nova scotia mine tour

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Canada’s economy has long been reliant on its wealth of natural resources. While the country is today home to a growing number of high-tech and modern industries, natural resources like lumber, oil and gold remain a mainstay and the harvesting of those resources remains woven into the fabric of the nation..

Visitors can bear witness to that history and the human stories behind it by touring one of the country’s many mines that have been transformed into destinations that not only tell the stories of the places and the people who worked there, but also teach visitors about the minerals and ores that were extracted there and their importance both locally and nationally. Here are seven examples for you to check out, several of which are Canadian Signature Experiences .

Go underground with these 7 exciting Canadian mine tours Back to video

Bell island #2 mine and community museum 13 compressor hill (bell island, newfoundland).

Newfoundland’s Bell Island mine was an underground iron ore mine that was vital to the island’s economy and provided crucial material for the Allied war effort during both World Wars. Today, large amounts of the mine are  flooded, but enough of the tunnels remain dry that you can still go inside to see for yourself how it operated. The attached museum explains the mine’s history and draws special attention to the island’s shipwrecks that were the result of German U-Boat attacks during 1942 that tried to stop ore shipments to the mainland. Adventurous scuba divers can explore the wrecks with OceanQuest Adventures . https://www.bellislandminetour.com/

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Miners’ Museum (Glace Bay, Nova Scotia)

There was a time that coal powered the world and the mines at Glace Bay, Nova Scotia were among the nation’s busiest. Today, that history is celebrated at the Miners’ Museum and visitors can go underground to learn about the dangers of working in a colliery led by actual coal miners who tell first-hand tales of their time underground. Be sure to time your visit to enjoy a performance by The Men of the Deeps, their famed choir of working and retired coal miners from Cape Breton Island. http://www.minersmuseum.com/

Springhill Miners’ Museum (Springhill, Nova Scotia)

Springhill is famous as the hometown of singer Anne Murray and the Anne Murray Centre is definitely worth a visit if you’re in town, but don’t miss a tour of the coal mine that was infamous for one of Canada’s worst mining disasters. In 1958, an earthquake, known to miners as a “bump,” killed 74 miners. Amazingly, 12 men were discovered to be alive six days later and another seven three days later and all were rescued from a depth of 3,960 metres, making it one of the deepest mine rescues ever conducted in the country. Sadly, it’s just one of several deadly events that happened in this mine that you’ll learn about during your tour. https://www.novascotia.com/see-do/attractions/tour-a-mine-springhill-miners-museum/1317

Science North – Dynamic Earth (Sudbury, Ontario)

Canada remains one of the world’s top 10 producers of nickel and there’s no place more connected with this metal than Sudbury. The Big Nickel that sits outside Science North’s Dynamic Earth exhibit is just one reminder of that fact. Inside, visitors can enjoy a hands-on experience that will teach them about earth science and includes an underground tour of a demonstration mine designed to resemble the nickel and copper mining operations nearby. Fun fact: the high concentration of metals in this region is from a giant asteroid that collided with the Earth eons ago. https://www.sciencenorth.ca/dynamic-earth/

Atlas Coal Mine (Drumheller, Alberta)

Drumheller is justifiably famous for its dinosaur connection, but if you look at the coloured layers of the nearby Badlands, you’ll see bands of black earth. That’s coal made from organic matter buried from some of the same geologic eras that fossil hunters work in. The result is that coal mines once dotted this region in the 19th century, bringing a flood of people from across the country and around the world to dig out the black stuff. Today, one of the only remnants of that era is the Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site. Visitors can ride a train car, climb up the last wooden tipple in Canada then go into the mine itself, but only a small section is accessible as the vast majority of the tunnels have been sealed for eternity. https://atlascoalmine.ab.ca/

Britannia Mine Museum, (Squamish, British Columbia)

If you’re on the Sea-to-Sky Highway, driving from Vancouver to Whistler in British Columbia, you might find yourself spending some time in Squamish and while its natural delights are inviting, you’d kick yourself if you missed the Britannia Mine Museum. This national historic site was once a thriving copper mine and is now celebrated with a fantastic museum that delights visitors of all ages and features an exciting underground tour that takes you through the tunnels on a mining train. https://www.britanniaminemuseum.ca/

Dredge Number 4 (Dawson City, Yukon)

Not all mines are underground. Some are open pits and some are on the surface. In the Yukon, a lot of the gold that was harvested during the Yukon’s famed Gold Rush was found in the rivers and creeks as placer gold. Some of it was collected by individuals working their gold pans, but larger, industrial operations used heavy machinery to extract gold from the rocks and gravel. One example that remains, is the Steampunk-looking Dredge No. 4 near Dawson City. During its lifetime from 1913 to 1959, it dredged nine tons of gold from the land. It’s now a national historic site that is open to visitors curious about this intriguing part of Canadian history. https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/yt/klondike/culture/lhn-nhs_dn4

– Mark Stachiew is a Montreal-based freelance writer who shares travel news and tips at www.stachiew.com and curates a collection of cool travel gear at www.jetsetgeneration.com .

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Joggins Fossil Cliffs UNESCO World Heritage Site

Rock. solid. history., book your beach tour.

Where the world-famous Bay of Fundy exposes a 300-million-year-old story.

Preserved in nature, uncovered by force. Explore one of nature’s most inspiring creations, where the highest tides in the world reveal the most complete fossil record of the “Coal Age,” 100 million years before the dinosaurs. Every rock holds the possibility of discovery, and our guided tours may lead you to finding a missing piece of time’s puzzle. At Joggins, our backyard may be 300 million years old but every day is different!

