Everything You Need To Know Before Going To Egypt Falls In Cape Breton
Egypt Falls (also known as Piper’s Glen of Appin Falls) is one of many beautiful waterfalls in Nova Scotia, Canada. Getting there proves difficult, as visitors must descend over 100 metres down a steep bank (and get back up). However, the breathtaking natural scenery of the falls is absolutely worth the effort.
The waterfall is wider than tall, measuring over 20 metres wide, offering a rare sight for the province. If you’re a fan of hiking and waterfalls and find yourself in Cape Breton, this is a must-see!
Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 1 km (out and back)
Suggested Duration: 30 minutes to an hour
Signage: Orange markers throughout
Facilities: Roadside parking
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Key Features Of Egypt Falls
- Located in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia
- Features a 20 metres wide waterfall
- Steep 100 metres hill to reach the waterfalls
Facilities And Services
- Roadside parking
- Rest area
Before You Start Hiking Egypt Falls
Important: The area surrounding Egypt Falls is private property. The owners have been generous enough to share the trail with fellow hikers and have even put in stairs to assist with the steep ascend and descend. Please be respectful of the land and leave no trace behind.
While the hike to Egypt Falls is short, the technical terrain and steep descent and ascend make this hike more of a challenge. Hence being rated hard in difficulty. However, the steep 1 km is well worth the breathtaking falls at the bottom of the hill. For those who need extra support, we suggest bringing a pair of hiking poles.
When you first arrive at Egypt Falls, the entrance is easy to spot with an orange marker. Parking is available alongside the road across from the trailhead.
There are various orange markers (pictured below for reference) to help keep hikers on the path. The trail itself is well-defined and quite straightforward to follow.
Further down the trail, hikers will reach a split in the path with two options to take to Egypt Falls. The trail on the left is the steeper of the two. There are ropes in place to assist with the descent. The trail on the right also features ropes and newly developed stairs that help make for a less steep and strenuous descent. If you follow the orange markers the entire way, it will take you down this path.
As mentioned in the disclaimer, Egypt Falls is on private property. The owners have allowed hikers to enjoy the beauty of the falls. Be sure to remain on the designated trail.
Whenever you are out in nature, it is important to leave no trace behind. Whatever you pack in, you must pack out. Respect the rules of the land and owners while enjoying the falls.
Lastly, we recommend bringing insect repellent and a tick removal tool kit whenever you are exploring the great outdoors. To learn more about tick prevention, check out our article How To Avoid Ticks While Hiking.
Our Experience Hiking Egypt Falls
We actually decided to stop by Egypt Falls as we were driving home from Cape Breton Island. We had heard about how amazing the falls were and had to check them out for ourselves.
So, taking a little detour off Highway 395, we drove up Egpyt and Pipers Glen Road to reach the trailhead of the Egypt Falls hiking trail. The trail itself is only 1-kilometre out-and-back, though the elevation gain is a little over 100 metres. In other words, it’s steep!
Here is a picture of the trailhead.
The trail is rather technical, which we loved. It’s short but sweet and made a great “pit stop” on our way home.
The first three-quarters of the way down is steep but easily manageable. We recommend bringing hiking poles for additional support and balance.
There is a split in the trail at the three-quarter mark, and both paths ultimately bring hikers to the falls, creating a sort of loop. The clockwise option (to the left) is the steeper and more difficult of the two. It’s also the one we chose to descend.
The rope along the steepest parts of the trail was well received, making it easier to maintain balance as we made our way down. There was significant rainfall the night prior, and the mixed terrain was remarkably slick in spots.
Slowly and steadily, we made our way down to the captivating Egpyt Falls. Here is one of the many photos we took of this breathtaking waterfall (it’s hard to refrain from taking an ex·or·bi·tant amount with such an awesome sight)!
To gather a better sense of the trail as a whole, we took the second path back up to complete the “loop.”
This second path has a sturdy rope to help us ascend. It also has a staircase and rest area to make the trip more enjoyable for visitors.
Making our way back up got our hearts pumping and made for an excellent break during our travel home. We got back to the car, changed our clothes, and were back on the road with another amazing hike to share with you all!
Checklists And Recommended Gear
While Egypt Falls is a relatively short hike, we still recommend bringing some gear with you as it is rated difficult due to the steep decline and incline.
- Water Bottle
- Comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots – Women’s // Men’s
- Insect repellent
- Sunscreen
- Sun hat
- Camera
- Cascade Hiking Poles
- Atlantick Tick Removal Tool Kit
- Swimwear (optional)
Related Hikes
Other Cape Breton Hikes
WATERFALLS IN NOVA SCOTIA
- Liscomb River Trail (Liscomb Mills, Nova Scotia)
- Victoria Park (Truro, Nova Scotia)
- Phantom Falls (Fantum Falls) (Nova Scotia, Canada)
- Dawson Brook Falls (Ellershouse, Nova Scotia)
- Baxters Harbour Falls & Black Hole Falls (Baxters Harbour, Nova Scotia)
- Horse Pasture Brook Falls (Wentworth, Nova Scotia)
- Fairy Hole (Cape Dauphin, Nova Scotia)
