St. Peter's Canal National Historic Site

Highlights

Note: Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Parks Canada has suspended access to some facilities at St. Peters Canal National Historic Site until further notice. Boating is still accessible to those travelling through the locks and swing bridge. 

Please note that the visitor experience at Parks Canada places will be different than it has been in the past. The health and safety of visitors, employees and all Canadians is of the utmost importance. 

Parks Canada is asking visitors to comply with recommendations from Nova Scotia public health authorities by wearing a mask in indoor public spaces, and by respecting recommended social distancing measures at all times.

Parks Canada’s network of protected places is large and diverse. Visitor access, services, and even opening dates may vary across Cape Breton Island and Canso depending on local circumstances. Please visit pc.gc.ca/ns and follow Parks Canada’s social media channels for information and updates on the status of all Parks Canada places.

Overview

Built on an isthmus, the 800-metre St. Peter’s Canal joins the Atlantic Ocean to the sparkling Bras d’Or Lakes, meandering along Battery Provincial Park,  popular for boating, fishing, walking and picnicking. 

As the pride of St. Peter’s village, whose history can be traced back to a traditional Mi’kmaq portage route and a fortified 17th-century trading post built by French merchant, Nicolas Denys. Learn about the canal’s  remarkable 15-year construction and evolution as a contemporary waterway, opening up Cape Breton Island development from the Atlantic Ocean to the Bras d’Or Lakes.

Outdoor exhibits describe the lock’s unique double gates, each with 4 swinging doors that form a diamond shape when closed. The gates, designed to compensate for the tidal differences between the ocean and the lake, are the only ones of their kind in North America. Pop by the Canal Landing and rent stand up paddle boards and kayaks to explore the canal from the water!