Aspy River

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Beulach Ban waterfall

The Aspy River is a river on northeastern Cape Breton Island which rises in the Cape Breton Highlands and empties into Aspy Bay. The river valley follows the ancient Aspy Fault which extends for 40 km inland from the coast and extends along the upper section of the northeast Margaree River. This geological fault is thought to be an extension of the Great Glen Fault in Scotland.

It is believed by some sources that John Cabot landed at Aspy Bay in 1497. In 1856, a submarine cable was laid across the Cabot Strait from Aspy Bay to Newfoundland establishing a telegraph link between St. John's, Newfoundland and New York City.

A dirt road in Cape Breton Highlands National Park leads to the Beulach Ban falls on the North Aspy River. "Beulach Ban" is Gaelic for "white gorge".

There is an old decommissioned hiking trail which starts where you park your car for the falls. It was trail number 14 in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. I didn't follow it to the end, but its at least 7k each way.. There are a few bridges that have fallen in ill repair, but none the less its a great walk. It follows the river and eventually leads up to the mountains, and then it cuts across the park.