If you want a real hike without giving up your whole day, Montérégie is the move. All three of these are under an hour and a half from Montreal, and none of them require serious gear.
Good to know: Sentier Monteregien and Yamaska National Park are Sépaq parks, so entry is a flat $10.30/day per adult, kids 17 and under free (sepaq.com). Rocky and Dieppe is different: it’s on the Gault Nature Reserve, owned and managed by McGill University, not Sépaq, with its own daily rate currently around $8.78 (reservegault.ca).
Sentier Monteregien
9.5 km · 170 m elevation gain · Easy
Inside Mont-Saint-Bruno National Park, this is more of a walk than a hike, low on rocks and roots, partly on dirt roads used by park residents. Good shoes are all you need. There are views over Lac du Moulin and Lac Seigneurial, and I’ve spotted deer, herons, and plenty of other birds on different visits. A relaxed option for a family day out.
Rocky and Dieppe Summit Loop
10 km · 350 m elevation gain · Moderate
Starting in the Gault Nature Reserve at Mont-Saint-Hilaire, this trail eases you in with a gentle stretch to Lake Hertel before a steep, rocky 160 m climb around the 3.5 km mark. On a clear day, the views from Rocky and Dieppe stretch across the Richelieu Valley all the way to the Montreal skyline. There are other summit trails in the reserve too, including Pain de Sucre, if you want to build a longer day.
Yamaska National Park
Trails up to 19 km around the reservoir · Easy
An hour from Montreal, Yamaska National Park is built around the Choinière Reservoir and offers hiking alongside kayaking, paddle boating, and beach access, all in one visit. The trails are labeled easy, but know your limits. Le Grand-Tour, the longest option, circles the whole reservoir, so pick a shorter loop if you’re not looking for a full day of walking.
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