Located in Québec’s Lanaudière region, about 90 minutes from Montreal or 45 minutes from the Mont-Tremblant, Mont Sourire is one of the most popular hiking destinations near the resort village of Saint-Donat-de-Montcalm. Because of the trail’s short distance, its main viewpoint is a particularly popular spot for watching the sunset. Though many stop at this viewpoint, it is also possible to stretch out this hike by combining it with the Petit Carcan trail. To help you figure out what option best suits you, we put together this Mont Sourire Hiking Guide to help you plan your outdoor adventure here, which will include details on the trail difficulty, how long you should plan to complete the hike, and the various viewpoints the trail offers. At the end of the guide, we will compare this hike with other popular trails in the area to help you decide if you are hesitating between a few different hiking options.
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Mont Sourire Location and Map
Montagne Noire is located in the Lanaudière region, just east of the border with the Laurentian region. The trailhead is a few kilometres east of the resort village of Saint-Donat-de-Montcalm.
How to Get to Mont Sourire
The easiest way to reach the Mont Sourire trailhead is by car. Although you can reach Saint-Donat-de-Montcalm by bus from Montreal (via the Circuit 125 bus), you will have to figure out an alternative means to reach the trailhead from there.
From Montreal: about 1h30 drive (130 km)
From the Mont-Tremblant area: about a 45-to-60 minute drive (60-70 km), depending on if you are leaving from the town of Mont-Tremblant or the ski resort area.
From Ottawa: about a 2h30 drive (215 km)
From Saint-Donat-de-Montcalm: about 10 minutes (8 km)
From Trois-Rivières: about 2h15 drive (170 km)
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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Mont Sourire Hiking Trail Access, Fees, and Parking
Trailhead & car park location: Both are found here.
Trail access & parking fees: Free – but prior online registration is required.
Trail opening Hours: 24 hours
Parking lot: The proper car park has limited space, but cars can (and do) park on both sides of the short road leading up to the car park. It’s best to arrive early (or late afternoon) on weekends, it’s without a doubt one of the most (if not the most) popular hiking trails in the area.
However, do not park along the main road leading up to the smaller road that connects it to the car park – we’ve seen many cars do this when it gets busy, many of which have gotten a parking ticket.
Facilities: Dry toilets are available by the car park.
Mont Sourire Trail Details and Map
Distance: 1.9 km
Route Type: Out & back
Elevation gain: 79 m
Start point: Car Park
AllTrails rating: (4.4, 202 ratings (2024))
Duration: Most people complete the trail in about 30-45min
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 it 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.
Other Mont Sourire Details
– Canine companions: Dogs are permitted on leashes.
– Summit: Montagne Noire summit is located at an altitude of 490 m
– Trail environment: Forest (under tree cover for most of the trail)
– Number of viewpoints: The trail boasts one main viewpoint (two additional viewpoints can be added by extending the hike along the Petit Carcan trail – more details below).
– Trail Surface / Technical Trail: The first half of the Mont Sourire trail is on a flat, even, and wide trail path, making it a fairly easy and family-friendly ascent. The second portion of the trail becomes significantly more uneven along a heavily rocky surface. However, because of how short the trail is most people can navigate this section without too much difficulty.
– Average trail slope grade: 8% (this is considered a medium average slope, but it’s over a very short distance)
– Trail difficulty level: Easy
(based on our personal assessment, taking into account the trail length, slope grade and trail surface – 5-point difficulty scale: Very easy, Easy, Moderate, Moderately Challenging, Challenging)
Mont Sourire Trail Description and Summary
As stated above, the first half of the trail is along a flat, even, and wide trail path. Even though there is a noticeable gain in elevation, the slope is mild enough to not make the ascent too challenging.
Eventually, around the halfway mark of the ascent, the trail surface changes drastically and becomes very rocky and uneven. The new surface isn’t too difficult to navigate (most people will get through this section without issues), but it will likely slow down your pace as you will regularly have to watch your footing.
After about 15 minutes (give or take a few) you will reach Mont Sourire’s famed viewpoint. A popular spot to enjoy the sunset, it will provide you with rewarding panoramic views any time of day (or any time of year – we’ve been here several times as you can see from the pictures).
Le Petit Carcan Trail – An Excellent Mont Sourire Add-On
If you are looking to extend your hike after reaching the Mont Sourire viewpoint, you’re in luck! You can continue beyond the viewpoint to reach a loop trail that goes around a lake (Lac du Carcan) and passes by the summit of Mont Carcan.
