The best campgrounds near Sydney, Nova Scotia with hiking

If you're looking for a camping adventure near Sydney, Nova Scotia and love hiking, Hipcamp has over 285 options specifically tailored to your preferences. With options as low as $20 per night, you can explore the great outdoors without breaking the bank. Check out some of the top-rated campsites like Big Belle Farm (9 reviews), Smokey View (9 reviews), and Bungalow Bus Stop (4 reviews) for a memorable camping experience. Enjoy popular amenities such as campfires, potable water, and showers, while taking part in thrilling activities like wind sports, horseback riding, and swimming.

88% (178)

Top-rated campgrounds

If you're looking for a camping adventure near Sydney, Nova Scotia and love hiking, Hipcamp has over 285 options specifically tailored to your preferences. With options as low as $20 per night, you can explore the great outdoors without breaking the bank. Check out some of the top-rated campsites like Big Belle Farm (9 reviews), Smokey View (9 reviews), and Bungalow Bus Stop (4 reviews) for a memorable camping experience. Enjoy popular amenities such as campfires, potable water, and showers, while taking part in thrilling activities like wind sports, horseback riding, and swimming.

88% (178)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. Black Rock Stables

97%

(89)

31km from Sydney · 2 sites · Tents · Black Rock, NS

If you enjoy beautiful views of lakes/ocean and mountains, gorgeous sunsets, stargazing, the sound of the waves and bell buoys then Black Rock Stables campsite is the place for you to pitch your tent. Located at the end of the farm on a cliff (6’ wire fence) overlooking the beautiful Brasd’Or lakes. You are welcome to have a campfire (wood available for $5.00), but check the Nova Scotia Government site to make certain campfires are permitted. Please feel free to visit the animals on the farm (horses, goats, rabbits and chickens); however, children must be accompanied by an adult. Also, please do not bring dogs near the farm animals.

2. Live Life In Tents Campground

99%

(61)

77km from Sydney · 15 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Baddeck, NS

This was one of the original homesteads in the Margarees. There was an old sawmill on site which was used to build the house and barn. It was sold to a man who started renovations for a summer house but ended up listing it for sale. I purchased it and completely renovated the 100-year-old house. Shortly after, my brother and I started an outfitting company with no plan of building a campground, but in 2017 we saw a great opportunity for building something unique. We wanted to keep a backwoods camping feel, but yet create it around a hostel-inspired environment. We launched June 1, 2018 and are in full swing now. We look forward to meeting you and will help you out in any way to make your trip here something to remember. Adventure awaits at this eco-camping hostel offering a natural setting, overlooking a picturesque valley. This location offers close to off-grid camping with a twist of comfort; furnished Glamping tents, sleeping up to 4 people per tent on a queen bed with twin camping beds for extra guests. Cooking gear, bedding, and towels are provided. Each tent, located at this eco-hostel, has its own campfire pit, with a solar outdoor shower on site and beautiful views of the river valley.

3. Sally's Brook Wilderness Cabins

92%

(13)

37km from Sydney · 8 sites · Lodging · Baddeck, NS

Sally’s Brook is located in Unama’ki, within the unceded ancestral territory of the Mikmaq people. Sally’s Brook is an Eco-friendly property in the heart of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada. We have three wilderness cabins and a yurt available for rent year-round, and three Lotus Belle glamping tents in the warmer weather. We have a wood-fired sauna and communal CookHouse kitchen-dining building for guests. We also have the Hive Dome! This 26 foot year-round space is the perfect place to host your own event with us, gather for our movie nights, board games, playing music, and retreat from bad weather with so much space to move around. Guest Use of the Hive: While you are staying on the property, we welcome guests to reserve time in the Hive for their own private use. Our staff will prepare this space for you by lighting the wood stove, stocking wood and heating it up for your arrival. Stretch, practice yoga, play games or music, or celebrate with your group! $30 + HST for a 3.5 hour reservation to current guests Morning, afternoon or evening (until 10:00pm) reservations are available

