”You always take your shoes off when we hike!” says a friend at the top of the Montagne Verte. It’s true, and it’s my way of absorbing the beauty of the landscape: feet on the rock and eyes on the horizon. I’m going to tell you about my favourite local hikes so that you, too, can enjoy the fabulous colours of fall.

In the “parc national”

One hike that’s a  must  in the parc national du Mont-Tremblant is the La Roche trail. This gradual, 2.4 km climb brings you to the famous lookout that overlooks Lac Monroe. The hike, an intermediate-level trek, can be continued by exploring the connecting trails of the Coulée and the Corniche for a full 7.2-km loop.

Personally, I really like taking the small trail that runs along beside Lac Poisson to reach the waterfalls.

At the Domaine Saint-Bernard

Families who want to move around easily with a stroller will like the Domaine Saint-Bernard. The infrastructure and facilities are a pleasure (interpretation panels, kids’ games and play areas, toilets, etc.) and the trails are well maintained. You can do the trail that runs around Lac Raynaud (A4) or walk down towards the Diable River (A3).

For those seeking hills, the narrow Mont Onontio trail (R8) is a loop of about 4 km that ends with a great view at the summit where, as if by magic, picnic tables await.

And there’s Tremblant…

There’s a huge choice of hikes at Tremblant resort. For the range of diverse ecosystems and lookouts that you will encounter, I recommend the Grand Brûlé. If the 5.5 kilometres of ascent have exhausted you, you can rest at the Grand Manitou or travel back down via gondola, which runs till October 20.

For a gentler adventure, use the panoramic gondola for the ascent, then take trail 360 to the observation tower. Fantastic views!

Up towards Labelle

Rising from the banks of Lac Tremblant, the Montagne Verte undoubtedly provides the best view of Mont Tremblant. Its bare granite cap is accessible via fairly technical trails that are best tackled by experienced hikers. It’s probably not ideal for young children, but teens will enjoy the challenge.

Slightly farther north, Cap 360 also provides an unobstructed view of the fall landscape. Go to the tourist office in Labelle to get a map and plan your hike: 6 km, 16 km or 20 km.

Find your trail…and protect it!

In every season, members of our community can have fun exploring a huge network of interconnected trails, and our job is to appreciate and take of them. We invite you to respect the following important rules: stay on the trail, don’t feed the wild animals, and leave no garbage behind.

Better yet, be like my running pal Richard Duquette and bring along a bag to pick up garbage that you find on your route. Have a great outdoor experience!