Distance: 8.0 km (total, including the Mont Sourire trail)
Route Type: Out & back
Elevation gain: 210 m (cumulative elevation gain: 359 m)
Start point: Car Park
AllTrails rating: (4.4, 1450 ratings (2024))
Duration: Most people complete the trail in about 2h30-3h
Once you leave the viewpoint, the trail narrows and resembles a more typical forest hiking trail. After about 10 minutes you’ll reach an intersection, we recommend going right to start the Petit Carcan loop. We don’t particularly recommend making the detour to visit #4 on the map above (it’s just a hiking shelter) unless you plan on spending the night there.
Along the way, you’ll come across a few additional viewpoints, including an opening along the shore of Lac Carcan.
The best viewpoint in our opinion (indicated by point #3 on the map above) is a rocky outcrop near the midway point of the loop where you will get fantastic views of the mountain scenery to the northeast.
After this viewpoint, you can continue along the trail to complete the loop and then retrace your steps by the Mont Sourire trailhead.
Mont Sourire Hiking & 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.
– Best time to visit: We tend to prefer hiking in this area from mid-August to early November. The weather will be pleasant and the likelihood of being harassed by bugs is significantly reduced. Moreover. Note that trails are quite busy during the weekends of the leaf-peeping season (typically from late September to mid-October), so it’s best to arrive early or to try to come on a weekday.
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.
Comparison with Other Nearby Trails
(updated in 2024)
| Mont Ouareau | Montagne Noire | Mont Kaaikop | Mont L’envol | Mont Sourire | |
| Difficulty | Moderate | Moderately Challenging | Moderately Challenging | Easy | Easy |
| Time required | 1h45-2h15 | 3h30-4h30 | 2h15-2h45 | 1h-1h30 | 30-45 min |
| Dogs | yes (leash) | yes (leash) | yes (leash) | yes (leash) | yes (leash) |
| Access Fees | 10$ | Free | 8.70$ + tax | $9.85 + tax* | Free |
| Busy/popular | +++ | ++ | ++ | + | ++++ |
| Viewpoints | 4a | 4b | 3c | 2 | 1 |
b The best viewpoint is atop a wooden tower on the mountain’s summit
c The summit has two viewpoints, but a slight detour halfway up the hike offers a third
* Free with the SEPAQ annual pass
Which trail has the best bang for your buck (the best rewards for little effort)?
We would have to go with the Mont L’envol trail. Although there is some elevation gain (220m), the slope is gradual and the trail surface is mostly flat. In the end, you are rewarded with two of the best viewpoints in our opinion.
Which trail is the most technically difficult?
We would have to go with the Mont Kaaikop trail. Large portions of the trail are very rocky with a variety of small-to-medium boulders, mixed in with lots of tree roots and several very muddy sections (even after several days of nice weather). Fortunately, the viewpoints are spectacular making all that effort worthwhile.
We gave the Montagne Noire trail the same overall difficulty rating but that’s mostly due to the length of the trail, which is more than double that of the Mont Kaaikop trail.
Which trail offers something different?
This one is easy – the Montagne Noire trail. Why? Primarily because near the summit you will come across a famous plane crash site – the Liberator Harry that crashed here in 1943 (the worst accident in Canadian military aviation history). There weren’t any trails on the mountain back then, nor did anyone witness the crash. It took more than two years for the wreckage to finally be located. There are lots of informative panels around the site where you can learn more about the history of the plane and its crew.
Where to Stay near the Mont Sourire trail?
Though many visit the area as a day trip, spending a weekend (or longer) here can be a rewarding experience and would allow you to visit more of the region (and try out several of the beautiful hiking trails in the area). We particularly enjoy staying in the small town of Saint-Donat-de-Montcalm, which is strategically positioned between this trail and some of the other more popular trails in the region.
For great self-catering options, we can recommend one of the following Condo Lac Archambault units: 295, 326, 314, and 316. There is also this fantastic large modern wooden chalet with 3 bedrooms.
If you prefer a hotel, look no further than the Hotel Le Suisse, the town’s largest and best-rated hotel.
Want to Discover More Hiking Trails In Southern Québec?
You might be interested in these pages:
Best Hiking Trails Near Mont-Tremblant
Best Hiking Trails Near Montreal
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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e-Sim cards
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eSIMS are a sustainable alternative to single-use SIM cards – they are 100% digital, require less energy to produce and be re-used rather than disposed of.
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 Mont Sourire Hiking Guide and that it will prove useful for planning your hiking trip.
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