Although Montreal isn’t particularly known as a prime hiking destination, fortunately for outdoor enthusiasts it’s still relatively close to several fun National Parks, offering both residents and visitors a wide and varied range of beautiful parks, both in terms of the nature scenery and in terms of difficulty of the hiking trails. On average, there tends to be a distance-difficulty gradient: the further out you go from Montreal, the more difficult the trails tend to get because of the higher elevation of the mountains (but there are exceptions). To help you plan your next outdoor adventure, we put together this guide on the Best National Parks for Hiking Near Montreal. We will focus here on Quebec National Parks (the equivalent of Provincial Parks in other provinces) located within 2 hours of Montreal, and we will present some of our favorite trails in each park.
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You might be interested in these pages (coming soon):
Best National Parks for Hiking Near Montreal
Best Hiking Trails in the Laurentians
Best Hiking Trails in the Eastern Townships
Orientation – Quebec National Parks
The Quebec National Parks are provincial parks created by the government of Quebec – as of 2024 there are 28 such national parks and all but four of them are administered by the Société des établissements de plein air du Québec (Sépaq) (Nunavik Parks administer the others).
Although all provincial parks in Quebec have used the term “national park” since 2002, there is no connection to the federal national park system, administered by Parks Canada. There are only three Canadian National Parks (managed by Parks Canada) in Quebec, with only one close to Montreal, La Mauricie National Park. Although it’s just over two hours from Montreal, it won’t be further discussed in this guide.
If you need to book a rental vehicle for your hiking excursion, we highly recommend using Discover Cars to get the best rates on your rental in Montreal.
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National Park Locations
Left to right (National Parks): Mont Tremblant (the large park northwest of Montreal), Oka, Iles-de-Boucherville, Mont Saint-Bruno, Yamaska, Mont Orfod.
Park Access Fees
Access fees are identical for all Quebec National Parks.
Daily access fees and Annual passes
Quebec National Parks are managed by the SÉPAQ, a government agency that manages all provincial parks and wildlife preserves in Québec.
There is a limit to the number of visitors that can enter any Québec SÉPAQ National Park on any given day. It is therefore strongly recommended that you purchase your daily right of access online before a visit or that you acquire an annual pass.
The daily pass ($9.85 (2024)) can be purchased here up to 30 days before a visit.
The annual pass can be purchased here either for unlimited access to a single national park ($49.25 (2024)) or for unlimited access to all SÉPAQ national parks ($88.50 (2024)). Even if you have an annual pass, we still recommend arriving early in the morning or mid-to-late afternoon to avoid showing up to a filled parking lot.
Parking is generally free in the National Parks, the exceptions being that parking fee applies in Mont-Orford, Oka, and Yamaska national parks when the beaches are supervised.
Îles-de-Boucherville National Park
(Parc national des Îles-de-Boucherville) – This park is both the closest National Park to Montreal and the only one that is devoid of any significant elevation (i.e., no mountains), so you won’t encounter challenging trails here. The park is composed of 5 islands located in the middle of the Saint-Lawrence River and was created in 1984 to protect the island archipelago. This park offers lots of open green spaces, small forests, channels teeming with life and waterside trails. The park is great not only for enjoying nature walking trails but also to enjoy cycling trails and sea kayaking between the islands. There are also a lot of beautiful picnic areas throughout the park.
Parc Location
The park is just a short hop from the city center (20 km) and takes about 25 minutes to reach by car (public transport will take significantly longer and requires several transfers). Alternatively, if you live in or near the city of Boucherville, for a small fee you can use the small naval shuttle to the park (the shuttle is free for Residents of Boucherville).
Our favorite Hiking Trail
Grande-Rivière Trail – A lovely trail through a mix of woodlands, open fields, and riverside marshes.
Distance: 4.3 km
Route Type: Loop
Elevation gain: 16 m (cumulative elevation gain)
Start point: Car Park / Discovery Center
AllTrails rating: (4.2, 125 ratings (2024))
Duration: Most people complete the trail in 45-60 minutes
Best Easy Hiking Trail
Quite frankly, all the trails in this park are relatively easy given there is never any elevation gain. If you liked what you saw in the Grande-Rivière Trail but would like something shorter, you’ll be happy to know that there are two shorter trails on the same island, La Petite-Riviere and Le Grand-Duc), though the exact trail paths don’t overlap. There’s also a longer trail, the Île-Sainte-Marguerite Trail, which is a multi-purpose trail (shared between cyclists and hikers)
Alternatively, we can recommend the L’Île-de-la-Commune Trail. The trail is almost a perfect square around the Île-de-la-Commune island. Though the trail itself, is only 5km, if you start it from the Discovery Center, it’s going to add a few kilometres.
