Chester Lake is a great shoulder season hike, can be done on snowshoes in winter, and has a lake for skipping stones, dipping toes or watching fish rise. It's pretty easy, with less than 400 meters elevation gain. And there are a few options to extend your hike past the lake: a loop around the lake, the Elephant Rocks, or continuing up to Three Lakes Valley.
Of the more than two dozen hiking trails in Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Skyline Trail is consistently rated in the top three. It's often called the "can't miss" hike along the Cabot Trail. Makes sense: it's fairly short, relatively scenic (especially at sunset), is frequented by moose and allows visitors to choose between a 6.5 km (4 mile) out and back or 8.2 km (5.1 mile) loop route. So of course we had to go!