4. Dome Yurt By The Ocean

80km from Sydney · 2 sites · Lodging · Baddeck, NS

Glamping at its best: Tthe magical cozy River Inhabitants Basin and the breathtaking panoramic view from this elevated dome yurt facing the deep blue glittering ocean is the #1 getaway for affordable, relaxing, peaceful holidays, kayaking, hiking, biking, swimming, reading, writing, loving Rent our dome yurt in high season 2023 for 99 CAD per night with 2 (max 4 if you bring your own sleeping gear), plus final cleaning $80.00 plus 15% tax. As the river mouth and basin with lots of uninhabited islands offers a lot of things to do we suggest you to combine water sports adventure with your stay. An ocean kayak will be provided if you stay for a week or longer. We offer sailing tours, kayaking and fishing. Although we understand the desire to see as many places as possible when on vacation, we highly recommend people to stay with us for several days. Let your mind come to rest and get a good sleep on real good spring mattresses. ! We would love to be the place where you come to rest. Deep dive into nature and forget the day to day hustle for a while! Writers, painters, artists (like your host) find the inspiration and recharging for new productivity. Internal curtains at the huge windows enhance the impression that this has traditional-style solid HydroTex walls yet can be rolled up for views out and to the Milky Way. The front door has a mesh panel behind and low vents aid air flow.

5. Smokey View

100%

(44)

66km from Sydney · 1 site · RV · Sydney, NS

At the other side of the harbour is Ingonish Ferry. At one time the road around the harbour did not exist. People, horses and goods came across the bar by means of a ferry. There were many wharves with wooden ships tied up. The long white building on the corner used to be on the bar. A walk along the bar will award you with a view of the Keltic Lodge. Continue straight at the corner and you will find a trail that will take you to Ingonish beach.

6. Fred's Place

80km from Sydney · 4 sites · Tents · Baddeck, NS

2.3 acres of woodlot at the end of the road. Very rustic. Ideal for campers and bicycle campers. Very few facilities but you can put up a tent and have a fire. It's super quiet and the only sound is the wind and the very occasional car (like one a day). Five minute walk to the ocean. 15 kms to the nearest store. I will be at my cabin but the property is large enuf for you to have total privacy if you want it. I can be reached by email at frederick.gardiner123abc@gmail.com. I'm located at the end of Richard's Pond Lane. To get here, go to South Side Road, South Side River Bourgeois. Turn right on Richard's Pond Lane and follow it to the end. Turn right, go to the first sign that says 7/8 and follow the path up to my cabin. There is red tuck tape to show the way. On the map, I am not The Cuffs, but the location is the same.

7. Kaia's lake home

46km from Sydney · 3 sites · Tents, RVs · Framboise Intervale, NS

160 acres of forest and hiking. 3000ft of virgin lake on the south east coast of beautiful cape Breton. Upper Joseph marie lake. The lake Is about a mile from the road. Set up your camp or tent by mobile home and explore the land. You can canoe or fish on lake 2hich navigates to lower Marie Joseph lake and to ocean.

Camper favorites near Sydney

Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.

Dome Yurt By The Ocean

80km from Sydney · 2 sites · Lodging · Baddeck, NS

Glamping at its best: Tthe magical cozy River Inhabitants Basin and the breathtaking panoramic view from this elevated dome yurt facing the deep blue glittering ocean is the #1 getaway for affordable, relaxing, peaceful holidays, kayaking, hiking, biking, swimming, reading, writing, loving Rent our dome yurt in high season 2023 for 99 CAD per night with 2 (max 4 if you bring your own sleeping gear), plus final cleaning $80.00 plus 15% tax. As the river mouth and basin with lots of uninhabited islands offers a lot of things to do we suggest you to combine water sports adventure with your stay. An ocean kayak will be provided if you stay for a week or longer. We offer sailing tours, kayaking and fishing. Although we understand the desire to see as many places as possible when on vacation, we highly recommend people to stay with us for several days. Let your mind come to rest and get a good sleep on real good spring mattresses. ! We would love to be the place where you come to rest. Deep dive into nature and forget the day to day hustle for a while! Writers, painters, artists (like your host) find the inspiration and recharging for new productivity. Internal curtains at the huge windows enhance the impression that this has traditional-style solid HydroTex walls yet can be rolled up for views out and to the Milky Way. The front door has a mesh panel behind and low vents aid air flow.

Smokey View

100%

(44)

66km from Sydney · 1 site · RV · Sydney, NS

At the other side of the harbour is Ingonish Ferry. At one time the road around the harbour did not exist. People, horses and goods came across the bar by means of a ferry. There were many wharves with wooden ships tied up. The long white building on the corner used to be on the bar. A walk along the bar will award you with a view of the Keltic Lodge. Continue straight at the corner and you will find a trail that will take you to Ingonish beach.