L’Île-de-la-Commune Trail – A scenic multi-purpose riverside trail riverside, with an observation tower that offers a panoramic view of the nearby wetlands.
Distance: 7.9 km
Route Type: Loop
Elevation gain: 16 m (cumulative elevation gain)
Start point: Car Park / Discovery Center
AllTrails rating: (4.4, 384 ratings (2024))
Duration: Most people complete the trail in 1h30-1h45
Other Activities
Of all the parks listed in this guide, this is the best place to do some canoeing and sea kayaking. It’s also a great place to go for a bike ride, with over 20 km of multipurpose paths (shared by cyclists and pedestrians). You can rent bikes, canoes, paddle boards and sea kayaks at the park (prices are indicated here).
The park is also a great place to see wildlife without being far from the city. In particular, over a hundred deer (2024) inhabit the island.
There’s also an archeological site in the park, the Boucher-de-Grosbois Archeological Site, where archeologists found 2500-year-old human-made objects. There’s also a recreation of an impressive aboriginal hut.
Mont Saint-Bruno National Park
(Parc national du Mont Saint-Bruno) – This park is the second closest to Montreal and includes one of the Monteregian Hills, Mont Saint-Bruno, which is shared with the Saint-Bruno Mountain and Ski Resort. Despite its relatively small size, the mountain is known for its rich fauna and flora. In 1976, the Government of Quebec acquired part of the mountain. It established a park in 1985 that, since 1999, is managed by the SEPAQ. One of the park’s notable features is the collection of five lakes that are found near the mountain summit. There are also over 250 deer that inhabit the park (2024).
Parc Location
The park is located a 30 km drive east of Montreal and it takes about 30 minutes to reach from the city center by car (public transport will take significantly longer and requires several transfers).
Our favorite Hiking Trail
Les Lacs Trail – Both the longest trail in the park (though not very difficult) and the only one in the park that allows you the opportunity to see all of the five of the park lakes (Lac Seigneural, Lac du Moulin, Lac des Atocas, Lac à la Tortue, and Lac des Bouleaux).
Distance: 8.9 km
Route Type: Loop
Elevation gain: 90 m (cumulative elevation gain: 126 m)
Start point: Car Park / Discovery Center
AllTrails rating: (4.5, 1987 ratings (2024))
Duration: Most people complete the trail in about 2 hours.
Not an AllTrails member yet? We highly recommend signing up for either their free or paid membership plans. The free plan allows you to find new trails and plan routes but can only be used while hiking if you have access to mobile data. The paid membership plan (AllTrails+) allows you to download trail maps for offline use and provides live progress updates and off-route notifications.
If you are still uncertain – you should know that the All Trails mobile application was voted the 2023 iPhone App of the Year by Apple.
Best Easy Hiking Trail
Le Grand Duc – a short trail that passes through two scenic ponds before going through several different forest and field environments.
Distance: 3.2 km
Route Type: Loop
Elevation gain: 22 m (cumulative elevation gain)
Start point: Car Park / Discovery Center
AllTrails rating: (4.3, 347 ratings (2024))
Duration: Most people complete the trail in about 45 min
Other Activities
You can rent various watercraft (including paddleboards and canoes) at the Lac des Bouleaux. (prices are indicated here)
You can also enjoy tea and pastries in the 300-year-old at the Old Mill’s tea room.
Oka National Park
(Parc National d’Oka) – The Park is home to one of the largest heronries in Quebec (breeding ground for herons) and the historical site of Calvaire d’Oka (Calvary of Oka), where you’ll find a series of 4 oratories and three religious shrines that date from 1740. You’ll find a little bit of everything in this park, including a small hill to climb, wetland marshes, a small interior lake, a very large lake just outside the park boundaries, and the largest beach in the greater Montreal area.
Parc Location
The park is located 60 km west of Montreal and takes an average of 45-60 minutes to reach by car.
Our favorite Hiking Trail
Calvaire d’Oka Trail – This uphill trail leads to the summit of Mont du Calvaire d’Oka. Once you reach the three small chapels near the summit, the view opens up onto the rest of the National Park below and the Lac des Deux Montagnes.
