We have lived in Montreal our whole lives, and as much as we love the city, we also love going out and being in nature. It’s no lie, nature is our therapy. Hiking, swimming, skating (yes, winter is really cold here, so we need an escape from that too)! That’s why we wanted to share our 12 best hikes near Montreal with you. These are the best hiking trails less than 2 hours away from Montreal. So if you’re looking for a quick day escape from the city, or if you want to get away for a weekend, these are the best hikes to help you recharge.
We’ll start off listing the best hikes in Montreal, and keep the list going as we move further away from the city. This will help you decide where you want to go and how long you want to stay there. We may even have some tips for you of things to do around each hike.
And just to make it clear, these are some of our favorite hikes near Montreal. Of course, there are a ton of other hikes out there, but these are the ones that are either easy to get to, or that need a low effort for a very high reward.
If you want to hike in specific regions, we have what you’re looking for. Check out these articles:
– The 8 best hikes in the Laurentians
– The 7 best hikes in the Eastern Townships
– The best national parks in Quebec (if you plan on heading further yet)And keep checking our site, because we’re constantly adding new hiking trails and regions to our list.
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Table of Contents
The best hikes in Montreal
Here are the best hikes that are on the island of Montreal. No need to even leave the city to have a beautiful nature escape.
If you’re looking to plan a longer getaway from the city, we have two articles that can help you out:
– The best day trips from Montreal (all less than 2 hours away)
– The best weekend getaways from the city, in case you want to stay longer and explore a region
– The best national parks in Quebec (if you plan on heading further yet)
1. Parc du Mont-Royal, an awesome view and beautiful hiking trails in Montreal
This Montreal classic is one of the best hikes in the city. Whether you want to hike, bike, just chill by the lake, or catch an epic sunset on the Belvedere, this park has it all!
In terms of hiking, there are 4 hiking trails. They range from 0.8 km to 4.6 km, all depending on what you want to do and see. Either way, the paths are beautiful and well-maintained, and most offer amazing views of different parts of the city. If you’re looking for a short hike with a big payoff, make sure you walk to the lookout. There, you’ll get a beautiful view of the city skyline. For sunrise or sunset, it’s a short hike with a great view.
There are also a few historic and important monuments around the park that you can explore. But if you’re not into any of that, that’s ok too. Just chill around the park. There is a little hill where you can sit and have a picnic while you watch the sunset over Beaver lake. Summer or winter, there’s always something to do at the Mont-Royal Park.
- How to get there: The Parc du Mont-Royal is easy to get to by foot, bike, car, or even public transportation. Because it’s so centrally located, your options are endless.
- Distance from Montreal: 0 km. It’s at the heart of the city!
- Official website: lemontroyal.qc.ca
- Cost to access the hike: Free! The whole park is free to visit.
2. Hike at the Lachine Canal in Montreal
Another one of our favorite places in the city that has some amazing ‘hikes’. Actually, they’re not really hiking trails. Instead, it’s one long path that follows the Lachine canal. You can walk, run, rollerblade, or bike on this path. The Lachine Canal is 13.5 kilometers long and goes from the Old Port to Lake Saint-Louis. Summer or winter (but especially in the fall), the Canal Lachine is absolutely beautiful to explore.
You will find a few historical buildings along the Canal Lachine. One of the most notable ones is the old trading center. On Saturdays, in the summer (until mid-October) you can also check out the Marché des Éclusiers, a small local market located right at the entrance of the Old Port. You can also stop by the Atwater Market that is located right on the Canal, it’s the perfect spot to grab a snack while you’re hiking on the Lachine Canal.
- How to get there: The Lachine Canal is located in the southwest section of the island of Montreal and is super accessible. From the Old Port or the Sud-Ouest area, it’s impossible to miss it. It’s accessed by Highway 20, or by public transportation.
- Distance from Montreal: 0 km. It’s at the heart of the city!
- Official website: pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/qc/canallachine
- Cost to access the hike: Free! The whole park is free to visit, although certain historic places have paid entry.
3. Hike the trails at the Morgan Arboretum in Montreal
Another great hike located on the island of Montreal, but it’s a little further from the city center. The Morgan Arboretum is a 245-hectare forest reserve that is located in the West Island, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue to be exact! Since 1945, the Morgan Arboretum has been part of McGill University’s Macdonald Campus. It has teaching and research purposes, as well as being a recreational facility that’s open to the public year-round.