• Plan your visit: admission & guided tours

The swamp forests produced massive quantities of organic matter that, over millions of years, created the coal deposits for which this period of history is named.

• Learn more about the Joggins Fossil Cliffs

The Joggins Fossil Centre

The Joggins Fossil Centre is situated on the reclaimed site of the Old Joggins No. 7 Coal Mine overlooking the Joggins Fossil Cliffs. The Centre provides an exceptional learning experience, featuring an extensive fossil specimen collection, exhibits, and displays depicting

• the rich geological history of the Joggins Cliffs
• the history of scientific discovery at Joggins
• the history of coal mining that shaped the local community.

Fossils at Joggins

Season and hours

• Open: May 1 to October 20 , 2024 — 10 am to 5 pm
• Closed: September 30 (Truth and Reconciliation day) and
• Closed: October 14 (Thanksgiving)

Support the Joggins Fossil Institute

Your donation to the Joggins Fossil Institute helps us conserve and promote the Joggins Fossil Cliffs UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Cape Breton Miners Museum

17 Museum Street

902-849-4522

[email protected]

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

The Cape Breton Miners’ Museum in Glace Bay pays tribute to the contribution of the region’s coal miners and coal mining industry. The museum also features a fascinating exhibit on the geological development of Cape Breton’s coal field. The Miners’ Village, located next to the museum, allows you to step back in time and visit a company store and a home from the period 1850–1900.  

Take an underground guided tour of the Ocean Deeps Colliery, a coal mine beneath the museum. If you are visiting during the summer months, be sure to attend a “Men of the Deeps” concert (contact us for more details).

After touring our wheelchair accessible museum, stop by our gift shop where you will find local Cape Breton-made arts and crafts. 

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Springhill Miners Museum (Society)

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Cape Breton Miners Museum ...a MUST see for everyone... 

A visit to the Cape Breton Miners Museum in Glace Bay and a trip underground to a real coal mine is a MUST DO activity for all visitors to Cape Breton AND for folks who live in Cape Breton as well.  

My grandfather was a coal miner for 35 years. He died with a black lung. Many of the fathers in my neighbourhood were coal miners. I am thankful that my father was not. Even though he wasn't a miner we lived in an old coal company house. 

We always knew when the annual miners vacation started, we always marked Davis Day and we were always aware when there was an accident in one of the mines. 

I was never really interested in going to the miners museum or taking the tour underground.  But then this past summer my 2 nephews were visiting from Ontario.  Their maternal great-grandfather was a miner and their paternal grandfather was a miner.  I knew that it was time for the visit.

The Ocean Deeps Colliery at the Miners Museum in Glace Bay is a real coal mine and it depicts what it was like to work there in 1932.  It is very safe now but back in 1932 it was not.

What makes this trip even more special?  A retired coal miner will be your guide. Ours was Abbie, he was 76 years old and he had lots of stories.  There were quite a few teenagers in the group and I watched them. They did not miss a word he said.

This trip underground is not for the meek and mild.  You will wear a miners hard hat and cape.  It will be dirty and wet.  The ceiling will get lower and lower and you will need to bend over to keep going.

Yes, you will keep going because turning back is not an option ......it wasn't for the coal miners that worked here in 1932.

Listen carefully to the stories of the ponies that were used in the mines.  They were often better treated than the miners.  The ponies lived in the mines. 

Also listen for stories about the young boys that worked underground.  It is hard to imagine that boys as young as 9 years of age would work in a coal mine.

When you walk back to the top it will be a relief and you may feel a bit odd.  I was actually quite disoriented.  It was an experience that I will never forget.

There has been coal mining in Cape Breton for hundreds of years.  Immigrants came from Poland, England, Hungary, and many other European countries to work in the mines.  Many did not speak English when they arrived. Boys as young as 9 would work in the mines.   

They worked because their families needed the money. Perhaps the father had been injured or killed in the mine.  There was no employment insurance or social assistance in the early part of the 1900's so the young boys needed to go to work.

The work week was 6 days and many did not see the sun until Sunday.  They went into the mine before the sun rose and came back out when the sun went down. 

It was a tough life but they did it because they had no choice.

The coal company owned everything in the town.  The mine, the general store and the houses were owned by the company.  So, your bill from the general store where you bought your food and clothes came off your paycheck before you actually got paid.  

Your rent for the company house was also deducted.  Coal was used to heat those houses so that was owned by the company too.  Basically, the company owned the town. They had complete control.

Over the years and after many fights and strikes the coal miners began to gain some benefits.......

After our tour underground we browsed around the miners museum. It told the story of the miners' way of life through words, pictures and artifacts.  The museum is very well done and extremely interesting. 

The museum tour really continues outside.  There are massive pieces of machinery on the grounds showing the equipment that the miners worked with.

Be sure to go down to the cliffs for a walk.  Take a close look at the cliffs and you'll see the coal seam running through it.  This is what the miners mined.

One last thing.....the ocean that you see in front of you.....some of the mines went out miles under the ocean floor. Yes, not only did the miners work underground, some of them mined under the ocean floor. 

Miners Museum Visitor Information

Location: The museum is located at 42 Birkley St. in Glace Bay, Cape Breton.  Check out my map below to see the exact location once you arrive in Glace Bay.  To get to Glace Bay take highway 105 as you enter Cape Breton Island at the Canso Causeway.  Follow the signs for Sydney then Glace Bay.