Distance: 4.7 km
Route Type: Out & Back
Elevation gain: 105 m
Start point: Car Park
AllTrails rating: (4.4, 1277 ratings (2024))
Duration: Most people complete the trail in about 1h-1h15
Alternative/Easier Hiking Trail:
Sauvagine Trail – although the full trail is longer than the previous trail, a shorter version can easily be done by simply looping around the Lac de la Sauvagine and then returning to the starting point (see map below). Although this sorter version is longer than the Calvaire d’Oka Trail, we would still consider it easier as there is no elevation gain. It’s also a more varied trail, as you will alternate between woodland and lakeside paths.
Distance: 5.5 km (first portion + loop around lake)
Route Type: Out & Back
Elevation gain: 16 m (cumulative elevation gain)
Start point: Car Park
Duration: Most people complete the trail in about 1h15- 1h30
Other Activities
If you visit during a sunny summer day, you can combine hiking with beach time on Oka’s large beach along the Lac des Deux Montagnes. The beach parking is the same car park as the Sauvagine Trail.
Hiking Packing List
All Trails subscription – This comes in really handy for areas with little or no cell reception, as the annual subscription allows you to download trail maps for offline use.
External Battery – If you are using your phone to track your progress along the trail or to help with navigation, you certainly don’t want your phone to die on you. That’s especially true in the unlikely event that you might get hurt or need assistance.
Hiking poles – These can be particularly useful in steep trails or muddy/boggy trail conditions.
Yamaska National Park
(Parc National de la Yamaska) – This park is centred on the large man-made Choinière Reservoir, and due to its relatively flat terrain is popular with both hikers and cyclists alike. The vast reservoir is teeming with life. Fish, ducks and Great Blue Herons call the park home.
Parc Location
The park is located 92 km east of Montreal, and it takes an average of 1h-1h15 to reach by car.
Our favorite Hiking Trail
The Riverage Loop – This Trail is actually a combination of two smaller park trails (The Pinède and The Digue trails). It’s a lovely and mostly flat trail (but with some slight undulations) through various covered woodlands, with a few open areas, particularly near the dam.
Distance: 10.8 km
Route Type: Loop
Elevation gain: 50 m (cumulative elevation gain: 110 m)
Start point: Car Park
AllTrails rating: (4.3, 205 ratings (2024))
Duration: Most people complete the trail in about 2h-2h30 min
Other Activities
If you like spending time on the water, here you can rent kayaks, paddleboards, rowboats, pedal boats and more.
If you like cycling, there’s an 18km path that loops around the reservoir with several great vantage points.
Mont Orford National Park
(Parc National du Mont Orford) – The park is located immediately north of Magog in the Eastern Townships and encompasses several prominent peaks including Mont Orford, Mont Giroux, Mont Aldred Desrocches, Mont Chauve and the Massif des Chênes. It’s one of Quebec’s oldest National parks, created in 1938. If you are looking for some elevation gain with your hikes, then you’ll love several of the trails here. It’s a particularly beautiful area to explore during autumn when the leaves turn bright orange and red. Come wintertime, Mont Orford is a very popular ski resort.
Parc Location
The park is located 124 km east of Montreal and takes an average of 1h15-1h30 to reach.
The park has two Service/Visitor Centres: the Cerisier Visitor Center at the southern end of the park, and the Bonnallie Visitor Center near the northern end of the park. The road that connects them can be quite scenic, particularly during autumn.
Our favorite Hiking Trail
L’Escalier du Nord Trail – This moderately challenging trail takes you up to the Pic the l’Ours. You’ll have several panoramic viewpoints along the trail. The terrain is very rocky and uneven and times, which can be difficult for more inexperienced hikers. The scenery is spectacular both in summer and in autumn.
Distance: 12.7 km
Route Type: Out & Back
Elevation gain: 450m (cumulative elevation gain: 624 m)
Start point: La Bonnallie Car Park and Visitor Center
AllTrails rating: (4.6, 917 ratings (2024))
Duration: Most people complete the trail in about 3h30-4h min
Best Easy Hiking Trail
Trois Étangs Trails – This is a pleasant easy forested trail on a flat surface, that passes by three small scenic ponds.
Distance: 5 km
Route Type: Loop
Elevation gain: 50 m (cumulative elevation gain: 84 m)
Start point: Cerisier Car Park and Visitor Center
AllTrails rating: (4.3, 661 ratings (2024))
Duration: Most people complete the trail in about 1h-1h15
Other Activities
The park is also home to several lakes, with two supervised beaches (Lac Stukely and Lac Fraser beaches). Canoes, kayaks, rowboats and more can be rented at these lakes.
