The season of colors: our favorite places in Montreal
Feeling like you’re in the countryside in the city, is it possible?
Originally from the Eastern Townships and an outdoor enthusiast, Andréanne made it her mission, upon her arrival in Montreal, to find places that would allow her to enjoy nature while remaining on the island.
Here are the places she highly recommends, summer and winter:
Known for its hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing trails, we opt for the 6.9 km forest loop which runs along the superb Rivière des Pairies.
The best time to go? 1 hour before sunset. Summer and winter, the large expanse of sky to the west of the park allows you to enjoy a long and magnificent spectacle.
Visitation Island Park is easily accessible by metro, car, bike and on foot.
2. René-Lévesque Park
Surrounded by a bike path (which turns into a cross-country ski trail in winter), this park is popular for its vast green spaces, its sunsets and its unique view of Montreal.
Long-distance walkers and cyclists venture there from the Lachine Canal and cars have access to paid parking.
3. Mount Royal Park
A treasure often shunned by Montrealers. However, this iconic mountain has a lot to offer! 
By car, on foot or by bike, the many viewpoints provide a breathtaking view of the big city.
For nature lovers, many trails run along and intersect around this magnificent forest. In the summer, you can barely make out the buildings of Montreal because the vegetation is so lush. And in the winter, the comfort and calm of the accumulated snow makes us want to spend hours there.
In addition, it is possible to practice several outdoor activities: hiking, running, cycling, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, sliding, snowboarding (tolerated off-piste), ice skating (rental available on site).
4. Angrignon Park
A 97-hectare park at the exit of a metro AND a small lake over 1km long? What more could you ask for? Oh yes, birds! This park is known for the diversity of species observed, all year round.
Angrignon Park has 10km of hiking trails, 1.6km of which are lit at night. Inline skating is also allowed on 2km. In winter, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and ice skating are possible.
Wondering what's going on in this park or what animals are seen there? Visit the Angrignon Park Friends page!
5. Frédéric-Back Park
An unusual place with a rustic/post-apocalyptic feel (yes, yes) that deserves to be (re)discovered! This former landfill site has been revalued into a breathtaking green space and its multifunctional trails allow us to enjoy it 100%.
It is easy to get there by car or bike and a 25-minute walk from the St-Michel metro station takes us to the gates of the park!
On that note, I wish you great discoveries! And let's not forget that we don't leave any traces and we don't feed anything, except our curiosity .
❤️
Andréanne