Glace Bay is about 185 km (115 mi) or 2 hours from the Canso Causeway.

Close by:   The miners museum is 60 km (37 mi) or about 1 hour from the Fortress of Louisbourg so visiting both on the same visit is a great idea. My location map for the fortress will give you directions of how to get to Louisbourg from Glace Bay.

Museum Hours:

The museum is open daily (from 10am) during the summer. 

After Nov 3 it is open Mon-Frid.  Underground tours must be booked beforehand 902-849-4522 or  [email protected] .

Admittance Fee:   There is a fee to enter the museum and also a fee to take the underground tour.  Family rates are available.

Services:   The museum has a gift shop where you can purchase souvenirs.  There is a small restaurant on the site.  Be sure to walk around outside and see the huge artifacts. The museum is located on a cliff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and there is a short walking trail.

Glace Bay is a full service town with numerous restaurants, accommodations and shops.  Glace Bay is also home to the Savoy Theatre . The Savoy is one of best performance venues in Cape Breton.

Men of the Deeps:   The Men of the Deeps are a choir composed only of coal miners.  This may seem odd and it was back in 1967 when they were formed to celebrate Canada 100th Birthday.  They perform at the Miners Museum throughout the summer.

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Nova Scotia Treasures

Places we've been, places you need to go

Springhill Mine Tour

The Place: Springhill, Nova Scotia

The Treasure: Mine Tour

We travelled up to Springhill to tour the mine that was the heart and soul of the town for years before a series of accidents forced it’s closure.

The museum part that you first walk in to has a great number of tools, newspaper articles and memorials that you really should take some time to go through. It’s fascinating to me that these are the things people worked with and did every day, in the conditions they did.

I don’t want to give too much away because that would spoil the tour itself, suffice to say that working conditions were a lot more cramped than you’ll see in the pictures.

The first picture is of the coal cars. Each man would write his number on the side of the car so they could be credited with how much they dug out – workers were paid by the ton. The logs were to help shore up the tunnels and as an early warning system. I won’t say how they were, you gotta take the tour to find out. 😉

The second picture is of the entrance to the mine. It’s oddly foreboding. You can’t help but put yourself in the shoes of the people that went down there every day – even though the part of the mine you tour is safe now, knowing what tragedies took place there it’s hard not to feel a little anxiety.

The last picture is of a rescue stretcher, to use the term loosely. The draggers (men trained to rescue injured and trapped workers were not trained in dealing with injuries. Just to get you on the stretcher and pulled out of there as soon as possible. After a collapse there was only enough room dug out to crawl down and put someone on and drag them out.

I was to the mine tour about 20 odd years ago and one thing stuck with me that I was looking forward to experiencing again and for Steph to experience. They show you how much light the miners that were trapped had to work with from their headlamps, and how it was with no light. Again I don’t want to give away too much about the tour but this part in particular, for some reason, has stuck with me for 20 years and it won’t be another 20 before we go again.

The Springhill mine is an important part of our culture and heritage and should be a lot more popular than it is. A lot of people know about it, but I don’t know anyone that’s been on the tour.

There’s so much to learn here. How they lived, what they wore, how the tragedies happened and the responses to it. You also get to learn about how valuable the mines were to the town and how they helped shape and reshape Springhill.

We try to encourage people to travel Nova Scotia and see the sights. We also try to keep things lighthearted and fun. The mine tour at Springhill is somewhat somber, but it also shows the wonderful side of the human spirit and how people come together in times of trouble.

Everyone we met that worked there was incredibly friendly. Springhill, to me, is a valuable and interesting part of our history – please, go tour the mine.

-John and Steph

Here is the current weather and a map to help you plan your trip:

[wpc-weather id=”4848″ /]

2 thoughts on “ Springhill Mine Tour ”

Thanks for this write-up and plug for the Springhill tour. The town could sure use visiter revenue and the tour is really interesting. It can’t replicate the coal dust air and various other hardships, but it transports you to another place and time.

My grandfather was a miner in Springhill from about aged 14 to 50 and survived the two main ‘bumps’.

Glad you enjoyed it! It’s really an entertaining and fascinating tour.

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Springhill coal mining national historic site of canada.

• 1873 to 1873 (Construction)
• 1867 to 1914 (Significant)
• 1891 to 1891 (Significant)
• 1956 to 1956 (Significant)
• 1958 to 1958 (Significant)
• Springhill Coal Mining  (Designation Name)
• Nova Scotia Coal Fields  (Other Name)
• Syndicate Mine  (Other Name)
• Springhill Miner’s Museum  (Other Name)

One of the most commercially important coalfields in Canada, Springhill played a key role in the golden age of Nova Scotia coal mining. Between the 1870s and 1940s, Springhill coal, along with that from Cape Breton and Pictou, was marketed throughout the Maritimes and Quebec, and fuelled the railways and manufactories transforming Nova Scotias economy. Local mining operations hinged on the completion of the Intercolonial Railway and the emergence of the Cumberland Coal and Railway Company. They depended also on the labour of highly skilled miners working in underground conditions which were prone to explosions and underground convulsions or bumps. Songs and stories still eloquently recall the courage of these miners in the face of disasters that took a terrible toll in lives. The remnants of the mine include components of the surface plant of the No. 2 and No. 4 mines, twice struck by tragedy in the 1950s, as well as the only historic underground slope still accessible in the province. These resources comprise the best collection of in situ heritage mining features in the province and evoke a bygone era, when Nova Scotia coal mining was one of Canadas most important industries.

