The Sugar Harbour Islands are a cluster of about twenty small islands in Tor Bay, Guysborough County, fifteen of which are in the nature reserve.

The islands host seabird nesting colonies. The islands have minimal vegetative cover, ranging from barrens to stunted and dead or dying coastal fir and white spruce. They also contain low coastal cliffs, beaches and dunes.

Nature reserve designation prohibits habitat alteration, disturbance and hunting above the mean high water mark.