There are 8 hiking trails to choose from. Some are even dog-friendly, if you want to bring your furry friend with you! The trails range from 0.9 km to 5.8 km. Despite their length, they are all very easy to hike. There is nice canopy cover, so it does get a bit cooler in the forest than out in the open. Also, in certain parts of the spring and summer, there are a lot of mosquitoes out, so come prepared.
- How to get there: The best way to get there is by taking your car, either from highway 40 or 20. You can also take public transportation, but it’s a bit of a trek, even if it’s in Montreal.
- Distance from Montreal: Although the Morgan Arboretum is located on the island of Montreal, it’s about 38-km from the city center. It’s about 40 minutes to drive there.
- Official website: mcgill.ca/morganarboretum/
- Cost to access the hike: $8 at the time of writing
The best hiking trails near Montreal
These are some amazing hikes that are not on the island of Montreal but are quite close to get to. Again, we’ll be going from the closest hike to the furthest. But regardless of how far they are, these hikes are less than 2 hours away from Montreal. We want to make sure escaping from the city doesn’t mean you have to head out on a crazy road trip to the other end of the planet… or province!
4. Enjoy the different hikes at the Îles-de-Boucherville National Park
It’s no secret! We love our Quebec Sepaq-run national parks. We try to visit them as much as possible because each one is unique in its own way. And the reason we love the Îles-de-Boucherville national park is that it’s one that offers some fun hikes close to Montreal. Another reason is that you can always see beautiful Virginia deer galavanting around.
The park is located right in the middle of the St. Lawrence, and is made up of 5 little islands. There are 7 hiking paths that range from 1.5 to 7.7 kilometers. They are all really easy to do, as there is no real difference in elevation. There are a ton of green spaces in the park, and you can either walk, bike or even canoe around this park.
If you go during sunset, you’ll likely have the park to yourself, except for the resident animals (careful, we did see a skunk or two there, on top of the deer. You’ll also get a beautiful view of the sunset right on the St. Lawrence.
- How to get there: From Montreal, get on Autoroute 25 south. Take it and get off exit 1 toward Île Charron/Îles de Boucherville. Keep right on the access ramp for Île Charron (cross over Autoroute 25 on the bridge). At the stop sign, continue going straight to enter Parc national des Îles-de-Boucherville.
- Distance from Montreal: Less than 20km. About a 30-minute drive from downtown.
- Official website: sepaq.com/pq/bou/
- Cost to access the hike: $8.90 as this is a Sepaq national park. It’s free if you have your annual card.
5. Hit the trails at the Mont-Saint-Bruno National Park, just 30 minutes from Montreal
Another great national park that is located just outside of Montreal. Although it’s part of the Montérégie region, it’s still just a stone’s throw from the island of Montreal. It boasts five lakes, an orchard, a historical mill, and all sorts of flowers, animals, and birds. It’s a really beautiful and unique place.
There are quite a few trails to choose from at the Mont-Saint-Bruno national park, and they are all pretty easy. They range from 1.5 to 8.8 kilometers. One is classified as being ‘intermediate’, Le Montérégien, but it’s actually still pretty easy if you’re a big hiker. And the best thing about the park is that most trails intercept each other, so you can always start on one hike and finish on a completely different one.
Our best tip for hiking here is to go early. Because these hiking trails are very close to Montreal, there are a lot of people that head there, especially on weekends. It is a very family-oriented park as well, so it’s perfect to bring the kids with you… if you have them!
- How to get there: Parc national du Mont-Saint-Bruno is located at 330, rang des 25 Est, in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville. To get there, you just take exit 80 off Highway 30 and exit 98 and 102 Highway 20.
- Distance from Montreal: Less than 30km. About a 30-minute drive from downtown.
- Official website: sepaq.com/pq/msb/
- Cost to access the hike: $8.90 as this is a Sepaq national park. It’s free if you have your annual card.
6. Oka national Park has some great hikes and a nice beach near Montreal
This national park is a really popular destination in the summer, mainly because it’s the closest beach to Montreal. But people often forget that it’s also a great place to go for hikes. It also has a very rich historical and natural heritage, which makes this park really special.
