Parc du Mont-Royal (Mount Royal Park)

The mountain is technically more of a large hill with a total of three peaks ranging in height from 659-754 feet above sea level. Covering an area just shy of 500 acres, the park offers visitors a wide range of activities. From spring through autumn visitors can enjoy walking or hiking on the many paths and taking in the beautiful vistas of the Montreal Skyline and beyond. Paddle boats can be rented at the small lake. During the winter months you can still walk or hike, but you can also enjoy cross-country skiing, ice skating on Beaver Lake or tubing and tobogganing on the toboggan runs. Equipment rentals are available. For a real workout try climbing the Mount Royal Stairs, 400 wooden steps up the mountain starting from the corner of Peel Street and Pine Avenue.

The park is beautiful anytime of the year, but is particularly well known for the colourful displays of foliage throughout its mixed forests during autumn.

A prominent feature of the park is the giant 103 foot cross that sits atop the hill. Brilliant LED lighting make it especially prominent at night. The lights are normally white, but the color can be changed for special occasions. The current cross was erected in 1924, but its roots go all the way back to 1643 when the first cross was erected to fulfill a vow made by the city's founder, Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve, when praying to Virgin Mary to prevent a threatening flood.

There are a couple of popular lookouts on the hill. The largest is Belvedere Kondiaronk which was built in 1906. It sits in front of the historic Chalet du Mont-Royal, a magnificent stone building constructed as a 'make work project' during the Great Depression which served as a venue for Big Band concerts throughout the 1930s and 1940s. Today the Chalet can be reserved for major provincial, national or international events providing they do not interfere with the ability of visitors to access the park and the lookout. When the Chalet is not being used for a special event, you can visit the cafeteria for snacks and refreshments. The rustic interior features exposed wood beams and a stone fireplace. Original paintings illustrating the history of Montreal hang from the walls. The other belvedere, a bit of a lovers point, looks east toward Olympic Park.

During the summer season you can ride a free shuttle bus between Laurier Metro Station and the Belvedere Kondiaronk lookout. The 804 Shuttle operates every 30 minutes. Scroll down to the directions section below for more details.

The greenspace of Mount Royal is further extended along the western flank by two expansive cemeteries; Mont-Royal and Cote-des-Neiges and on the northeast by Parc Jeanne-Mance which has a soccer field, baseball diamonds and tennis courts. Dining in the park is available in the Pavilion located by Beaver Lake where you can choose from a cafeteria or formal dining room.

With so much to offer, Parc du Mont Royal should definitely be on your must see list and is a place where you can easily enjoy the better part of an entire day. For a completely different view don't miss the opportunity to visit one of the lookouts at night as well.

Visit Mount Royal Lookout Walk for our step-by-step directions and a park map that will guide you from Peel Metro station, via the trails and stairs, to the bevedere lookout on top of Mont-Royal.

Nearby attractions: Oratoire St Joseph, Musee des Beaux Arts (Museum of Fine Arts) and McGill University