Mont Saint-Hilaire – Gault Nature Reserve

The Gault nature reserve on Mont Saint-Hilaire takes its name from its purchaser, Brigadier A. H Gault. From the moment he appropriated the mountain in 1913, he wished to protect its natural qualities. In 1958, Mr. Gault bequeathed the land to McGill University, and since then the mountain has been dedicated to environmental protection, scientific research, education and recreation. In 1960, Mont Saint-Hilaire was recognized as a Migratory Bird Sanctuary, and in 1978, as Canada’s first Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.

The site offers a network of 24 km of groomed trails winding through the mountain in a forest where some trees are over a hundred years old. The oldest are the 500-year-old cedars that populate the Dieppe cliff. There are also rare stands such as the summit oak groves. You’ll have access to Lac Hertel in the center of the mountain, as well as four summits: Burned Hill (300 m), Dieppe (381 m), Rocky (400 m), and by far the most popular, Pain de sucre (411 m). From the latter, you can see the Olympic Stadium in Montreal and the Adirondack Mountains in New York State.

In winter, the trails can be explored on foot. Given the high level of use, they are well groomed. Snowshoeing is still possible, especially after a good snowfall. There are also 3 trails totalling 14 km for cross-country skiing.