From Halifax take highway 102 to Truro. Just past Truro, take highway 104 (the trans Canada) to Cape Breton. Cross the Canso Causeway into Cape Breton, and take highway 105 (the trans Canada) toward Sydney to Baddeck. Past Baddeck, take a left onto highway 312 to the Englishtown ferry. The ferry-ride takes 7 minutes and costs $5, cash only.
(Alternatively, or if the ferry is not running, signs will direct you to the alternate overland route: from highway 312 past Baddeck take a left onto highway 19 at the Lobster Trap restaurant, St. Ann’s Bay, onto highway 19, the Cabot Trail.)
After the ferry ride, take 312 (the only road there is) to highway 19, Cabot Trail. Take the Cabot Trail north, over Cape Smokey mountain to the Ingonish River at its base. The only entrance to the Kalapa Valley is to your left just before the Ingonish River bridge. You are at sea level at this point and close to the base of the “U” formed by the Ingonish Harbor inlet.