Test Section of Jajiktek Seawall Trail Under Construction

A unique and challenging wilderness hiking trail is one step closer to becoming a reality in Inverness County. Construction is now underway on a test section of the proposed Jajiktek Seawall Trail. This initial work, happening in a provincially protected wilderness area, will help determine if the planned trail design will work across one of Unama’ki – Cape Breton’s most rugged and beautiful landscapes.

The Jajiktek Seawall Trail is planned to span approximately 50 kilometres, beginning in the small community of Red River (near Pleasant Bay) and following the dramatic northwestern coastline of the Polletts Cove–Aspy Fault Wilderness Area. Designed as a four-day trek, the trail will end in the remote community of Meat Cove.

Earlier this summer, the Municipality of Inverness County awarded a $7.5 million design-build contract to Zutphen Contractors Inc. Since then, Zutphen’s in partnership with Glenn Group Landscape Architects, has been finalizing preliminary design and construction plans.

Constructing the trail will be a significant undertaking due to the exceptionally challenging terrain, which presents a challenging working environment. Over the next two weeks, small sections of the trail will be built as a mock-up to evaluate how well the proposed design works in these conditions.

The Municipality has obtained the necessary authorizations from the province to work in the wilderness area. A comprehensive evaluation of the mock-up sections with be conducted to inform further planning. Full trail construction is anticipated to begin in spring 2026 and finish in 2027.

The project is being led by the Municipality of Inverness County with support from the Jajiktek Seawall Trail Project Steering Committee, which includes representatives from northern communities, the Seawall Trail Society, Mi’kmaw organizations, the Municipality of Victoria County and other government bodies. A Mi’kmaw Elders Advisory Group will also provide guidance.

The project represents a total investment of approximately $9.4 million, jointly funded by the provincial and federal governments. The Province of Nova Scotia is contributing $6.4 million through the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage, while the Government of Canada is providing $3 million through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

To learn more about the project, visit Jajiktek Seawall Trail | Municipality of the County of Inverness .

Quotes:

“This trail could become one of Canada’s premier wilderness attractions and a leading tourism destination in Nova Scotia. We are thrilled to be moving forward with our partners on this exciting project that may not only enhance tourism but create future jobs and business opportunities in our communities.”

• Bonny MacIsaac, Municipality of Inverness County Warden

“Cape Breton’s landscape and people are what make this region truly remarkable. This milestone for the Jajiktek Seawall Trail brings us another step closer to offering an unforgettable wilderness experience that will connect people with nature while inspiring visitors to return to the Highlands for years to come.”

• Jaime Battiste, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Member of Parliament for Cape Breton-Canso-Antigonish

“Jajiktek is a Mi’kmaw word that means crouching down and standing up as you move along a difficult route close to water. This is an old trail, a part of the landscape that our ancestors have traveled since time immemorial.”

• Ernest Johnson, Mi’kmaw Elder Advisory Group Member

“The Seawall Trail Society’s guiding principle of Etuaptmunk – Two-Eyed Seeing, respecting both local values and Mi’kmaw traditions, has shaped an environmentally and socially responsible trail plan.

• Ray Fraser, Board Chair, Seawall Trail Society

“The Jajiktek Seawall Trail partnership has been a great opportunity to help share the traditional knowledge of the ancestral lands of the Mi’kmaw people.  We are gathering in spaces and places and listening deeply with our hearts and minds on this journey of decolonization so that we can one day soon share the true stories of our people to visitors from around the world who will be visiting this trail.  Now that is what we call reconcili-ACTION.”

• Robert Bernard, Executive Director, Nova Scotia Indigenous Tourism Enterprise Network

Quick Facts:

• The Jajiktek Seawall Trail Project Steering Committee includes the Seawall Trail Society, Nova Scotia Indigenous Tourism Enterprise Network, Meat Cove Development Association, the communities of Wagmatcook and We’koqma’q, the Union of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq, Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage, Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Climate Change, Build Nova Scotia, the Municipality of Victoria County, and the Municipality of Inverness County.
• The Seawall Trail Society, a local volunteer-based community group, has championed this project for over a decade and has been invaluable in the project’s success to date.
• Currently, there is no Jajiktek Seawall Trail or accommodations. It is a rugged, remote, and challenging wilderness route with no wayfinding signage or infrastructure of any kind. It is strongly recommended that anyone exploring the area should reach out to a local guiding business. The hike should only be attempted by people with extensive wilderness navigation and survival skills.