Cross-Country Skiing
The Northeast Highlands is an absolute gem for nordic (cross-sountry) skiing. With over 50km of groomed and track set trails, the Highlands offers trails for both advanced and novice skiers. For more information, please select the area you would like to learn more about. You can also download a Skiing Map that lists all of the nordic ski areas located in the Northeast Highlands, along with trail distances. Download the map here.
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Cape Breton Highlands National Park Nordic Ski Trails
North Highlands Nordic Ski Trails
Ski Tuonela
Cape Breton Highlands National Park
Cape Breton Highlands National Park has 7 groomed trails in 3 different areas: Black Brook, Broad Cove and Clyburn Valley. The first priority for grooming is the Black Brook area. After Black Brook, the Broad Cove and Gold Mine trails are groomed.
National Park trails are groomed daily for classic and skate skiing. A park entry permit is required to ski on any groomed trail in the Park. For snow and trail conditions call (902) 285-2549. The grooming operator usually updates this recorded information by 4:00 pm.
Skiers should be advised that weather changes quickly, especially at higher elevations.
Cape Breton Highlands Nordic Ski Trails:
Black Brook Trail: 0.75 km
Type of Trail: Groomed, tracked and renovated
Grooming Schedule: 5 days a week as needed
Ability-rating: Beginner
Special Attractions: Scenic views of the Black Brook river canyon
Services: There is a warming hut and waxing hut, both with electricity and wood stoves, and pit privies at the main trailhead of Black Brook.
Cove Lookout Trail: 1.5 km
Type of Trail: Groomed, tracked and renovated
Grooming Schedule: 5 days a week as needed
Ability-rating: Intermediate
Special Attractions: Scenic views of the Black Brook river canyon
Services: Same trailhead as Black Brook
Otter Run Trail: 3.0 km
Type of Trail: Groomed, tracked and renovated
Grooming Schedule: 5 days a week as needed
Ability-rating: Intermediate
Special Attractions: Scenic views of the Black Brook river canyon
Services: Same trail head as Black Brook
Sunrise Trail: 5.5 km
Type of Trail: Groomed, tracked and renovated
Grooming Schedule: 5 days a week as needed
Ability-rating: Intermediate
Special Attractions: This trail goes from Black Brook to Mary Ann Falls. It is part of the longer trail that goes from Black Brook past Mary Ann Falls and to the Warren Lake Warden Station. The trail climbs to 500 metres above sea level and descends back down. Scenic views of the Atlantic coastline and interior and plateau wilderness. Watch for wildlife - moose, deer or even otter tracks.
Services: Same trail head as Black Brook, plus there is a warm up hut and pit privy near the falls.
Mary Ann Falls Trail: 6.5 km
Type of Trail: Groomed, tracked and renovated
Grooming Schedule: 5 days a week as needed
Ability-rating: Intermediate
Special Attractions: An off-shoot of the Sunrise Trail, this trail runs from Mary Ann Falls to the Warren Lake Warden Station.
Services: There is a warm up hut and pit privy near Mary Ann Falls.
Warren Lake Trail: 3.0 km
Type of Trail: Groomed, tracked and renovated
Grooming Schedule: 5 days a week as needed
Ability-rating: Beginner
Special Attractions: Trail is through a mixed forest of birch, maple, poplar and spruce to Warren Lake, the largest lake in the Park
Services: Pit privies
Broad Cove Campground Trail: 3 km
Type of Trail: Groomed, tracked and renovated
Grooming Schedule: 5 days a week as needed
Ability-rating: Beginner
Gold Mine Trail: 9 km
Type of Trail: Groomed, tracked and renovated (Classic only)
Grooming Schedule: 5 days a week as needed
Ability-rating: Beginner
Special Attractions: Views of the Golf Course - Highland Links. The Trail follows the Clyburn River through a hardwood valley of beech, maple and birch, with some white spruce. Scenic views of Franey Mountain and the ruins of a gold mine that operated in the early 1900s.
Services: Warm up shelter at the Gold Mine ruins and a pit privy.
Backcountry Skiing
Skiing anywhere in the Park off the groomed trails is considered Backcountry Skiing. Skiers who wish to ski off-trail in the Park are advised to check with Park staff at (902) 285-2691.