Description of Historic Place

Springhill Coal Mining National Historic Site of Canada is a former coal mine located in an industrial park in Springhill, Nova Scotia. The site consists of in situ surface and underground mining features that are unique to Nova Scotia, including the entrances to the infamous Nos. 2 and 4 mines, a series of brick buildings, and a pond and spillway system used for steam hoisting engines. The focal point of the site is the one-storey redbrick building known as the lamp cabin, dating from the early 1900s. Official recognition refers to the various natural and man-made lines that form an irregular site enclosing a concentration of resources related to the mining operations at Nos. 2 and 4 mines.

Heritage Value

Springhill Coal Mining was designated a national historic site of Canada in 1997 because: it was one of Canada’s most commercially important coalfields and, together with fields in Cape Breton and Pictou, Springhill played a central role in serving markets in the Maritimes and Quebec, and in fuelling the railway and manufactories that stimulated Nova Scotia’s industrialization between the late-19th century and the 1940s; the surviving in situ surface and underground mining features, which are collectively more complete than any other in the province, illustrate important coal-mining themes such as the roles of entrepreneurship, labour, mining communities, and technology; Springhill’s coal mines were subject to bumps and explosions, taking a terrible toll in lives. The heritage value of Springhill Coal Mining lies in its historical associations with coal mining in Nova Scotia from the late-19th century until the 1940s. Coal extraction began in Springhill in 1873, marking the beginning of intensive coal mining in Canada. Between 1867 and 1914, Nova Scotia was the leading producer of coal, based on the markets for domestic and industrial fuel and post-confederation tariff protection that encouraged the expansion of industrial activity in Nova Scotia. The Springhill coalfields played an important role in supplying the Maritimes, Quebec, the railways and the manufactories in the early-20th century. The in situ mining resources located at the site represent various coal-mining themes, including the roles of entrepreneurship, labour and technology, and the importance of mining communities. Safety was an issue of vital concern for the miners. A host of factors including soft rock, the prevalence of gas, difficulty of ventilation, restricted working spaces and the use of explosives, all contributed to making coal mining one of Canada’s most dangerous occupations. As the workforce increased in size, large disasters began to occur in the mines, such as the 1891 Springhill disaster in which 125 people were killed. The sites of Nos. 2 and 4 mines would eventually become infamous as the locations of the two great Springhill mining disasters of 1956 and 1958. Source: Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, Minutes, December 2002.

Character-Defining Elements

Key elements that contribute to the heritage character of the site include: its location in Springhill, Nova Scotia; its siting in an industrial park, reflecting many of the characteristics of a typical surface plant; the integrity of the site’s original configuration from the period of coal-mining operation, reflected in the layout of the brick buildings, the pond and spillway, the sealed pitheads of Nos. 2 and 4 mines, and the Syndicate Mine; the industrial remains relating to Nos. 2 and 4 mines, including, any above-ground evidence of mining surface plants, the sealed pitheads of the mines, the empty field where the entrances to the mines stood, the pond and the spillway; the largely brick construction of the operational buildings reflecting the nature of their function in the context of heavy industry, including: the one-storey redbrick building known as the lamp cabin, which includes the original lamp cabin built in 1900-1901, a free-standing structure used as an electrical building, dating from the early 1900s, and a third brick section added in 1945; the small brick structure formerly used as an on-site manager’s office; the concrete pad where a wash house with a pay office addition once stood; the masonry structure near the lamp cabin that was used as a fan house and auxiliary hoist; the small wood-frame building originally built as a nursing hospital; the brick building erected in 1951 to house the main electric hoist for mine Nos. 2 and 4, the adjacent concrete floor associated with the previous steam hoist, and the ‘new’ machine shop; the underground slopes at the Syndicate Mine (now Springhill Miner’s Museum), with its underground slopes, crosscuts, levels, timbering and stoppings to control ventilation; original mechanisms and structures at the Syndicate Mine required for the mine’s haulage, ventilation and pumping systems, and original hoist machinery; viewscapes throughout the complex as a whole.

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Sydney Mines

Sydney Mines is a vibrant and historically significant town located in Nova Scotia, Canada. With a rich heritage that dates back centuries, Sydney Mines has played a pivotal role in shaping the region’s culture and economy. The town’s history is deeply intertwined with the development of the coal mining industry in Cape Breton.

Coal was first discovered in the area in the late 18th century, and its extraction soon became a vital source of fuel for the growing industrial revolution. Sydney Mines quickly emerged as a major coal mining center, attracting immigrants from various parts of the world in search of employment opportunities. These immigrants, including many from Scotland and Ireland, brought their unique cultural influences, which still resonate in the town today.

The coal industry in Sydney Mines flourished throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, driving economic growth and prosperity in the region. However, as the demand for coal declined in the latter half of the 20th century, the mines gradually closed down. Despite the decline of the coal industry, the town’s rich mining heritage is still celebrated through various historical sites and museums.

Sydney Mines experiences a moderate maritime climate, influenced by its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. The town enjoys warm summers and relatively mild winters, making it an attractive destination for outdoor enthusiasts throughout the year.

During the summer months, temperatures in Sydney Mines typically range from 15 to 25 degrees Celsius (59 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit). This pleasant weather creates the perfect conditions for exploring the town’s natural beauty, including its picturesque coastline and lush green landscapes.