Although there aren’t a ton of hikes at the Oka national, there are certainly enough to keep you busy for a while. The shortest hike is 1.3 kilometers long, while the longest is 11.8 kilometers. And unlike the previous parks and hikes, you do have a variety of easy, intermediate, and hard hikes. Like we said, enough to keep you busy for a while! If you’re looking to get an epic view, hike to the top of the Calvaire d’Oka trail. It provides an exceptional view of Lac des Deux Montagnes and the Adirondacks.
- How to get there: Parc national d’Oka has two possible entrances. The main entrance to the park is on Route 344 and the second entrance is at the western tip of Highway 640. Access by Highway 640 is closed in winter.
- Distance from Montreal: Less than 60km. About a 45-minute drive from downtown Montreal.
- Official website: sepaq.com/pq/oka/
- Cost to access the hike: $8.90 as this is a Sepaq national park. It’s free if you have your annual card.
7. Hike the trails at Mont-Saint-Hilaire park to admire the view
Just like the Morgan Arboretum, the Gault Nature Reserve is owned by McGill University and is located at Mont-Saint-Hilaire, about 40 km away from Montreal. It’s one of the best and closest hiking trails near Montreal. It boasts over 25 km of trails that are open year-round. The reserve protects more than 1,000 hectares of natural forest and offers four viewpoints of Lake Hertel.
The trails at the Gault Nature Reserve are not very hard, but they tend to get quite crowded on weekends. Overall, there are eight trails to choose from, that range from 1 km to 4.7 km. The Dieppe Trail will get you the highest view, but we argue that the Rocky peak is slightly better, mainly because it’s in front of the Dieppe’s peak, so it gets an unobstructed view of the surrounding area. Another great walk is the one that leads to Lake Hertel through the forest.
You can read a ton more about hiking this trail in our article about the best parks in Quebec.
- How to get there: The Gault Nature reserve is located in Mont-Saint-Hilaire, on the South Shore of Montreal. You can easily get there by inputting ‘Gault Nature Reserve of McGill University, 422 Chemin des Moulins, Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec J3G 4S6’ into your GPS.
- Distance from Montreal: About 40km from Montreal. About a 50-minute drive from downtown Montreal.
- Official website: https://gault.mcgill.ca/en/
- Cost to access the hike: $8 at the time of writing this post. Annual passes are also available.
Looking for more fun things to do near Montreal? Here are some of our articles to help you plan the best trips:
– The best weekend getaways from Montreal
– National Parks around Montreal you should check out
– The best waterfalls in Quebec
– The best day trips from Montreal
Discover 3 amazing hikes in the Eastern Townships, less than 2 hours away from Montreal
The Eastern Townships are a great place to head out for a day or a weekend. There is so much to see and do here, and we’re not just talking about hikes! The wine route, the microbrewery route, the local food producers, the scenic route to give you some amazing views. There’s seriously so much!
We have a few more hiking trails to check out in the Eastern Townships. You can find our full article here. There are a few more trails we’ve listed there that didn’t make the cut for this article.
8. Mont-Orford national park, Some of the best hiking trails near Montreal
Mont-Orford is one of our favorite parks in Quebec. Again, it’s a great park in the Eastern Townships that has so much to offer! We weren’t kidding that this region has it all! And you’re in luck because the best way to discover Mont-Orford national park is to hike it! There are so many viewpoints to choose from, so in the fall, when the colors are in full swing, this is the place to be!
There are eight trails to choose from at the Mont-Orford national park. The shortest one is 3.5 km long, while the longest is clocked in at 12 km. We hiked Mont-Chauve in the fall and it was such a great hike! This trail leads to the barren summit of Mont Chauve. Fun fact – Mont Chauve actually means Mount Bald! It’s a 10.6 km intermediate hike that goes up about 600 m in altitude. There are quite a few viewpoints during the hike, but the main one is the most impressive (and most crowded).
- How to get there: The Mont-Orford national park is located in the Eastern Townships region. The best way to get there from Montreal is to Take Highway 10 E, in the direction of the Eastern Townships, and get off exit 118. At the stop sign at the end of the exit ramp, turn left on Route 141 Nord. Drive about 5 km, passing the Mont-Orford golf course and Orford Musique. After the curve, follow directions for “Secteur du Lac-Stukely, 300 metres”, turn right, and follow the indication “Centre de services”.
