Views from the Money Point Road

After stopping at the Salmon River Bridge, I continued on to St Margaret Village, turned left onto the Bay St Lawrence Road, and drove into Bay St Lawrence, where I turned right onto the Money Point Road. It begins south of the Bay St Lawrence Marina and continues along the base of the Cape North Massif to its driveable end; as a trail, it continues on up the side of the Massif, over the top, and down the other side, continuing out to Money Point at the northeastern end of the Massif and of Cape Breton Island. On a good day, the road offers fine views across Bay St Lawrence of the northern coast of Cape Breton Island from Capstick to Cape St Lawrence. I regret that these photos are no clearer than they are: the haze in the air softens the views, which are very fine on a day with clear air; they are offered here for what they are.

Photo #1 looks across Bay St Lawrence from the Money Point Road at the northern coast of Cape Breton from west of Capstick at the far left to Cape St Lawrence at the far right. The Meat Cove Road is visible left of centre and again about a quarter of the way in from the right where it passes over Black Point. The pasture left of centre is the one where the horses were seen grazing earlier in this essay.

Photo #2 looks at Capstick, where the houses are seen left of centre and centre. The Cape Breton Highlands rise behind the coast; the plateau on North Mountain is in the distance well behind the coastal highlands. As always at this time of year, lobstermen are out servicing their pots: three boats are in the waters off Capstick and one is closer at hand off Bay St Lawrence.

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Photo #3 looks to the southwest from the Money Point Road at the Cape Breton Highlands on the far side of Bay St Lawrence. The Money Point Road is in the foreground and the Meat Cove Road is at the right in the distance on its way to the Salmon River Bridge. As in the previous photo, the plateau is inland behind the nearer highlands.

Photo #4 looks at an edge of the Cape North Massif to the east of the Money Point Road; the sharp edge at the far left of the photo is carved by a brook descending from the Massif. The forest here is obviously in very fine shape, with no evidence yet of the damage seen above Meat Cove.

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Photo #5 looks up at the side of the Cape North Massif from the Money Point Road. The trail up the Massif is past this point, but, from having once climbed it, I can attest that it felt as steep as this photo makes it look! In spite of the less than crisp quality of these photos, I hope you will take the time to explore this very beautiful road when next you are in Bay St Lawrence. If you are an avid hiker in fit condition, consider hiking the Money Point Trail as well: it’s an amazing experience! I found it steeper than any other trail I have been on in Cape Breton.