2016 Cape Breton Highlands National Park Investment Announcement Grand total investment*: $2.3M

Cape Breton Highlands National Park

Cape Breton Highlands National Park is known for its spectacular highlands and ocean scenery, steep cliffs and deep river canyons carved into a forested plateau bordering the Atlantic Ocean. One third of the Cabot Trail, a world-famous scenic highway, runs through the national park with over 278,000 people visiting it last year.

In August 2015, flash flooding triggered breaches in the Chéticamp River watershed. The flooding caused significant damage to the Chéticamp Campground and the lower part of the campground did not reopen. Parks Canada worked with river hydrologists to evaluate the river, flood plain and surrounding infrastructure and determined the lower campground be decommissioned and a new campground be built at a different location. The Trout Brook day-use area was selected as the preferred site for the new campground, offering stunning ocean views of the mountainous coastline with trees for privacy.

Parks Canada continues to improve its visitor offer with investments in infrastructure, particularly in campgrounds and day-use areas, and is continually looking for fun, innovative ways to engage Canadians in their natural and cultural heritage.

Project Description

The new campground at Trout Brook will offer coastal camping with treed nooks to create a feeling of remoteness and privacy, but with the conveniences of frontcountry camping. This new campground will consist of approximately 40 walk-in only sites. To further enhance the visitor experience, the campground will also incorporate several cabins inspired by the local culture.

Commemorating Acadian Heritage

In honour of the Acadian families who once lived here prior to the park’s establishment, Parks Canada will commemorate the heritage of this region by incorporating Acadian names, stories, music, building techniques, landscaping and other traditions into the new campground.  For example, the permanent accommodations will be constructed using some building techniques and Acadian architecture to reflect a very unique part of history into this site.

Engaging the community

Parks Canada is proud to partner with La Société Saint-Pierre, which has a mandate to protect and promote the Acadian language and culture in the greater Chéticamp area. This continued partnership will ensure the campground pays homage to the Acadian culture. In the coming months, Parks Canada will also engage the neighbouring communities in naming the campground and determining some of its features and interpretation programs.

Green Renewable Energy

Parks Canada will also explore green renewable energy alternatives in the design of the campground.

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