Frederick Law Olmsted, the landscape architect behind New York City's Central Park, is also responsible for designing Montreal's best known -- and with the city of Montreal claiming almost five million visitors a year, it's perhaps the most frequented -- green space in the city. It's called Mount Royal Park, or Parc Mont-Royal, and its 214 hectares (529 acres) offer some of the city's most stunning skyline views atop Mont-Royal's three peaks, the highest of which rises a modest 233 metres (764 feet) above sea level. One of those three peaks belongs to Summit Park. A visitor's must-see and a popular local treasure, Mount Royal Park is packed with free or affordable outdoor sports and activities for all ages, especially in winter months. And the grounds offer a few history lessons too.
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Parc du Mont-Royal Activities
- winter forest treks
- cross country skiing (includes skate skiing trails)
- adapted cross-country skiing (seated)
- skating
- snowshoeing
- sliding / tobogganing
- snow tubing
- guided forest treks
- kicksledding
- Tams Tams
- angel-gawking
- cemetery tour
- picnicking
- walking
- cycling
- taking in the view
- pédalo
- birdwatching
Neighborhoods: Plateau-Mont-Royal, Outremont, Côte-des-Neiges, Downtown Ville-Marie
Get There: Mont-Royal Metro, Bus 11 (these directions bring visitors directly to Beaver Lake, the skating rink and sliding lanes, a popular starting point regardless of season; these are also the best public transit directions to reach the cabin that rents out skis, skates, snowshoes and inner tubes)
Parking: $2.75 per hour, $8 per day
More INFO: (514) 280-8989 or (514) 843-8240, extension 0
Friends of Mount Royal Website
