Mount Royal Park
1260 Chem. Remembrance, Montréal, Canada
When Montrealers refer to “the mountain,” they mean Mount Royal. Really, it’s a 764-foot (233-meter) hill, but that’s no matter. Mount Royal Park was designed in 1876 by none other than Frederick Law Olmsted—of Central Park fame—and since then, it’s been the city’s green lung, where locals go hiking, biking, boating, bird-watching, and picnicking.
The basics
Right in the middle of Montreal, Mount Royal Park is a 700-acre (283-hectare) green space with winding trails, lookouts, a lake, pavilions, sculptures, and chalets. It’s where Montrealers congregate rain or shine, summer or winter, sunrise or sunset. Oddly enough, “the mountain” has three summits: Colline de la Croix, Westmount Summit, and Tioh’tia:ke Otsira’kehne, renamed in 2017 to reflect the area’s Mohawk heritage. On that first summit, you’ll find the Mont Royal Chalet, the Kondiaronk Belvedere (a lookout), and the famous Mount Royal Cross.
Things to know before you go
Boat rentals are available at Beaver Lake in the summer.
If you’re traveling by car, the lookout along Camillien-Houde Lane is a fan favorite.
You can find snacks and drinks at Smith House, the Mont Royal Chalet, and the Beaver Lake Pavilion.
How to get there
Mont Royal Park is in the city center and easily reachable by public transit, bike, car, taxi, or rideshare. If you’re utilizing the metro, get off at the University of Montreal stop or the Edouard-Montpetit stop; if you’re riding the bus, several routes provide direct service to the park; if you have your own wheels, there are two paid parking lots within Mont Royal Park; traveling on foot is a good option, too.
When to get there
There’s no bad time to experience Mont Royal Park—it should be on any Montreal visitor’s to-do list. Crowds will be largest on weekends and when the weather is nice; if you’d like an experience more for yourself, visit early in the morning or later in the evening. At night, the Mont Royal Cross is illuminated, making for quite the scene. In winter, the trails and green spaces are open for hiking, skiing, tubing, and ice skating.
Where to find a bird’s-eye view
For those looking to experience the Mount Royal Chalet, the Mount Royal Cross, and the fabulous city views from the Kondiaronk Belvedere (aka lookout), know that this scenic overlook is inaccessible by car. For the shortest walk, park your car at the Smith House parking lot, a 5-minute walk away.
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