Who doesn’t love being outdoors? I know I do. I am always in search of the best hiking trails and especially those within a driving distance for a nice day trip or a weekend trip outside of the city.
Quebec offers some of the most beautiful parks with mountains, valleys, waterfalls and stunning views to enjoy. Some of these trails can be enjoyed all year long, while some are wonderful during the warmer months or the fall as a foliage becomes spectacular. In this list you will find some of my favorite national, or provincial parks with the best hiking near Montreal. Some of these can be done as a day trip and some make for a great weekend getaway.
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You might also want to read:
TOP OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES TO DO IN MONTREAL THIS SUMMER
THE BEST MONTREAL ITINERARY – A LOCAL’S GUIDE
BEST AREA TO STAY IN MONTREAL
Parc National de la Jacques-Cartier
Distance from Montreal – 3 hours
If you are looking to go hiking near Montreal, this park is where you will see beautiful glacial valleys, including the Vallée de la Jacques-Cartier where the 550m river runs through. Here you will find over 100 kilometres of hiking trails to explore. The park is located 30 inutes from Quebec City and 3 hours from Montreal. In this park you can enjoy rafting, canoeing and kayaking and also choose a hike based on your ability. Here are some suggestions of the trails that I love:
La Croisee
Distance: 15.4 km
Time: 4 hours 45 minutes
Elevation Gain: 580 m
The Wolves Trail
Distance: 9.7 km
Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
Elevation Gain: 480 m
Cascades
Distance: 4km
Time:1 hour 15 minutes
Elevation Gain: 156 m
Parc Régional des Sept-Chutes
Distance from Montreal: 1 hour 45 minutes
Sept-Chutes or “Seven Waterfalls” is the perfect hike to let you escape the city life. This park takes you to the top of Mont Brassard at an altitude of 700m where you can witness the absolutely incredible views of the lake and surrounding area. Enjoy the waterfalls, lakes and rivers and enjoy the unspoiled nature at this park. All 12km of the park’s trails are surrounded by unforgettable scenery.
Mount Brassard Loop
Distance: 6.3 km
Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Elevation: 375 m
If you don’t have a car, you may want to consider this tour that departs from Montreal: Day hike in Parc des Sept-Chutes, departing from Montréal
Zec des Martres
Distance from Montreal: 4 hours
ZEC des Martres is an area located 1 hour 30 minutes outside Quebec City, where you can find beautiful mountains, lakes and rivers. This area is part of the Laurentian Mountains (Laurentides), which are a chain of peaks that stretch from southeastern Labrador all the way to southern Quebec. Fun fact: The word martre refers to a ‘marten,’ which is a small cute mammal with brown fur that lived throughout much of Canada. Here you will find multiple trails but the best maintained and most popular is Path of the Dome. This trail takes you to one of the best viewpoints in the park. I actually think this is one of the best viewpoints in all of Quebec.
Path of the Dome
Distance: 8 km
Time: 3 hours
Elevation Gain: 467 m
Parc Régional du Poisson Blanc
Distance from Montreal: 1 hour
This park makes a great weekend trip as it offers a wide variety of outdoor activities but also beautiful for hiking. There are 17 km of hiking trails with the longest trail being the Desjardins Trail at 9.3 km. If you’re not up for the challenge this hike offers, you can opt to do the Wild Cherry and Rapid Fort Trail. This hike will end with spectacular views of the Poisson Blanc reservoir.
Wild Cherry and Rapid Fort Trail
Distance: 5 km
Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Elevation gain: 222 m
Desjardins Trail
Distance: 9.3 km
Time: 3 hours
Elevation gain: 388 m
Mont Tremblant National Park
Distance from Montreal: 2 hours
Mont Tremblant is probably one of the most popular, if not the most popular spots for adventure outside of Montreal all year round. With endless trails in area, there will not be a shortage of ideas for some of the best hiking near Montreal. There are many hikes in this region that require little effort but are very rewarding with some of the best views. Here are some of my favorites:
La Corniche & La Roche Loop (either together or separate)
Distance: 8 km
Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
Elevation gain:
Mont Nixon
Distance: 8 km
Time: 3 hours
Elevation gain: 427 m
La Chute-du-Diable
Distance: 1.4 km
Time: 24 minutes
Elevation gain: 46m
To make it easier for those who do not drive, this is the perfect tour you can take that departs from Montreal:
Day hike in Parc National du Mont-Tremblant, departing from Montréal
Parc naturel regional de Portneuf
Distance to Montreal: 2 hours and 40 minutes
This park has some of the most impressive landscapes that can be discoverd. There are 70 km of hiking trails and my favorites are listed below. Here you will find easier trails along the river with incredible view of the canyon. Here you can also go on a rafting excursion to see the beautiful rock formations from a different point of view.
Sainte-Anne River Gorge
Distance: 5.5 km
Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Elevation Gain: 111 m
Sentier des Cascades
Distance: 2.7 km
Time: 38 minutes
Elevation gain: 46 m
Parc de la Gorge de Coaticook
Distance from Montreal: 2 hours
In this park you will find the longest suspended footbridge in North America at 169 meters (and 50 m high) in North America. The most popular hike in the Parc de la Gorge is its 169-metre-long, 50-metre-high suspension bridge. Cross the bridge and visit the observation tower to take in the impressive view of the Gorge — a 750-metre-long canyon that began its formation during the last ice age. You can also hike up to Mont Pinacle. At the top of this hike, you will get wonderful views of Lake Lyster and Little Lake Baldwin.