North Highlands Nordic
The North Highlands Nordic Ski Club has been in business for over 25 years. The club hosted the cross-country skiing events in the 1987 Jeux Canada Games. Since its founding in 1978, the club has never cancelled an event due to lack of snow. The club offers organized events for skiers of all ages, abilities and interests. Such programs include youth and adult Learn To Ski programs, loppet and touring events, as well as Provincial and Atlantic level ski competitions.
The trails are well mapped and suitable for beginner and advanced level skiers. Almost daily snowfall combined with daily grooming allow North Highlands Nordic to offer the highest number of skiable days of any ski area in Nova Scotia.
There are 12 kilometers of trail at North Highlands Nordic. Walking and snowshoeing are permitted on the trails. The trails are groomed daily for both classic and skating techniques. A 3 kilometer trail, located in the old gypsum quarry, is left ungroomed, but marked for snowshoeing. The trails are well mapped and suitable for beginner and advanced level skiers. The trail system is great for the novice as over half of the total distance of trails is rated easiest, but there are also trails that will challenge more experienced skiers. Maps may be found on the trails and in the ski room. There are many scenic areas along the trails. Be sure to watch for moose, rabbits, woodpeckers and all sorts of wildlife as you enjoy the winter wonderland at North Highlands Nordic.
The ski season can run from early December until April. Almost daily snowfall combined with daily grooming allow North Highlands Nordic to offer the highest number of skiable days of any ski area in Nova Scotia.
Rentals are available at North Highlands Nordic. There are a large variety of waxless and waxable classic skis, along with skating skis to suit everyone’s needs. Skis come in a range of sizes appropriate for ages 4 and up. The club also rents aluminum snowshoes. Rentals and trail passes are available at the heated and staffed ski room that is open daily from 9am to 5pm.
For more information on guided tours, special group rates and lessons call (902) 383-2479 in season or (902) 383-2293 during the off-season. You can email North Highlands Nordic at nhnxcountry@canada.com during the ski season or at mcurtis@ns.sympatico.ca during the off-season.
Ski Tuonela
Ski Tuonela is located at Goose Cove in St. Ann’s Bay; it is within the Cape Breton snow belt and has developed over the last ten years. It consists of over 17 km of trails that are divided into upper and lower loop systems. The trails are marked, mapped and groomed but with no tracks set. Trails are rated intermediate to advanced, although the first two kilometres of trail are classed as easy.
Ski Tuonela offers the Maritime's only serviced telemark hill. The Telemark Hill has an elevation of 900ASL, with a 1400ft run over a 400ft vertical. The 16 km of x-country trails are groomed on a regular basis and are suitable for either classic or skating technique.
The "Millennium Trail", with its 9 ungroomed switchback bends from the "Peligroso Loop" to the "Xriss-Xross" is a challenge for skiers of any level. The "Top of the World" loop has spectacular views of St. Ann's Bay. The "Round the Knoll" trail as well as leading to the top of the Telemark Hill, now accesses the "NDP" trail, the ultimate in black diamond fun. It is a groomed trail with steep sections, hairpin bends, and brings you right back into the Village.
Ski Tuonela offers the Maritime's only serviced telemark hill. The Telemark Hill has an elevation of 900ASL, with a 1400ft run over a 400ft vertical. There are steep black diamond chutes at the top followed by a majestic run through a spaced maple and birch forest. Access to the top of the telly-hill is by a groomed trail, or for members, by rope tow. The 16 km of x-country trails are groomed on a regular basis and are suitable for either classic or skating technique.
Guided backcountry expeditions of varying difficulty are arranged when conditions permit. 'Bald Mountain' is a full day excursion while the 'Old Gypsum Quarry' is a half day trip.
The Wilderness Village at Ski Tuonela offers on hill accommodations in chalet-style cabins and a main lodge. There is a sauna, a waxing room, Telemark and cross-country equipment rentals, CANSI Telemark instructors and a retail outlet selling ski equipment and clothing.
Your hosts at Ski Tuonela are Chris & Anni Law, both avid skiers who have sailed the world's oceans on GROAIS 2, their home-built Ingrid cutter. For more information contact Chris at (902) 295-7694 or visit www.skituonela.com