Mont Tremblant National Park
(Parc National du Mont Tremblant) – Taking its name from the nearby Mont Tremblant, this park is Quebec’s oldest national park (created in 1895, and is Canada’s third oldest protected park) and the fourth-largest park in the province. The park is home to six large rivers, over 400 lakes, and is home to over 40 mammal species. It was also recently certified as a Dark Sky Park in 2023. Of all the parks listed on this page, it is the one with the largest selection of hiking trails, with over 20 of them spread over three different park sectors (Le Diable sector, Pimbina-Saint-Donat sector, and L’Assomption sector).
Parc Location
The park is located 152 km northwest of Montreal, and takes about 2 hours to reach by car (Le Diable sector). The other sectors are a bit further out, so here we will focus on trails from the Le Diable sector.
Our favorite Hiking Trail
La Coulée Trail – This trail is a combination of the Corniche and La Roche trails, each of which has its own observation deck with stunning views of Lake Monrow’s glacial valley below and of the Mont Tremblant highlands in the distance.
Distance: 8.2 km
Route Type: Loop
Elevation gain: 260 m (cumulative elevation gain: 351 m)
Start point: Car Park
AllTrails rating: (4.6, 709 ratings (2024))
Duration: Most people complete the trail in about 2h15-2h45 min
Best Easy Hiking Trail
We couldn’t decide between two different trails, so you are getting some information on both of them. Both of which are short, easy, and take you to a waterfall viewpoint.
La Chute du Diable Trail – features a short but very pleasant woodland trail leading to the spectacular waterfalls.
Distance: 1.4 km
Route Type: Out & Back
Elevation gain: 25 m (cumulative elevation gain: 63 m)
Start point: Car Park
AllTrails rating: (4.5, 184 ratings (2024))
Duration: Most people complete the trail in about 30 minutes
Les Chutes-Croches Trail – you will need an even shorter walk to reach these scenic falls.
Distance: 0.8 km
Route Type: Out & back
Elevation gain: 22 m
Start point: Car Park
AllTrails rating: (4.3, 54 ratings (2024))
Duration: Most people complete the trail in about 15-20 minutes
National Parks Trail Tips
-During the peak summer and fall months, the parking lots can fill up quickly, particularly on weekends. Try to arrive early in the morning or late afternoon to guarantee a spot.
-Mosquitoes and black flies can be a nuisance at certain times during the year. The exact dates vary from year to year, but they are generally most present from mid-May to mid-July. Regardless of when you come, it’s always a good idea to carry some bug spray with you, just in case.
-Stick to the designated path to protect the surrounding environment. Moreover, ticks are present in some places, particularly in the Eastern townships, so straying from the trails carries additional risk.
-Best time to visit (summer hiking): we highly recommend the end of summer and early fall (August, September and October). The weather will be pleasant and the likelihood of being harassed by bugs is significantly reduced. Moreover, July is when most people in Québec take their summer holidays.
Want to Discover More Hiking Trails Around Montreal?
You might be interested in these pages (coming soon):
Best National Parks for Hiking Near Montreal
Best Hiking Trails in the Laurentians
Best Hiking Trails in the Eastern Townships
Photography Gear
If you like our photography, you might be interested in some of the gear we use to shoot our travel and hiking destinations.
Camera Body – Nikon Z 6ii Fx-series Mirrorless Body
Main Lens – NIKON 24-120mm F/4G ED VR AF-S
Zoom Lens – Sigma 745-306 150-600mm f/5-6.3
Polarizing filters – Urth Circular Polarizing (CPL)
Camera Tripod – K&F Concept 64-inch Camera Tripod
Mini-tripod – Lammcou Flexible Camera Tripod
Camera/hiking backpack – Vanguard Alta Rise 48 Backpack
Universal Travel Adapter – VYLEE Universal International Power Travel Plug
Other Travel Essentials
Travel Insurance
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Car Rentals
Discover Cars is our go-to website for car rentals. We almost always find our preferred rate there.
Transfer from Airport
Welcome Pickups is our favourite private transfer service, which you can pre-book at a fixed price. Currently available in 220 cities all over the world (mostly in Europe, but with several major cities in Asia, the Middle East and the US).
Kiwitaxi is another private transfer service – we haven’t tried it yet, but it’s currently available in a few more countries (102 as of 2024).
Hotels and Accommodations (coming soon)
Photography Prints
If you found this blog useful, you can help support our blog by purchasing low-cost digital prints. Printed physical prints are also available for purchase.
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Well, that wraps it up! We hope you enjoyed our Best National Parks for Hiking Near Montreal Guide and that it will prove useful for planning your hiking trip.
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