Coaticook Gorge via Sentier de la Gorge
Distance: 3.5 km
Time: 1 hour
Elevation Gain: 96m
Mont Pinacle
Distance: 4.3 km
Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Elevation gain: 192 m
Parc national du Mont-Orford
Distance from Montreal: 1 hour 30 minutes
This park is considered to be an Eastern Townships gem. Mont-Orford is a favorite among hikers, bikers and rock climbers. This park has so much to offer and 8 trails to choose from, which span over 80 km. Choosing one of these hiking trails will give you the perfect way to enjoy the spectacular scenery with several lookout points. This is a popular spot for hiking near Montreal as there are routes available for all levels and whether are you an experienced hiker or a family with young children. Everyone will be able to enjoy the great outdoors in this park. Here are some of my suggestions for trails:
Mont-Chauve Trail
Distance: 9.2 km
Time: 3 hours
Elevation: 370 m
Pic de l’Ours via L’escalier du Nord
Distance: 12.7 km
Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
Elevation Gain: 624 m
Parc d’environnement naturel de Sutton
Distance from Montreal: 1 hour 20 minutes
The Eastern Townships are full of beautiful scenery, and this park with its 4 summits, lakes, and 52 kilometers of trails should not be missed. This park is definitely at the top of my list for hiking near Montreal. Trails range from 2.4 km to nearly 14 km, and they offer some of the best natural beauty the region has to offer. If you are a nature lover, there is no doubt that you should visit this park no matter the time of year. These hikes below are worth adding to your list of spots for best hiking near Montreal:
Lac Spruce Trail
Distance: 4.5 km
Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
Elevation gain: 234 m
Round Top Trail
Distance: 6.1 km
Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Elevation gain: 432 m
Hautes Gorges de la Rivière Malbaie National Park
Distance from Montreal: 4 hours 30 minutes
Although this may be a bit far from the city, I couldn’t leave it off the list of best hiking near Montreal, as it is arguably one of the best viewpoints in all of Quebec. The name of this park comes from the valleys that cut deep into high mountains in the region. Enchanting views. The main hike here is the Acropole des Draveurs which gives you an enchanting view of the Malbaie River. Although this is considered a difficult hike – some say the most difficult in the province – it is the main reason people visit this park. The mountain is the highest east of the Rockies and the drive is definitely worth it as the views from the top are unforgettable.
Acropole des Draveurs
Distance: 10.6
Time: 4-6 hours
Elevation Gain: 885 m
Parc national des Grands-Jardins
Distance from Montreal: 4 hours
As soon as you see the views in this park, you will forget about the driving distance from Montreal. When I arrived and finished the hike, I couldn’t believe views like this existed in Quebec. There are over 30 km of trails that end with fantastic views with a wide range of landscapes. The name Grands-Jardins was given to this park because of the impressive vegetation in the region. The main view you shouldn’t leave without seeing is the one from Le Mont-du-Lac-des-Cygnes. This is where you will see breathtaking views down into the Charlevoix meteorite crater and Vallée du Gros-Bras. It’s definitely one of my favorite spots for hiking in Montreal and it should not be missed.
Lac-des-Cygnes Mount
Distance: 9.2 km
Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
Elevation gain: 439 m
La Chouenne Trail
Distance: 4.7 km
Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Elevation Gain: 199 m
Mont-Mégantic National Park
Distance from Montreal: 2 hours 30 minutes
Mont-Mégantic National Park has a network of 50 km of hiking trails, with the best views at the summit of Mégantic at 1,110 m and Mont Saint-Joseph at 1,075 m. You can choose one of the many awesome trails, but some of them more challenging than others. At the summit of Mont Saint-Joseph is where you will find a small charming chapel with stunning views of the Eastern Townships. This park is also where you will find the Mont Mégantic Observatory at the elevation of 1,110 m. This is the most important astronomical observatory in Eastern Canada. Here are some of the best hiking trails in this park for you to enjoy:
Trail of the Peaks
Distance: 12.4 km
Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
Elevation gain: 390 m
Sentier du Mont Saint-Joseph
Distance: 7.2 km
Time: 3 hours
Elevation gain: 486 m
Mount Megantic Loop
Distance: 11.7 km
Time: 4 hours
Elevation gain: 525 m
I would love to hear your thoughts on these hikes. Have you done any hikes that you love and don’t see on this list? Share your favorite hiking trails with me.
My must-haves when I go on a hike anywhere:
Good hiking shoes are a must and make a world of difference. I have always used these Merrell shoes and I highly recommend them.
I usually like to have a light backpack, which I why I love these foldable, water resistant backpacks.
To not add too much weight to my bag, I use these foldable water bottles. They are light and easy to carry and when you are finished drinking, you can pack it up without it taking much space or weight.
Make sure to layer up if you are planning on hiking in early spring or later in the fall or winter. You will also need crampons to avoid slipping in the winter.
Check out this link for other items you might need for your hike.
