Hikes around Montreal. Help needed please…
(Mt. Pinacle; my favorite place in Quebec)
April 6, 2009 – 83,248 hits, 23,131 unique hits on this blog (cool, that’s like full capacity for a Canadiens game at the Bell Center). 13 comments in total…hmm, that’s pretty pathetic…
Spring is (almost) here and I’m starting to plan some hikes for the summer. The criteria:
1) within 3 hours drive of Montreal (doesn’t have to be in Quebec)
2) hikes of maximum 6 hours return (ie up and back down)
3) hikes with views (I don’t hike for the sake of hiking – I like to see views, whether they be from high points, along rivers, on lakes…nice scenery).
4) something the average hiker can handle (nothing extreme)
Below I’ve included some hikes that fall into the above criteria (more detail as well as other locations can be found in the “Quebec Parks and Peaks – hiking” category). I’ve also included some useful links. What I would really like is some similar information on other hikes from readers of this blog – they don’t have to be in Quebec, they can be in New Hampshire, Vermont, New York. The idea is to get a compilation of hikes that can be done on a day trip or with an overnight stay on a weekend from Montreal.
Hikes around Montreal in order of preference
1. Mt. Pinacle, Coaticook, Quebec (Eastern Townships). Not only my favorite spot around Montreal, this is my favorite location in Quebec. 1 1/2 hrs from Montreal in one of the most scenic yet un-touristy part of the Eastern Townships (right on US border). And only a half hour hike up!
http://blogs.bootsnall.com/BBQBOY/favorite-eastern-townships-hike-photos.html
2. Parc du Mont-Megantic, Quebec (Eastern Townships). About 3 hours from Montreal, so really requires an overnight stay. Megantic a very nice little town on a lake and Park du Mont-Megantic is beautiful, with 2 peaks that you can drive up to. Beautiful spot on a clear day.
http://blogs.bootsnall.com/BBQBOY/parc-national-du-mont-megantic.html
3. “Sentier de la Roche”, Mont-Tremblant, Quebec (Laurentiennes).
2 1/2 hours from Montreal, about a 45 min-1 hr up with nice views, especially in the fall.
http://blogs.bootsnall.com/BBQBOY/parc-national-du-mont-tremblant-quebec-photos.html
4. Parc du Mont-Tremblant, Quebec (Laurentiennes).
2 Hours from Montreal. Take the ski lift from Mont-Tremblant tourist village. Lots of trails at the top but the best views are around the summit.
http://blogs.bootsnall.com/BBQBOY/mont-tremblant-quebec-photos-2.html
5. Mt. Ham, Eastern Townships, Quebec.
2 hours from Montreal. Good views from the top – about an hour to go up in good conditions, but path can be in very bad shape (like when we went).
http://blogs.bootsnall.com/BBQBOY/mont-ham-eastern-townships-photos.html
It’s a pretty thin list which I hope to add to this summer. I’ve seen a few pictures from Owl’s Head can’t find any details on the hike…anyone know anything about it? Anyone have suggestions?? I assume some of the people who read this blog read it because of outdoor activities in and around Montreal – if so would appreciate comments or suggestions (in french ok too…)
Best web links found to date on hiking in Quebec:
http://www.canadatrails.ca/hiking/hike_qc.html#SQ
http://www.summitpost.org/area/range/219688/quebec-mountains.html
http://www.out-there.com/qc12bh.htm
http://www.randonnee.ca/default.asp?Key=1&Cat=1&L=1
I might actually try doing a few hikes with this group this summer…
Tags: Quebec Parks and Peaks - hiking
f_thomae
one of my favorites is Chutes-Monte-a-Peine in the lanaudiere. It isn’t a mountain view, but several gigantic rushing waterfalls (which count as views). You hike from one huge waterfall about 1 hour over to a second. very nice.
another is st-ursule, which is north of joliette. a short hike, but the waterfalls are really powerful and amazing.
Val-David has a nice little hike (mt. condor).
Parc Doncaster is a nice hike that follows a rushing river.
Riviere du Nord by St-Jerome is nice, though it is more of a “walk” than a hike. Kind of like a stroller highway.
Mont St-Hilaire has a great view on top.
lac des cignes in parc des grands jardins in the charlevoix.
the hike that takes you up top of the river valley in parc jacques-cartier.
parc des hautes gorges…the hike that takes you up on top of the river valley, too.
Hi Ben,
Thank you very much for your suggestions, you have a few there that I didn’t know of.
Much appreciate,
Frank