By train or bus, the Exo public transport network provides access to at least ten natural sites in the northern and southern suburbs of Montreal.
These are parks or trail networks located within a 15-minute walk of a bus stop or train station. Here are three accessible sites, with round-trip hikes lasting an hour or a little longer.
Oka National Park
One possible route: route 744, 6 minutes on foot.
A hike to the Oka Golgotha will lead us to the way of the cross, built in the mountains by the Sulpicians. Since 1742, three chapels were built here.
From the top there is a beautiful view of Lake Deux Montagnes.
Departure from the Golgotha parking lot.
Regional Park Rivière du Nord.
photo courtesy of Hoan Luong
One possible route: route 709, 9 minutes on foot.
The most popular attraction in Parc Saint-Jerome is the Wilson Falls. The Pine Path leads there, passing under the majestic pine trees.
On the way to the waterfall, you need to take a short detour through the Sentier des arts, a 200-meter stretch with seven coastal wooden sculptures. One of them represents the famous botanist Brother Marie-Victorin.
Ecological Center Fernand-Séguin
photo courtesy of Héritage Saint-Bernard
One of the possible routes: lines 1, 33 and 140, 7 minutes on foot.
Ideal for children, trail nO 1 forms a small chain two kilometers long. Equipped with a pedestrian bridge, trail n.O 2 is slightly longer, forming a loop where the tit rests.
The attraction remains the same: attracting tits and nuthatches with seeds.
EXO: OTHER SITES AVAILABLE
Sentier de la Presqu'ille (Repentigny), Ile de Moulins (Terrebonne), Le Petit-Train du Nord linear park (train line 12, Saint-Jérôme)
To plan trips using the Chrono app: artm.quebec/application-mobile-chrono
March to the North
Photo courtesy of Val-David Val-Morins Regional Park
With 60 kilometers of trails and stunning views, the Val David-Val Morin Regional Park is a safe choice for hiking. As the name suggests, there are two entrances. Dogs are allowed on a leash.
Greve Regional Park
Photo taken from Facebook Regional Park Greve.
Departing from the entrance to Sorel-Tracy, we explore a magnificent forest with a 1.6 km long footbridge. There are some renovations planned, but there are still some beautiful routes.
Alain Demers – author of the book Rediscover Quebec: 101 destinationspublished by Éditions du Journal.