- Distance from Montreal: The hiking trails at Mont-Orford national park are about 125km away from Montreal. It’s about a 1 hour 20 minutes drive from downtown Montreal.
- Official website: sepaq.com/pq/mor
- Cost to access the hike: $8.90 as this is a Sepaq national park. It’s free if you have your annual card.
9. Mount Pinacle has amazing sunset hikes less than 2 hours from Montreal
Mount Pinacle is one of the best hikes in the area. Not only do you get an epic view for sunset, but you have different route options, depending on your level of skill and physical condition. There are three different routes to take, ranging from easy to difficult. You can even climb up the cliffside of the mountain. The hiking trails on Mount Pinacle are all about the same length, but the main difference is how steep each one is. We took the hard route up and the easy route down. The hiking part is about 1.5-2 hours long, regardless.
The parking lot is situated a few hundred meters away from the start of the hike. It’s clearly marked as the parking for Mount Pinacle, right at the church and dépanneur (convenience store). If you are heading there for sunset, make sure you have a light with you to see on your way down. There are no lights on the path. There are also no garbage bins on the mountain, only at the foot, so make sure you bring your trash down with you.
A quick little bonus for you here. As we mentioned, Mount Pinacle is a great spot to watch the sunset. But if you want to wake up early for a beautiful sunrise, we recommend you stay at Camping Lac Lyster. There, you’ll have access to an exclusive hiking trail that gives you an amazing vantage point on Mount Pinacle and an epic sunset. It’s a short 20-min hike to the summit, and the view is spectacular, if we may say so ourselves!
- How to get there: Mount Pinacle is located in Coaticook. The actual address is 1891 Chemin May, Coaticook, QC J1A 2S4.
- Distance from Montreal: Mount Pinacle hike is about 170km away from Montreal. It’s about a 1 hour 50 minutes drive from downtown Montreal.
- Official website: There is no official website for the hike.
- Cost to access the hike: The entrance to the hike is absolutely free.
10. Discover the history of the area by hiking the Parc de la Gorge de Coaticook
The Parc de la Gorge de Coaticook is one of the most special hikes in the area. It’s home to Foresta Lumina, an illuminated immersive experience in the park. It’s also home to the longest suspended footbridge in North America, a 169-meter beauty! And the hike is absolutely beautiful. There is even a beautiful waterfall to admire. Seriously, this park and these hikes have something for everyone.
There are a few different hiking trails in the Park. They range from 2.6 kilometers to 8.5 in total. The Gorge hike takes you on the suspended bridge, through caves, on platforms that go on the cliffside along the water. It’s not a hard hike, but it is quite enjoyable. Along the way, you’ll learn all about the history of the area and the different purposes the land severed, the real evolution of the area.
Best of all, there is a little ice cream shop at the end of the hike, so you can grab yourself a little treat when you’re done. They serve the delicious Coaticook ice cream that is made locally, and they have quite a few vegan options of a local sorbet as well!
- How to get there: The Gorge Park is located in Coaticook. There are signs all around the area that point you to it.
- Distance from Montreal: The Coaticook Gorge Park hike is about 170km away from Montreal. It’s about a 1 hour 50 minutes drive from downtown Montreal.
- Official website: gorgedecoaticook.qc.ca/
- Cost to access the hike: The entrance to the hike is $8 for adults. You can also rent bikes and other equipment here. Check out their rates here.
Looking for more fun things to do in the Eastern Townships? Here are some of our articles to help you plan the best trip:
– The best things to do in the Eastern Townships
– The best hikes in the Eastern Townships (we have a few more than what you have listed here)
– Unique cabins to book around Quebec
– National Parks in Quebec you should check out
– The best waterfalls in Quebec
– Staying at Chalets Hygge in Orford
– Glamping at Laö Cabins
– The best day trip from Montreal, including a few in the Eastern Townships
2 beautiful hikes near Montreal, in Mont-Tremblant National Park
Mont-Tremblant national park is the oldest of the Sepaq national parks and there are a ton of trails to choose from. They range from easy to really hard, and from 1 km long to 17.6 km. We’ve hiked quite a few of the trails in this park… we could write a whole article about it… and maybe we will! But for now, let’s stick to our two favorite hikes here.
Also, beyond the national park, Mont-Tremblant is a great place to discover. Summer or winter, there is always something to do here, regardless of if you head to the tourist village or the nearby towns. We highly recommend spending a weekend here.