Winter brings cooler temperatures, with average highs ranging from -1 to 5 degrees Celsius (30 to 41 degrees Fahrenheit). While snowfall is common, it is generally not excessive, allowing residents and visitors to engage in winter activities such as skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing.

Sydney Mines boasts a strong educational system, providing its residents with access to quality education from early childhood to higher education. The town is home to several primary and secondary schools, ensuring that children receive a well-rounded education within their community.

For those pursuing higher education, Cape Breton University, located nearby in Sydney, offers a diverse range of academic programs. The university is renowned for its commitment to excellence in teaching and research, attracting students from both within Canada and abroad.

Sydney Mines is replete with captivating landmarks that reflect its rich history and natural beauty. Exploring these landmarks offers visitors a glimpse into the town’s past and provides a deeper understanding of its significance. Some notable landmarks include:

1. Cape Breton Miners Museum

The Cape Breton Miners Museum is a must-visit attraction for anyone interested in learning about the coal mining heritage of Sydney Mines. The museum provides a fascinating insight into the lives of miners, showcasing artifacts, photographs, and exhibits that depict the challenges and triumphs of this demanding profession.

2. St. Andrew’s Church

St. Andrew’s Church, built in 1831, is a captivating architectural gem that has stood the test of time. The church’s stunning stained glass windows and intricate woodwork are a testament to the town’s strong religious heritage and the craftsmanship of the era.

3. Sydney Mines Heritage Museum

The Sydney Mines Heritage Museum offers a comprehensive overview of the town’s history, showcasing a diverse collection of artifacts and photographs. Visitors can delve into the past through interactive exhibits, gaining a deeper appreciation for the town’s cultural heritage.

4. Marine Atlantic Ferry Terminal

Situated nearby, the Marine Atlantic Ferry Terminal serves as a gateway to Newfoundland and Labrador. This bustling transportation hub provides an opportunity to witness the comings and goings of people and vehicles, further highlighting Sydney Mines’ strategic location and its importance as a transportation center.

In conclusion, Sydney Mines is renowned for its rich history, moderate climate, excellent educational opportunities, and captivating landmarks. Whether you are a history enthusiast, a nature lover, or simply seeking a welcoming community, Sydney Mines has much to offer. Discover the town’s coal mining heritage, explore its natural beauty, and immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of this remarkable Nova Scotian gem.

Not Your Grandfathers Mining Industry, Nova Scotia, Canada

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Sydney Mines

Sydney Mines, Cape Breton, played a key role in Nova Scotia’s coal mining and industrial history.

Sydney Mines was named after Thomas Townshend (1733-1800), First Viscount Sydney, who was British Home Secretary in the Pitt Government in the 1780s. He was an important player in negotiating the Canada-US border. He felt the British needed to keep Canada so loyalists – Americans who supported the British side in the US War of Independence - would have a safe haven to go to after the war. Were it not for him taking a stand on the issue, the Canada-US border would likely be much further north than it is.

Townshend was also the person who devised the plan in 1786 to send convicts to Australia’s Botany Bay.

Sydney Mines was originally known just as “the Mines” because of its coal mines. It also used to be called Lazytown because farmers found few people out and about when they came to sell food early in the morning. The farmers didn’t know coal miners woke at dawn and were already at work when the farmers got there!

It was long known that coal existed in the area. Governor of Canso and Isle Royale, Nicolas Denys (1598-1688), noted the presence of coal there in his 1672 book, “Description and Natural History of the Coasts of North America.”

Coal was shipped from Spanish Bay (later renamed Sydney) to Boston in 1724 and to Martinique in 1732.

After Fortress Louisbourg fell to the British in 1745, The British built a blockhouse fort at Burnt Head and mined coal from the Sydney area to keep warm.

After the second capture of Fortress Louisbourg in 1758, mining continued around Sydney, sometimes illegally – there’s a long history of bootleggers and smugglers prying coal out of outcrops for their own use or to sell.

In 1766, four Halifax merchants were granted an exclusive right to dig coal anywhere except where His Majesty’s troops were already doing so for the garrisons. They opened a mine at Spanish River (now called Sydney River). In 1777, forty soldiers were employed digging coal there.

During the administration of Cape Breton Governor DesBarres from 1784-1787, the mines were worked for the government and a wharf was built to ship coal.

Between 1788-1826 mining rights were leased to various promoters.

In 1826-27, the General Mining Association was given a monopoly on most Nova Scotia coal, which lasted until 1857. The first shaft at Sydney Mines was sunk in 1830. A temporary railway was built from the pit to the old wharf and an iron foundry with fitting shops, lathes and equipment for repairing mining machinery was established.

Another shaft was sunk in 1834 and a three-mile railway was completed from the pits to North Sydney. Locomotives were introduced in 1853.

In 1854 the Queen Pit went into operation. It was a shaft mine built to work the coal left by the Jacob Pit, which was abandoned in December 1854 due to a significant inflow of water. The Queen was built in anticipation of the Jacob Pit having to shut down because the GMA knew the Jacob was nearing its end.

The Queen Pit remained in operation until 1876, when it was temporarily abandoned. The area in which it had been working was taken over by the Princess Colliery, which operated for a century.

The Queen Pit was worked again from 1906-17 to recover coal pillars left behind by earlier operations.