Fred's Place

80km from Sydney · 4 sites · Tents · Baddeck, NS

2.3 acres of woodlot at the end of the road. Very rustic. Ideal for campers and bicycle campers. Very few facilities but you can put up a tent and have a fire. It's super quiet and the only sound is the wind and the very occasional car (like one a day). Five minute walk to the ocean. 15 kms to the nearest store. I will be at my cabin but the property is large enuf for you to have total privacy if you want it. I can be reached by email at frederick.gardiner123abc@gmail.com. I'm located at the end of Richard's Pond Lane. To get here, go to South Side Road, South Side River Bourgeois. Turn right on Richard's Pond Lane and follow it to the end. Turn right, go to the first sign that says 7/8 and follow the path up to my cabin. There is red tuck tape to show the way. On the map, I am not The Cuffs, but the location is the same.

Kaia's lake home

46km from Sydney · 3 sites · Tents, RVs · Framboise Intervale, NS

160 acres of forest and hiking. 3000ft of virgin lake on the south east coast of beautiful cape Breton. Upper Joseph marie lake. The lake Is about a mile from the road. Set up your camp or tent by mobile home and explore the land. You can canoe or fish on lake 2hich navigates to lower Marie Joseph lake and to ocean.

Stories from the community

M

Myles

October 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Black Rock Stables

Nicest view with a lot of protection from the wind and rain.

Landing is 25 feet deep to bank, 30 feet wide.

J

John

September 2025

20 ft travel trailer

Weekend Trip to Smokey View

This was a truly exceptional spot with a beautiful view out over the water. On one side was a grassy area and steps leading down to the water's edge; on the other a hidden away picnic table and a firepit with bench and firewood supplied. Blair was welcoming and helpful with suggestions for things to do in the area. Highly, highly recommended.

S

Stephanie

September 2025

14 ft travel trailer

With pets

3 nights at Smokey View

The host was accommodating and friendly. The site was fantastic and the photos don't do it justice. We're already hoping to stay here again the next time we come up the CBI.

This booking is for a campsite ONLY. The tent is not provided.

J

Jake

September 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Live Life In Tents Campground

Great campsites with bathrooms and a shower. The apples were in season so we ate a few! This campsite is where we begin our bike tour of the Cabot Trail. I would stay here again in a heartbeat.

T

Theodore

September 2025

23 ft campervan

2 nights at Live Life In Tents Campground

Beautiful and convenient location, close to beaches, sites, gas and groceries, and a reasonable drive to Baddeck. Lee was a friendly, informative host. The site is called”unserviced” but the washrooms and showers were terrific, exceeding or on par with any other campground we visited.

This booking is for a campsite ONLY. A tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad are not included.

T

Theodore

September 2025

23 ft campervan

With pets

2 nights at Live Life In Tents Campground

Loved staying here, good clean facilities, laidback vibe, sweet sites to visit nearby and central to both coast and Bras Dor.

T

Tom

September 2025

26 ft campervan

1 night at Live Life In Tents Campground

Nice open area with view of surrounding hills. Lee was very friendly and provided a lot of helpful information about hikes in the area.

J

Jacob

September 2025

Tent

1 night at Black Rock Stables

Excellent spot! The views were incredible! (Needs 50 spaces so fjalfjsnflsmxbxkebrjficntjenfj)

Kim

September 2025

Tent

1 night at Black Rock Stables

Kim is a friendly host, and her property is just beautiful, with horses, dogs, chickens, goats and rabbits! The campsite is positioned beyond the homestead, through a gate and has a beautiful view of the ocean. The campsite is laid out very well and has a clean, well kept outhouse. It feels private and peaceful to camp on this farm. There is no traffic noise whatsoever, just the sounds of the country, farm animals and the ocean. Would stay again! A very short drive to N Sydney which was an added bonus.

Garrett

August 2025

20 ft campervan

Weekend Trip to Live Life In Tents Campground

Great views in a wide open field with tons of space. The food truck was closed for an event, but the menu looked bomb. Lee was friendly and helpful with tons of tips for the area.