Looking for even more hikes in the Laurentians? We’ve got you covered. Discover our full article with 8 of our favorite hiking trails in the Laurentians. We tell you everything you need to know about them so you’re ready to rock the trails.
11. Hiking the Centenaire trail at Mont-Tremblant National Park
This hiking trail was created 25 years ago for the centennial celebration of the park. It’s a 9.6 km hike that takes between 3 to 4 hours. It’s a really beautiful hike that starts in the Sablonnière campground. Although most of the trail is through the forest, expect to get some wide openings and clearings where you can get an amazing view of the area.
On the top of the mountain, you have 2-3 different clearings where you can chill out and take the view in. This hike took us close to 4 hours, but it can be done much faster. We spent quite a bit of time snacking on the top of the hill. We also stopped quite a few times while we were hiking because there were a ton of wild mushrooms to examine.
The hike is categorized as difficult, but it’s probably because it’s a bit longer than the others. We would tend to categorize it more as an intermediate one. The elevation isn’t very steep and is done quite progressively so you don’t really feel it.
- How to get there: This hike is located in the Sablonnière campground at the Mont-Tremblant National Park, in the La Diable sector. To get here, take Highway 15 N to Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, then Route 117 to exit 107 towards Saint-Faustin-Lac-Carré; continue towards Lac-Supérieur and follow the signs to the La Diable Registration Centre.
- Distance from Montreal: About 145 km from Montreal. It’s a 1-hour 50-minute drive.
- Official website: sepaq.com/pq/mot/
- Cost to access the hike: $8.90 as this is a Sepaq national park. It’s free if you have your annual card.
12. Hike the La Corniche trail at Mont-Tremblant National Park
La Corniche is one of the more popular hikes in the Mont-Tremblant National Park. Although it offers great views of the nearby Lac Monroe, it does tend to get quite crowded, especially in the summer and the fall. Our recommendation would be to do it early in the day to avoid the crowds. Then, it will give you more time to discover other smaller hikes or to just chill by the beach on the lake.
La Corniche trail is 3.4 km long and is classified as being an intermediate hike. The elevation is a bit steep in certain parts, but we would say that you can easily do this hike at a leisurely pace. It should take about 1-2 hours to do it. If you want to make it a bit longer or give yourself an additional challenge, you can do the La Corniche-La Coulée-La Roche combo of trails. This longer trail actually connects La Corniche to La Roche, two popular hikes.
Either way, the views you’ll get are simply beautiful! Enjoy the hike and take it all in!
- How to get there: This hike is located near the Lac Monroe Discovery Centre at the Mont-Tremblant national park, in the La Diable sector. To get here, take Highway 15 N to Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, then Route 117 to exit 107 towards Saint-Faustin-Lac-Carré; continue towards Lac-Supérieur and follow the signs to the La Diable Registration Centre.
- Distance from Montreal: About 145 km from Montreal. It’s a 1-hour-50-minute drive.
- Official website: sepaq.com/pq/mot/
- Cost to access the hike: $8.90 as this is a Sepaq national park. It’s free if you have your annual card.
Looking for more fun things to do around Mont Tremblant? Here are some articles to help you plan your trip there:
– Unique cabins to book around Quebec
– National Parks you should check out
– The best waterfalls in the area
– Staying at Ölch Cabin
– Weekend getaways from Montreal (with a few in the Mont Tremblant area)
– The best hikes in the Laurentians
The 12 best hikes near Montreal
There you have it! Our 12 best hikes near Montreal. They’re great hikes that vary in difficulty and length, so hopefully, you found a few that suit your needs.
- Parc du Mont-Royal
- Canal Lachine
- Morgan Arboretum
- Ile de Boucherville
- Mont-Saint Bruno
- Oka national Park
- Mont-Saint-Hilaire
- Mont Chauve at the Mont Orford national Park
- Mount Pinacle
- Parc de la Gorge de Coaticook
- The Centenaire trail at Mont-Tremblant national park
- The La Roche trail at Mont-Tremblant national park
We’d love to hear your thoughts on these hikes. Have you done any of them? Are there other hikes that are less than 2 hours away from Montreal that you love to go on? We’re always looking for new hiking trails to get out and explore our beautiful province.
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