Sydney Mines had many other coal mines, including:

• The Sydney Mines Colliery (1863-1962)
• Barachois Colliery (1884-1886)
• Greener Colliery (1896-1963)
• Sydney No. 2 (Lloyd Cove) (1907-1916)
• Florence (1908-1961)
• Scotia Colliery (1908-1921)
• Tom Pit (1920-1942)

By the turn of the century, Sydney Mines was one of the top coal producing communities in North America. Workers came from Italy, Poland, Germany, Lithuania, Austria, England, Scotland and Wales to work in the mines. Many Nova Scotians are descended from these immigrants.

Construction of the most efficient and modern steel plant in Canada began in Sydney Mines in 1902 to take advantage of the local supply of metallurgical coal and proximity to the iron deposits on Bell Island in Newfoundland. (Steel is mainly made of iron and carbon, and the carbon is derived from metallurgical coal.)

The steel plant led to a period of prosperity in the early 1900s and much of Sydney Mines’ infrastructure - sewer, water, electricity, paved streets - was built at that time.

Sydney Mines' first house, built about 1829, was owned by Richard Brown, the General Mining Association’s first manager in Nova Scotia. It still stands at 32 Brown St. He and his son, Richard Henry Brown, played major roles in building Cape Breton’s mining industry.

Richard Brown Sr. was the first to see the potential in mining coal under the sea floor. He built the Princess mine with its main shaft near the shore and the workings entirely under the ocean. The shaft was started in 1868 but due to issues with water leaks, the seam was not reached until 1876. The shaft had to be lined with metal through 300 feet of water-bearing rock to ensure safety. It was a significant engineering achievement and it paved the way for most Cape Breton coal to be mined under the ocean.

In 1864, Richard Henry Brown succeeded his father as manager of the General Mining Association in Cape Breton and ran the mines in Sydney Mines and the Lingan and Victoria collieries. He was also the first mayor of the Town of Sydney Mines.

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How to Spend 3 Days in Chéticamp Nova Scotia

Last Updated on July 21, 2023

If you’re visiting Cape Breton, you’ll want to stop in Chéticamp! This 3 days in Cheticamp itinerary will help you plan the perfect visit.

Chéticamp Nova Scotia is a traditional fishing village that’s in northern Nova Scotia, about 5 hours from Halifax, and right along the famous Cabot Trail. The village is recognized as a worldwide leader in preserving Acadian culture (more on Acadians below). 

There’s plenty to see while spending 3 days in Cheticamp, as well as along the Cabot Trail and in the nearby Cape Breton Highlands National Park. This guide covers where to stay, what to eat (the BEST seafood in Cheticamp), and things to do… like whale watching!

Disclosure: This article includes affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase through one of those links, I earn a small commission. Affiliate links cost you nothing to use, and keep Pina Travels reader-supported. Thank you!

What is the Cabot Trail? 

Driving to cheticamp from halifax, driving to cheticamp from sydney, cornerstone motel, laurie’s inn, auberge baywind suites, a brief history of acadians in nova scotia, get a coffee at marguerite boutique et provisions in chéticamp, take the gypsum mine trail to a beautiful lake, drop by flora’s gift shop for a souvenir, try traditional rug hooking in chéticamp, explore cape breton highlands national park, walk the salmon pools trail, go on a whale watching tour, walk along petit-etang beach, have a lobster dinner at seafood stop restaurant, final thoughts on 3 days in cheticamp.

The Cabot Trail is a world-famous highway that makes a big loop of Cape Breton Island. The 298 kilometers (168 miles) of winding highway goes along the coast of the island, weaving through Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

While it’s possible to drive the whole Cabot Trail in a day, I wouldn’t recommend it. Instead, take several days to slowly drive the loop. This way, you’re able to make lots of stops for breathtaking views, delicious meals, scenic hikes, and more. Plus, you’ll be able to spend 3 days in Cheticamp.

On my most recent trip to Nova Scotia, my partner and I drove a portion of the Cabot Trail. We took the trail up the west coast of the island to Chéticamp, a small village where we’d rented a vacation home to share with some of our other family. Chéticamp turned out to be a great home base for exploring Cape Breton and the Cabot Trail. 

How to get to Chéticamp, Nova Scotia

The best way to travel the Cabot Trail is by car. Since Chéticamp Nova Scotia is along the Cabot Trail, it goes without saying that you’ll need a car to reach this village. While it’s possible to use a combination of public bus and taxi to reach Chéticamp, I wouldn’t recommend doing that because then once you arrive in Chéticamp it’ll be a challenge to get around. While it’s possible to fly into Sydney, we opted to fly into Halifax so that we could spend a long weekend in Halifax before exploring more of Nova Scotia.

The drive from Halifax to Chéticamp takes about 4 hours and 45 minutes. Once you arrive on Cape Breton, the drive is incredibly scenic. A good rest stop along the way is in Whycocomagh, where you can pop into the The Farmer’s Daughter Country Store for gift shopping and a meal.

The driving distance between Sydney to Chéticamp is 165 km. The drive takes about 2 hours total. It’s an incredibly scenic route, with beautiful stops you can make along the way . For example, break up the drive by stopping in the town of Baddeck. There, you can grab a meal, or go on a kayak tour on the North River.

Where to stay in Chéticamp, Nova Scotia

Chéticamp may be small, but there are plenty of options for accommodation in the village as well as in the surrounding areas. We rented a small cottage through Airbnb, that was outside of the village and near the beach. If you’d like to stay in Chéticamp, here are a couple options: 

Cornerstone Motel is a 3-star motel is right on the Cabot Trail, just before the entrance into Cape Breton Highlands National Park, making it a great spot to stay if you’re planning to spend lots of time in the park.  This motel is about a 7 minute drive from the centre of Cheticamp, making it convenient for enjoying the town as well.

