In Montreal, we are lucky to live quite close to so many parks and nature reserves! In a day (or even half a day), you can easily go for a nice hike and be back to the city by dinner. When I am doing a day hike, I don’t want to spend more time in the car than actually on the hike, so I try to stick with hikes that are less than 1.5 hours from the city. 

If you are new to winter hiking, start with a smaller trail because winter hiking is much more tiring than summer hiking. In addition to the energy it takes to do the hike, your body is working to keep you warm and stabilize yourself on uneven and slick terrain. A hike that would be easy in the summer may be moderate during the winter. 
See my Winter Hiking Preparation Guide for how to dress and pack for your hike!

Forêt Ouareau- La Grand Vallée Sector

Distance from Montreal: approx 1.5 hours

Price: $8.70/person

Difficulty: moderate to difficult

Features: summit views, snowy climbs, mountain top lakes

Website: https://parcsregionaux.org/parc/parc-regional-de-la-foret-ouareau/

This is my absolute go-to hike because it’s accessible, inexpensive, and has trail options with a wide range of difficulty. All of the trails branch off of the same trailhead so you can decide your distance and level of difficulty as you go. 

The trails have beautiful viewpoints with views of mountains as far as the eye can see. It feels much more remote than it actually is. It has some varying terrain including rocky sections, mountain top lakes, and multiple viewpoints which make the hike much more scenic. 

Some parts of the trails can be steep and icy, so I definitely recommend crampons. If you are just doing Le Sommet loop you will usually only need crampons, unless there was a recent big snow fall because this trail is fairly well traveled. If you add the La Pinède section, you may need snow shoes for certain parts of the trail, even if there was not recent snowfall this is  especially true if you choose the cut through and avoid the La Pinède summit. 

There is a large, fairly well shoveled parking lot at the trailhead with a parking meter which is often broken. If it is working, definitely pay or buy your pass online in advance and support your local park! There are outhouses at the trailhead and at the campsite on the La Pinède loop, however there are no other services on site, so be sure to come with a full water bottle and all the gear you may need.

Alfred Kelly Nature Reserve

Distance from Montreal: approx 1 hour

Price: Free 

Difficulty: easy to moderate

Features: lake with rocky cliffs behind

Website: https://natureconservancy.ca/where-we-work/quebec/featured-projects/piedmont-and-prevost/

This is my favorite trail for a half-day hike. It is quite close to Montreal and a fairly short hike, plus it’s free. Like Forêt Ouareau, the trail has many options from the same trailhead, so you can choose your trail as you go. The trail leads you to a beautiful lake with steep rocky cliffs behind. It is absolutely gorgeous! 

You can hike up a hill and around the lake, or if you would like a longer and more challenging trail you can take a loop that leads you to the top of the cliffs. If you are lucky, you can see some ice climbers as you hike! 

For this hike, it is very well traveled so you will not need snowshoes, unless there was a large snowfall the day before. You can bring crampons, but I find they are not necessary on this hike as it usually does not have many ice patches or steep climbs. 

I always park in Prevost in the lot for the Pit Train Du Nord behind the strip mall with restaurants on the corner of Rue de la Station and Route 117. This lot is free and there is no entrance fee for the park. The lot can be a bit icy, so definitely drive with caution. There are no washroom facilities, but you are quite close to a small town where you can stop at a cafe or gas station. 

Parc des Chutes Monte-à-Piene-et-des-Dalles

Distance from Montreal: approx 1.5 hours

Price: $10/adult unless you are a resident of the area

Difficulty: easy

Features: multiple waterfalls

Website: https://parcdeschutes.com/

This is my favorite hike for nice views because of its beautiful waterfalls. The trail is fairly flat, except for a few stairs, so it is great for beginners. This also makes a great trail run if you like winter running.

The trails in the winter are designated for either fat biking (available for rent at the welcome centre) or walking, so your hiking trail options are a bit more limited in the winter than in the summer. However, the walking trails lead you along the stream to see all the waterfalls. Make sure to dress extra warm and maybe bring a picnic, because you will want to sit and take in the views. Plus, dogs are welcome (for a fee of $6)!

For the hike, you will not need snow shoes unless there was recent big snow, nor will you need crampons. The trail is well maintained and there are stairs for any of the bigger climbs. 

There are multiple entrances to the park, but I tend to park at the Entrée Ste-Mélanie because it is closest to my favorite of the waterfall views. The entry and parking lot are well shoveled and maintained. There are washrooms available at the parking lot.

Regional Park of Val-David Val-Morin

Distance from Montreal: approx 1 hour

Price: $12.50/adult or $10 on Tuesday and Wednesday 

Difficulty: easy to moderate

Features: Beautiful woods trail with some lookouts, gear rentals 

Website: https://www.parcregional.com/en/

Not only is Val-David a lovely small town, it also has a great park behind the town with cross country ski and hiking trails. The park itself is gorgeous with moderate climbs through wooded areas with a few lookouts. 

The park has a great visitors centre where you can rent any gear you may need, use the washroom, buy some snacks, and sit by a fire. There is a seating and table area so you can warm up and eat after your hike. The welcome center staff is also very helpful in picking the right trail for you and providing a map. You cannot hike in just boots, so make sure to bring your own gear or plan to rent gear from the park.

I started my hike at Secteur Dufresne. The parking lot is well shoveled and maintained and you can park directly next to the visitors centre. Most hiking trails in the park start from this parking lot.

Mont Kaaikop

Distance from Montreal: approx 1.5 hours

Price: $10/adult or $8 for students

Difficulty: moderate to difficult

Features: steep climb from a lake to summit, great snow coverage on top of the mountain, snowshoe rental

Website: https://intervalcoop.com/

Mont Kaaikop is a great climb if you want to test your endurance and have great mountain top views. As you reach the summit, the trees are so densely covered in snow and gorgeous with view points that look out to rolling mountains. While the climb is tough, I find this is one of the most rewarding summits near Montreal. The park also has trails for cross country skiing and ski touring. 

I would definitely recommend crampons for this hike, as the climb is steep and you will need a good grip. If there has recently been a big snowfall, you may need snowshoes. Snowshoes are available for rent at the welcome centre if you need them. Be sure to wear layers you can easily add or remove because you will warm up quickly on the climb, but it is quite cold on the summit and descent. 

The park has a small visitors centre and many facilities as it is also a campground and cabin rental site. The parking is well cleared and located next to the Interval Outdoor Solidarity Cooperative building where you can get your day hiking pass and gear rentals. The site is a bit more remote and you will be on back country roads for a while leading to the trail. Be sure to drive cautiously!

Are there any other winter hikes you love within 1.5 hours of Montreal? Let me know in a comment, DM, or email!