Lauren

August 2025

16 ft Class B

3 nights at Smokey View

Blair’s spot is AMAZING!! This was our last camping spot while traveling around and camping on Cape Breton along the Cabot Trail and it was our favorite, hands down!! Blair was so helpful sharing some tips with us on some local spots or easy ways to access things, and the site itself was incredible! A great location for getting to the nearby beaches and beautiful natural views, but it was also so quiet and sp private. We loved the sunny grassy area for relaxing in the afternoon and we also loved watching all of the sea birds and fishing boats through the day. The picnic table was in a cozy spot tucked under beautiful trees with a view of the water and cape across the bay. The way the sunlight hits the cliffs in the late afternoon late across the water was absolutely breathtaking. We even saw a bald eagle! The star gazing was fantastic at night. We could go on and on. We will be back to Cape Breton again hopefully very soon and would definitely love to stay here again!

E

Elke

August 2025

16 ft travel trailer

4 nights at Live Life In Tents Campground

We enjoyed our stay at Life in tents. It was a lovely spot. We had our teardrop trailer there for a couple of nights. The showers and toilet were perfect. Thanks Lee and Kanary!

M

Mark

August 2025

22 ft Class B

1 night at Smokey View

What a fantastic overnight spot! Lovely view out to the bay from a secluded spot just off a quiet road. Blair has family history in the area and recommended some great local walks. Highly recommended.

E

Extoljc

August 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Black Rock Stables

We enjoyed our stay on Kim’s property. Very peaceful and private location with amazing star gazing without the light pollution from the city. Awesome views of the ocean and the goats were cool too! She was very swift to answer any questions we had and gave great advice. Would recommend this place.

Night Sky taken highest and lowest speed ultra-wide.

Alex

August 2025

Tent

2 nights at Live Life In Tents Campground

One of the best camping sites around Cape Breton, and right close to the Cabot Trail! This was my first time camping out, and Lee's Campsite is really clean and open! I love the openness of the space. At night it's even better since it gets so dark with no visible lights around, that you're able to see the stars and milky way! Toilet being a compostable "humanure" spot is great! First time trying one and I gotta say, I would adopt it. It's great! There are 2 of them. Showers stalls are also spacious enough for a single person! I appreciate Lee for also allowing my to charge my Jackery Power Station at his check-in spot while I was out for the day, since I needed to use it for my CPAP. Bless this man and this campsite, because if I visit Cape Breton again, I'll definitely consider it in the future!

A

Amélie

August 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Black Rock Stables

This place was the perfect spot for my kids and me to begin our journey in Nova Scotia! It offered everything we needed to rest, relax, and truly connect with nature — all while enjoying the company of the animals. If they could have, I’m sure my kids would have begged me to stay more than just one night! Thank you for giving us the chance to share a wonderful dinner together while admiring the most breathtaking sunset view. It was an unforgettable moment we will cherish.

P

Peter

August 2025

Tent

1 night at Black Rock Stables

What an amazing place to camp - up on the cliffs looking over the ocean at the opposite bay, view of the active lighthouse off to the left, sound of buoy bells if the waves are up, stars in the sky. There are 3 sites well spread out, all w/ ocean sitting areas and firepits (wood provided) - unfortunately there was a fire ban when we were there so no fire, but we were alone for the night we stayed and all was great. The pit toilet is clean and fine, and there is even a solar shower to use. Kim met us as we arrived - horses wandering around and dogs barking (but nicely) and directed us. No hassle at all, and excellent location on the island. We would highly recommend!!

C

August 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Live Life In Tents Campground

We loved everything about this site so much we end up staying three nights instead of one night we planned for. The camping sites were far enough for some privacy yet you see others to feel safe too. It was our first time here and we enjoyed it very much. The site includes washroom, shower room and the best part is everything is within 10-30 mins if you’re re driving. Convenient store is less than 5 mins driving, beach and Cabot trails is within 30 mins driving. To be brief, we loved this place and would definitely come back.

This booking is for a campsite ONLY. A tent, sleeping pad, and sleeping bag are not included.

John

August 2025

20 ft travel trailer

2 nights at Live Life In Tents Campground

I really enjoyed my stay at Lee's Hipcamp site. It was a good home base to explore the Cabot Trail for a couple days, and the open field setting was very peaceful, being far enough away from the main road. I appreciated the hot shower, although only had cold water one time. Did not feel cramped at all, as sites are spread out nicely. Really relaxing spot if you just want to hang out there for half the time.

S

Sabrina

August 2025

Tent

1 night at Live Life In Tents Campground

Great place for tents, On the Cabot trail, near some of the most popular hiking trails. (Sadly we couldn't experience them because all trails we're closed due to the forest fires) I recommend!