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, 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 will be conducted to inform further planning. Full trail construction is anticipated to begin in spring 2026 and finish in 2027.