Franey Cape Breton Highlands National Park of Canada

Home , Cape Breton Highlands, Franey Mountain, Ingonish

Franey cape breton highlands national park of canada

Parking Washroom Lookoff Hiking Trail

40 Cabot Trail

Paved Road 230 Unpaved Road Park Boundary Contour (interval 10m)

Canns North 0 500 1000m FRANEY Lake 400 Bay 1:30,000 Ingonish 210 Ingonish Centre

380 MacDougalls Lake

420 230 260

80 Trailhead

60 CLYBURN VALLEY r o o k 40 B C l y b u n r

230

320 FRESHWATER LAKE 70 LOOKOFF Freshwater Lake

320

340 North

TRAIL INFORMATION

General Steady climb of 335 metres (1100 feet) through mixed Acadian forest to Length 7.4km / 4.6mi (return) a mountain summit with 360 degree views of the entire Clyburn Brook canyon and the Atlantic coastline from Cape Smokey to Ingonish. From the summit on a clear day it is possible to see White Hill, the highest Elevation 95-430 metres (310-1410 feet) elevation in the park (532 m / 1747 feet) and Money Point, the northern most tip of Cape Breton Island. Time 2 - 3 hours Lookoffs provide scenic views over the Breathtaking ocean view from the peak of Franey spans across South Bay and is framed Clyburn River valley. by Cape Smokey and Middle Head Peninsula.

Warblers like this Yellow-Rumped Myrtle Warbler is a familiar sight and sound along this forested trail.

Granite rock outcrops at summit Moose and their signs are often seen on this trail.

J. Pleau Views over North Bay and Middle Head on descent along old fire The diverse habitats on this trail make it an excellent place access road. for birdwatching.

From the summit there are spectacular views of the highland plateau and the Clyburn River valley.

TRAIL BACKGROUND INFORMATION Significant Summit lookoff provides breathtaking views Trail Facilities Trail head orientation sign with map (future); Features of the Clyburn Valley, Atlantic Ocean, Cape parking at trailhead 1 km up Franey road Smokey, Middle Head peninsula and suitable for most vehicle sizes; parking not surrounding highlands. recommended for oversized vehicles. Other features include: Nearby: Ingonish Information Centre (park · Transition from Acadian to Boreal forest maps, exhibits, washrooms, universal access), · White pine, hemlock, sugar maple and Clyburn picnic area, restaurants, convenience beech forests store, Ingonish Campground. Nearest · Kettle lakes and sinkholes washroom facilities at North Bay Operations · Rare bog plants building just north of Franey road turn off on Cabot Trail. Follow Cabot Trail from eastern entrance of Trail Access Are required for all park use including trails. Park. Road crosses over the Clyburn river Park Entry bridge then veers to the right. Sign for Franey Permits is visible at this point. Turn left on Franey road and follow signs 1 km up the steep hill to Safety Bears, Moose and Coyote can be dangerous- parking lot where trailhead sign is visible. Trail keep your distance; if necessary, leave the can be hiked in an “out and back” fashion or as area. Do not discard food scraps. a loop trail if you return via the old access road. Many steep climbs of 50% grade – average The road is about one kilometre longer than the to advanced fitness level required. trail, but is a more level and gradual path that High Cliffs: Stay well back from the edge. is generally easier to walk. Keep young children close. Carry water – do not drink from lakes Trail Condition Overall good condition. Trail is generally dry or streams. with some rocky, uneven terrain and exposed Weather can change rapidly – be prepared tree roots. for hot OR cool weather and sudden rain and winds. Extremely high winds frequent this area.

POINTS OF INTEREST Historical Trail was cut in 1939 by a group of Forestry Camp workers. The camp was established for young, unemployed men and operated in the area that is currently the Ingonish Beach Campground. At the summit there was once a fire tower, but it blew down in 1950 in 160 km/hr winds. A shorter tower was built and it served the area until forest fire duties were taken over by the province of Nova Scotia. The tower was removed by Parks Canada in 1999. Franey cape breton highlands national park of canada

NATURAL FEATURES Landform · Land system in this area is #33b – Ingonish Forest and Plants · Trail crosses through 2 distinct vegetation Uplands regions. Lower elevations are predominantly · Elevations between 120 - 425 m. Acadian forest while higher elevations · Formed during the Devonian Age or earlier. support Boreal forest habitats. · Topographic pattern is a closely knit complex · Decadent and mature balsam fir and black of steep-sided hills 11-30% spruce-white spruce are the larger forest · The highland plateau, part of the Appalachian types in the Boreal region at higher mountain chain, was once as high as the elevations. Much of the balsam fir was Himalayas. Millions of years of water erosion removed in the 1970’s and 1980’s and subsequent lifting have formed the by spruce budworm. present elevated plateau. · The understory plant associations found in · The Clyburn River valley runs from the this land system are wood fern-wood sorrel, plateau to the Atlantic Ocean and is a typical schrebers moss, bracken fern and fern- “U” - shaped canyon that has been shaped striped maple by glaciation. · Soil type is Podzolic-Ferro-Humic-orthic and Fauna Animals: Moose, Black Bear, Snowshoe Hare, Lithic orthic Bobcat, Coyote, Red Squirrel, Chipmunk · Rocks found in this area are mostly granite Birds: Ruffed Grouse, Hairy Woodpecker, Merlin, and gabbro. Great Horned Owl, Red eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, · Water bodies include Cann Lake and Yellow-rumped Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, MacDougall’s Lake, both shallow, soft water Common Yellow-throat lakes with restricted drainage systems. Fish: Brook Trout in Cann’s Lake and MacDougall’s Lake Reptiles and Amphibians: Wood Frog, Toad, Spring Peeper, Ringneck Snake, Maritime Garter Snake, Eastern Redback Salamander, Red Spotted Newt