Centre de la Nature du Mont Saint-Hilaire
Mont Saint-Hilaire, one of nine Montérégie hills, is located just 30 km south-east of Montreal. Moreover, the proximity of the mountain with the metropolitan area should probably be one of the reasons for its great popularity. During weekends the fall months, the mountain can easily be visited by 7,000 to 8,000 hikers a day! On these days, it is recommended to arrive on the scene relatively early (before 10am) to avoid the rush on the trails. On a clear day it is possible to see from the top of the center of Montreal, with its skyscrapers and a beautiful view over the area. Interestingly, the Mont Saint-Hilaire is one of the places where we find the most distinct minerals in the world with more than 300 specimens. In addition, there can be found no less than 600 species of plants and about 180 species of birds.
The Saint-Hilaire Mountain is divided in to three separate areas. Hikers will find that the western half of the mountain is open for hiking throughout the year. After exploring and discovering the animal and plant life in the area there is also the option of visiting the biosphere reserve. The eastern half of the mountain is a section that is blocked off from outside visitors to help preserve the natural life in the area. The mountain is owned by McGill University which has a special department called the Gault Nature Reserve.
The biosphere reserve contains some of the oldest deciduous forest growth in Quebec. There are rare plants and animals all around the area because of the older tree and plant growth. One of the concerns of the area is that it is very close by to a large city. Growing amounts of pollution and traffic from the city is a concern because it can lead to plant death and once the plants die, there would be a loss of animal life in the area as well. The center also tries to preserve the area by having an apple orchard on the grounds and working with the growers of the orchard to ensure good soil quality and promote sound agricultural practices.
Following this great biodiversity, it is not surprising that UNESCO decided to make it a Biosphere Reserve in 1978! There are several trails that lead to its different heights or different points of view. In fact, the Mont Saint-Hilaire offers over 25 km of trails, all managed by the Nature Centre of Mont Saint-Hilaire. The trail is described here is the one that goes to the main summit, which is the Pain-de-Sucre trail. The trail is very well marked, broad and has no technical section. This mountain is an excellent family destination because it can be combined, depending on the season, several other activities in the same day. In fact, you can practice hiking, snowshoeing and cross country skiing. Even better, there is even the possibility to rent equipment at the Nature Center. In short, the Mont Saint-Hilaire is definitely the place to take a short family getaway out of the city and to introduce children to hiking.
The main focus of the Saint-Hilaire Mountain is on preservation and conservation efforts. There is still the western side of the mountain where visitors will be able to hike in the summer and fall and ski in the winter, but most of the mountain is reserved for the protection of the old forestation and ensuring that the natural life is well protected. This park is meant for conservation efforts, so someone interested in learning about conservation in Quebec will find this park’s resources especially helpful.
