A Fall Hiking Festival in the spectacular Cape Breton Highlands!
The 2026 Hike the Highlands Festival was a great success. Mark your calendar for next year's event: September 11-17, 2027 on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Hike the Highlands Festival is seven-day hiking festival on the Cabot Trail (and Northern Cape Breton) that features guided hikes, evening activities & presentations, the hiker distance award, opening & closing ceremonies and a photo contest.
Festival Updates & News (September 21, 2026)
1) Help make next year's festival even better. If you attended Hike the Highlands Festival this year, please take time to email us your reflections on the event by answering the following questions:
1. How many days did you attend?
2. What was your favorite hike?
3. What community did you stay in?
4. What type of accommodations: tent, B&B, cottage, etc.?
5. Did you attend the evening sessions?
6. Overall experience.
Reply to: hikethehighlands@gmail.com
4) The Hike the Highlands Festival Photo Contest is now open!
Did you capture an awesome photo during this year’s festival? Now’s your chance to share it!
Enter your best photos in the following categories:
🏔️ Scenery
👥 People
😂 Humour
🌿 Flora
🦌 Fauna
Only one photo per category will be accepted.
Submission deadline: October 2, 2026
The winning photo in each category will receive free registration for next year’s Hike the Highlands Festival!
3) Coming soon! The 2026 Hike the Highlands Festival slide show. Check out our 2025 Hike the Highlands Festival Closing show on youtube -
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