Nova Scotia Wild Flora Society

CAPE BRETON FIELD TRIP WITH CARL MUNDEN

AUGUST 13 - 15, 2012

 

Day One - Monday, August 13 - 9:00 a.m.

 

Meet at tourist bureau, Cape Breton end of causeway.

 

1.    Canso Causeway to Whycocomagh               

            42 km                        30 min

 

2.    Whycocomagh to Margaree Forks   - will be a brief stop or two on this leg

            51 km                                45 min?

 

3.    Margaree Forks to Margaree Harbour/Belle Cote

            14 km                        20 min.

 

4.    Belle Cote to Cheticamp

            23 km            20 min.

 

       IF TIME AVAILABLE:

 

5.    Belle Cote to Cheticamp via back road along bottom of mountain

         from Terre Noire to Grand Etang (navigable by car)

            22 km                45 min

 

N.B.    will not use if a long wet spell has occurred.  Road is rough but good in dry weather.

 

 

6.        Cheticamp to Pleasant Bay:  40 km.

               

             Cheticamp village:  incl. grocery store, wine store, Tim Horton's

 

           Cheticamp to National Park bookstore, buy park pass

                                    15 min

 

           Book store to Grand Falaise

                                    15 min.

 

           Grand Falaise to bog exhibit on boardwalk

                                    25 min.

 

           Bog exhibit to Pleasant Bay

                                    25 min.

 

          Check in at accommodations.  Have supper.

 

7.       After supper:

 

          Pleasant Bay to Red River - Buddhist Abbey

                                    45 min. - 1 hr. return

 

 

Day Two - Tuesday, August 14

 

7.5      Grand Anse flood plain

                                    30 min.       

 

8.        MacIntosh Brook Trail 

                                    1 - 1.5 hr return

 

9.        Lone Sheiling 

                                30 min.

 

10.      Lone Sheiling to Big Intervale, Cape North

                                30 min.

 

11.       Road into Beulach Ban Falls and out.

                                   1 hour

 

12.       Big Intervale, Cape North to Cape North Village

                                    30 min.

 

13.       Cape North Village to Bay St. Lawrence

            - Burton's Sunset Oasis (motel) or other B&B's in area

               great views.  Can pick up groceries at Co-op Bay St. Lawrence

                                 30 min.

 

14.       Bay St. Lawrence to Meat Cove and return

                            2 - 3 hours - will look at local vegetation  

 

 

Day 3, August 15

 

15.      Bay St. Lawrence to Cape North Village

           (can buy lobster sandwiches at local store)

                                30 min.

 

16.      Cape North Village to Dingwall Beach

           Check out beach vegetation

                                10 min. to beach

 

17.      Abandoned gypsum quarries (2)  Check out gypsum flora

                                30 min. to 1 hour

 

18.      Gypsum quarries to South Harbour (optional)

                                15 min.

 

           Anyone wanting to take home fresh oysters, this is the place!

 

19.      Effie's Brook - White Point

                                30 min.

 

20.      White Point - Neil's Harbour back road

                                15 min.

 

21.      Neil's Harbour to Black Brook

                                15 - 20 min.

 

22.      Jack Pine Trail - Many Pinus Banksiana 1 km loop

                                30 min.

 

23.      Black Brook to Ingonish Beach (Park Entrance)

                                35 km.    45 min. (heavy traffic)

 

24.      Ingonish Beach to top of Smokey

                                23 km.  30 min. (brief stop at Smokey)

 

25.     Top of Smokey to Indian Brook

                                38 km.    45 min.

 

OPTION 1

 

           Indian Brook to St. Ann's Ferry ($5.00)

                                11 km.    15 min.      

OR OPTION 2

 

           Indian Brook to St. Ann's on TCH - Scenic route through Tarbot Valley and St. Ann's Bay

                                28 km.    45 min. (very twisty road)

 

           St. Ann's to North Sydney Ferry Terminal

                                40 km.    l hour