Laurie’s Inn is right in the centre of Cheticamp, making it convenient to walk to the village’s shops, restaurants, and museums. The inn has simple but well equipped rooms that include heating , air conditions, and ceiling fans. There’s free wifi, an on-site restaurant, and coin-operated laundry facilities. You also get a complimentary breakfast!

Auberge Baywind Suites is a 4-star hotel right in Chéticamp. The hotel is located nicely enough that you can walk around town, and, it has an on-site restaurant which is super convenient!  Each individually decorated suite includes a microwave, refrigerator and minibar. Most suites also have a 2-person whirlpool tub.

Acadians are the descendants of the French who settled in Acadia during the 17th and 18th centuries. Acadia was a settled region that we know today as New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. Having been in Nova Scotia now for over 400 years, Acadians have developed a distinct culture and identity that is tied to the region. 

The Acadian and francophone community in Nova Scotia includes over 30,000 people who have French as a first language, according to 2011 data from Statistics Canada. In Cape Breton, French is still the dominant language on Isle Madame and in Chéticamp.

While in Chéticamp, you can swing by Les Trois Pignons to learn more about Acadian history and culture. Guides are available at this cultural centre to help with travel planning and provide tour information, maps, and local tips. You can also meet with the center’s volunteer genealogists if you would like to trace your Acadian roots.

Your 3 Days in Cheticamp Itinerary

Ready to spend 3 days in Cheticamp? Read on for a day-by-day breakdown of your Cheticamp itinerary.

Day 1 in Cheticamp: Stay Close to Town

We discovered Marguerite Boutique et Provisions one morning while on the hunt for coffee, and I’m glad we did! It’s a cute little boutique that’s meant to be an ode to the general stores that used to be a mainstay in all little villages.

The boutique is in a building that is over 100 years old! Inside is a coffee bar that also serves locally made baked goods. Around the shop you’ll find fine foods, eco-friendly products, souvenirs, and crafts, most of which are made by local artisans and artists. We dropped by Marguerite’s every morning that we were in Chéticamp for their delicious coffee and a butter croissant!

The Gypsum Mine Trail is a 2.6 kilometre out and back trail that brings you to Gypsum Mine Lake. The start of the trail is just a 5 minute drive from the centre of Chéticamp, making it a great hike to do while staying in town. It’s a wide trail that is easy, aside from a gentle incline as you go up a ridge that eventually brings you to the lake. 

We did the hike to Gypsum Mine Lake in October, which was a beautiful time to go because you can see gorgeous fall colours. But, if you head to the lake in the summer, you can hop in the lake for a swim! 

If you’re up for taking on a steep climb you can make your way up to the lookout point above the Gypsum Mine Lake. The climb up is worth it because you get aerial views of the lake and surrounding forest. The trail to the top starts on the left, off the main path just before the lake. We didn’t do the climb to the lookout point because we had our family dog with us, but we heard from others that you should wear good footwear and be prepared to use the ropes to help get up to the top. 

Starting in the 1950’s as a general store, Flora’s Gift Shop has grown over many decades into what it is today. Chéticamp’s famous hooked rugs were the original attraction that drew people from all over to visit Flora’s. Now, it’s an expanded store and ice cream parlour that sells gifts, jewelry, ceramics, fabrics, glassware, clothing, and more. 

When you drop by Flora’s, you have to check out the shop’s traditional hook rugs. The shop sells tons of these rugs, ranging in size and price. The designs are all original, and very cute! 

While we were browsing, one of the ladies tending to the shop came over and offered to show us how rug hooking is done. She brought us over to a small table and gave a demonstration of the technique, which was fascinating to see. I of course picked up a small hooked rug at Flora’s which is now hanging on the wall in our Toronto apartment. 

Rug hooking is a traditional craft where rugs are made by pulling loops of yarn or fabric through a stiff woven base such as burlap, linen, or rug warp. There is a long history of rug hooking in Chéticamp Nova Scotia, where the craft has been passed down through generations. 

The small floral rugs are made by hooking through burlap, using fine wool yarn. The loops of wool are pulled through the burlap using a crochet hook that’s mounted on a handle that’s usually made of wood. It’s a slow-going process that can be very challenging if you’re hooking a complicated design. 

To learn more about this tradition, which has many roots in Chéticamp, head to the Museum of the Hooked Rug and Home Life, which is part of Les Trois Pignons .

Day 2 in Cheticamp: Get Out Into Nature!

Cape Breton Highlands National Park is on the northern end of Cape Breton. The west coast entrance into the park is just 10 minutes or so from Chéticamp. The park is 951 square km (367 square miles) of ocean coast, forest, mountains, rivers, valleys, and highlands. In the park you’ll find black bears, bald eagles, moose, and other creatures. 

To enter the park, you do need to buy a permit. The permits are per day, and can be bought at the park entrance. Once you’re in the park, you can drive the Cabot Trail, and pull off in various spots for beautiful views of the ocean and the coast. There are also some villages to stop in, and plenty of hikes right off the Cabot Trail. We did one trail while we were staying in Chéticamp, called the Salmon Pools Trail. 

