Mount Royal Park

Mount Royal Park covers much of the forested hill that rises above downtown Montreal, and it is the city’s best-loved green space. The mountain gave the city its name; according to tradition, Jacques Cartier called it Mont Royal when he climbed it in 1535, and Montreal is a form of that name. The park was laid out in the 1870s by Frederick Law Olmsted, the American landscape architect who designed Central Park in New York, and he planned it as a place of woodland paths, open meadows and lookouts rather than a formal garden.

The summit offers one of the best views in the city. A lookout beside the Chalet du Mont-Royal, the park’s main building, faces west and south over downtown towers, the St. Lawrence River and, on a clear day, distant hills. The chalet, built in the early 1930s in the French Beaux-Arts style, has a large hall with murals depicting Montreal’s history, and it works as a welcome centre where you can rest and find information. A very large steel cross stands on the hilltop. It was erected in 1924, and at night it is lit, becoming a landmark across the city.

The park changes with the seasons. In summer, walkers, joggers and cyclists use the trails, families picnic on the lawns and visitors paddle on the pond at Beaver Lake. On Sundays a crowd gathers near the Sir George-Étienne Cartier Monument at the foot of the hill for the weekly drumming and dancing session known as Tam-Tams, an informal Montreal tradition. In autumn the maples colour the hillside, and winter brings cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and skating, with the snow-covered woods very quiet.

Several routes lead up. The most direct is a set of stairs from the Peel Street side, and a winding path takes you to the chalet more gently. Cycling and running loops circle the slopes, and quieter paths run through the woods. While the park is generally accessible, the terrain is steep in places, and good footwear is needed. Cemeteries on the mountain’s flank, including Mount Royal Cemetery and Notre-Dame-des-Neiges, add a contemplative note and a bit of history.

Visitors should allow two hours or more for the climb and the views, longer if you plan to explore the trails or stay for a picnic. The park is free to enter, with washrooms and picnic areas at the chalet, and it suits families, hikers, photographers and anyone who wants fresh air without leaving the city. Sunset is a particularly rewarding time to arrive.