton stay
"Lovely and quiet view of lobstermen leaving and returning for work. Friendly people- yummy gelato at the goat dairy. Thought house was by itself on hill due to pictures but, it is not. Didn’t matter still feels like you are alone. Close to National Park"

Reviewed on Jul. 4, 2025

Maude's Place. Idyllic seaside property in beautiful Ingonish, Cape Breton.
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Reviews of Ingonish

4.4
Top destination
5 - Excellent
4
5 - Excellent 50%
4 - Good
3
4 - Good 38%
3 - Okay
1
3 - Okay 13%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Charming remote feeling community.

4/5 - Good

Raymond

There was road construction in the area of chalet. Needed to wait when leaving or entering the property.

4/5 - Good

Mike

It's a nice area, but everything is futher apart than it appears on the map, not very walkable. We really enjoyed the Middle Head Trail, Beach, Massages at Keltic Lodge, Main St and Seagull restaurants.

Cities near Ingonish