The Salmon Pools trail is super accessible from Chéticamp. It’s just a 10 minute drive north from town, and it’s right by the entrance into Cape Breton Highlands National Park. The hike is a 7.8 kilometer long in and out (return) trail that takes you through beautiful forest while following the bottom of the Chéticamp river canyon. From the trail you can see the Chéticamp River, and cliffs that are almost 400 metres, towering above. 

And of course, this hike takes you to salmon pools! The first pool is around 3.6 km up the Chéticamp River. Much of the river is fast moving rapids, but at certain points there are quiet pools. You can peer into the deeper pools, where, if you’re lucky, you might spot Atlantic salmon!

Day 3 in Cheticamp: Whale Watching and Seafood

If you’re wanting to see whales in the wild, Cape Breton is the right place! There are several operators that run tours out of Chéticamp, so you can book a tour from town. Tours will typically have two options: tour by fishing boat, or by zodiac. Going by zodiac isn’t quite as comfortable as a proper boat, but you do get to go closer to the whales if you go this way.  Captain Zodiac Whale Cruise offers departures from Cheticamp, with a money-back guarantee.

Your other option is to head to Pleasant Bay or Bay of St. Lawrence to grab a whale watching tour. Both are a short drive away, and some people argue the views and experience are better when you take a tour from one of these bays versus Chéticamp. Regardless of where you choose to do a whale watching tour from, be sure to reserve your tour in advance. 

While in Chéticamp, we stayed in a cottage that was near Petit-Etang beach. It’s a pebble stone beach that lies just south of Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Every morning, I walked down the beach taking in the views and salty air. 

If you walk far enough down the beach, you come to a sandbar that separates the Atlantic Ocean from the mouth of the Chéticamp River, which makes for some beautiful views. I easily spent an hour every morning walking along the beach. I think it’s well worth a stop if you’re spending some time in Chéticamp!

To get to Petit-Etang beach, take the Cabot Trail north (towards the national park) and turn off onto La Prairie Road. You’ll drive past La Boulangerie Aucoin (Aucoin’s Bakery – which is worth dropping into if you have time!) to the end of the road. Turn right onto a dirt road which runs alongside the beach and pull off wherever works. 

A visit to Cape Breton isn’t complete unless you eat lobster. Or at least a lobster roll. We asked around town, and heard that Seafood Stop Restaurant was a good spot to get our seafood fix. On the menu you will find all the seafood classics: Lobster, crab, mussels, and more. If you or someone in your group isn’t a seafood person, don’t worry. There are plenty of non-seafood options too. 

Seafood Stop Restaurant is at 14803 Cabot Trail Rd. If you know when you’ll be going, be sure to call ahead and reserve your table in advance! I recommend doing so because when we went the restaurant was packed, even though it was low season. 

Spending 3 days in Cheticamp is the perfect amount of time to enjoy this Acadian town, learn some local history, get out into nature, and explore more of the Cabot Trail. From Cheticamp, you can travel on to other regions of Cape Breton!

More from Pina Travels: How to Spend a Long Weekend in Halifax Day Trip to Peggy’s Cove from Halifax Walk on the Ocean Floor at Burntcoat Head Park How to Walk to Gypsum Mine Lake

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Erin has been traveling for over a decade, both solo, and with her partner. She’s now traveled to countries across 6 continents, and has lived in 2 countries abroad. Erin also hosts the travel podcast, Curious Tourism , where she interviews travel industry thought leaders and experts about responsible tourism. Learn more about Erin, and get in touch with her, here .

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6 thoughts on “how to spend 3 days in chéticamp nova scotia”.

When we were in Nova Scotia this summer we ran out of time and good weather to spend time in Cape Breton. We would have loved to have the time to visit the small towns like the fishing village of Cheticamp. We would certainly not pass on a lobster dinner. Or some time on the beach. Next visit for sure.

The color of the trees against the water looks stunning. What a beautiful area! I would love to visit someday when I’m in the area, thank you for sharing!

I would love to grab a latte or coffee from Marguerite Boutique et Provisions as you recommended then try out some of these beautiful hiking trails! I haven’t been to Nova Scotia in such a long time. Looks like I’ll be needing to head back to explore this area 🙂. Xx Sara

This looks like a beautiful part of the province to visit, especially if you enjoy being outdoors. Hopefully I can plan a road trip around Nova Scotia in the summer

I’ve never heard of this area of Nova Scotia but now I definitely want to go! I’d love driving around the whole island and stopping along the coastline.

I did the Cabot Trail years ago and desperately want to go again. Your photos capture the beauty of it so perfectly!

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Plan to enjoy a Men of the Deeps concert this summer at the Cape Breton Miners Museum. The Men of the Deeps is a choir of working and retired coal miners from Cape Breton Island. Organized in 1966 as part of Cape Breton’s contribution to Canada’s Centennial Year (1967), the group’s inception was an effort by the people of Cape Breton to preserve in song some of the rich folklore of Cape Breton’s coal mining communities.

To belong to the singing group a man must have worked in the mine. The ages of the men range from the mid-thirties to the upper-seventies, about one-quarter of which have been with the group since it was organized in 1966. A special sense of authenticity is given to the group by the presence of several retired coal miners who recall vividly the days when coal miners were looked upon as “second class” citizens, forced to eke out a living mining coal in hazardous conditions while their lives were almost entirely dependent upon the company.

Today the Men of the Deeps are more than a singing group -it is a social institution. There is a comaraderie amongst the members of the group that carries over to their audiences wherever they perform. Clad in coveralls and hard hats, they make an impressive impact when they enter a concert hall in total darkness with only the lamps on their helmets for light.

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