Attraction
Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal
Gothic Revival basilica on Place d'Armes in Old Montreal, known for its deep blue, star-studded vaults, its 1891 Casavant organ and the AURA evening light show.
Mount Royal Park
Frederick Law Olmsted's park on the mountain that gives Montreal its name, with the Kondiaronk Belvedere city view, Beaver Lake, forest trails and winter sports.
At a glance
- Type
- Urban park and lookout
- Area
- Mount Royal, Montreal, Canada
- Official site
- lemontroyal.qc.ca
Good to know
- Free entry
- Kondiaronk Belvedere
- Beaver Lake
- Winter sports
- Equipment rental
Why we recommend it
Mount Royal is the hill at the centre of Montreal, and its park has been public land since 1876. It was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the landscape architect who also worked on Central Park in New York, although many of his plans were abandoned during the economic depression of the 1870s. Today the park covers about 2.14 square kilometres of woodland, meadows and paths, and it is looked after with the help of the charity Les amis de la montagne.
The classic goal is the Kondiaronk Belvedere, a semicircular plaza built in 1906 beside the Mount Royal Chalet, which looks straight over the downtown towers. A second lookout near the summit faces east across the city. The illuminated cross on the summit, 31.4 metres tall, was installed in 1924 and is visible from much of Montreal at night.
On the western side, Beaver Lake is a small artificial lake set in a grassy clearing, with Smith House, an interpretation centre, close by. In summer the east slope near the George-Étienne Cartier Monument hosts the Tam-Tams, an informal drumming gathering on Sunday afternoons that draws dancers, picnickers and families.
There are several ways up. The long Peel staircase climbs from Peel Street downtown to the Kondiaronk Belvedere, while the main Olmsted path winds gently from the foot of the Cartier monument to the summit and the lookouts. You can also enter from rue Duluth or by the earthen chemin de l'Escarpement on the east side. Two roads, Camillien Houde Way and Côte-des-Neiges Road, cross the mountain for drivers and cyclists.
The park works in every season. In winter there is a snow tube and toboggan run on a former ski slope, seven groomed trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing covering 18 kilometres, and skating on Beaver Lake, which is free if you bring your own skates. Equipment rental is available on site.
It suits walkers, runners, families and anyone who wants a free view over the city. Allow at least two hours to reach the belvedere on foot and return, and wear proper shoes, as the staircase and forest paths are steep in places. Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal is also on Mount Royal, in Côte-des-Neiges, so the two can be combined in a long day.
Mount Royal Park FAQs
Is the park free?
Yes. Entry to the park is free.
Who designed the park?
Frederick Law Olmsted, who also worked on Central Park in New York. The park opened in 1876.
Where is the best view?
The Kondiaronk Belvedere beside the Mount Royal Chalet looks over downtown.
How do you walk up from downtown?
Take the Peel staircase from Peel Street, or follow the Olmsted path from the George-Étienne Cartier Monument.
What are the Tam-Tams?
An informal drumming gathering on the east slope near the Cartier monument on summer Sunday afternoons.
What can you do in winter?
Snow tubing, tobogganing, 18 kilometres of cross-country ski and snowshoe trails, and skating on Beaver Lake.
Can you rent equipment?
Yes. Outdoor equipment rental and snow tubing are offered on site.
How tall is the cross?
The illuminated cross on the summit is 31.4 metres tall and dates from 1924.