Top 10 Nature Reserves To Explore Near Montreal
1. Refuge faunique Marguerite-D'Youville
Google 4.7 Stars (1.6K Reviews)
Located in Châteauguay, less than 30 minutes from Montreal, Saint-Bernard Island offers exceptional natural and heritage riches! Two sectors make up this unique destination: the first, called the “mound” of the island, forms approximately 7% of the territory, while the Marguerite-D'Youville wildlife refuge, the second sector, constitutes 93% of the island.
480 Bd D'Youville
450-698-3133
https://ilesaintbernard.ca/ilerefuge/
2. Summit Woods
Google 4.7 Stars (822 Reviews)
A bird and flower sanctuary, as well as a magnificent urban forest. With its 231,000 square meters, or a little more than 57 acres, this wooded park is the largest of Westmount's green spaces. It is a carefully preserved urban woodland, crisscrossed with trails. Birds and wild animals find refuge in the natural habitats of this small corner of the big city.
Designated a bird and plant reserve, Summit Wood welcomes amateur ornithologists who, early in the morning, go to observe the species that nest in the small forest. During the critical weeks of the breeding season, April through June, dogs must be on a leash at all times.
The woods are also home to many species of plants and wild flowers. Counting on your collaboration to preserve this fragile habitat, the City asks you to refrain from picking plants and trampling the vegetation.
36 Summit Cir
514-989-5200
https://westmount.org/bois-summit-et-belvedere/
3. Montreal Botanical Garden
Google 4.6 Stars (25K Reviews)
On its 75 hectares, the Jardin botanique de Montréal presents a remarkably diverse array of plants to visitors in all season. Explore its beauty through some twenty outdoor gardens and its 10 exhibition greenhouses. "An urban oasis, the Montreal Botanical Garden has more than 22,000 species of plants, 10 exhibition greenhouses and around twenty thematic gardens."
4101 Sherbrooke St E
514-868-3000
https://espacepourlavie.ca/en/botanical-garden
4. Gault Nature Reserve of McGill University
Google 4.6 Stars (1.1K Reviews)
McGill University’s Gault Nature Reserve is a private reserve that protects nearly 1000 hectares of natural environment. Situated at Mont Saint-Hilaire, approximately 40 km from Montreal, this panoramic natural landscape is ideal for viewing the last great vestiges of old-growth forests in the St. Lawrence Valley. With its 25 km of trail network, it is open 365 days a year for the enjoyment of visitors.
422 Chemin des Moulins
450-467-4010
5. Alfred Kelly Nature Reserve
Google 4.6 Stars (832 Reviews)
With nature, create a prosperous world. The connection between humans and nature is the foundation of the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC); the idea is that we are one with nature. Through meaningful actions, we have the opportunity to work in the common interest, for a prosperous world. Because when nature prospers, we all benefit.
Our culture is defined by our values. These shape our interactions among colleagues, with our partners and with those who support us. More than the sum of its operational units, NCC is a dynamic community of people who passionately advocate for conservation. Our behaviors and beliefs support the actions that lead us to our goals.
1272 Rue de la Traverse
877-876-5444
6. Centre d'Interprétation de la Nature
Google 4.6 Stars (507 Reviews)
The Boisbriand Nature Interpretation Center is a natural conservation woodland of approximately 42,500 m2 , located on Rue de Chavigny, along the Mille Îles River. The Boisbriand Nature Interpretation Center contains a rich diversity of floral species. Discover their characteristics thanks to the botanical chronicles.
2N6, Avenue Chavigny
450-435-1954
https://www.ville.boisbriand.qc.ca/sport-plein-air/pistes-cyclables-et-sentiers
7. Berge des Baigneurs
Google 4.5 Stars (877 Reviews)
The Berge des Baigneurs is one of the only major riverside parks in Laval, which is at the heart of a lively neighborhood. In the future development, the City wants:
- visually integrate existing buildings
- highlight the heritage aspect through developments and installations
- create a signature through the quality of the facilities
- increase surface areas and plant canopy
The development of the new facilities on the Berge des Baigneurs, planned in 2 phases, will ensure Laval citizens:
- a place of cultural dissemination and heritage enhancement
- access to the shore and the body of water
- improved accessibility, traffic and parking
- rehabilitation and enhancement of natural environments
- a welcome for regular users and excursionists
- enhancement of the site and overall improvement of the facilities
13 Rue Hotte
450-628-5568
https://www.laval.ca/lieux/Pages/Fr/berge-des-baigneurs.aspx
8. Tremblay Woodlands
Google 4.5 Stars (502 Reviews)
With an area covering more than 260 hectares, the Du Tremblay woodland is the largest nature park in Longueuil. This unique natural environment in the region is home to a variety of flora and fauna, including the western chorus frog, a species with a precarious status in Quebec.
For several years, the City of Longueuil has been engaged in a process aimed at protecting the Du Tremblay woodland and its rich ecosystem, in particular through the request for recognition of wildlife refuge status from the Government of Quebec.
The City is continuing its actions to develop the wooded area while facilitating its access for citizens through the development of 2.5 km of trails, 800 m of footbridges and observation points which allow users to enjoy and to admire this exceptional natural environment and a rest stop with furniture.
4250, chemin de la Savane
450-463-7311
https://www.longueuil.quebec/fr/boise-tremblay
9. Lacs Fauvel
Google 4.5 Stars (186 Reviews)
In July 2017, the city of Blainville officially inaugurated the Fauvel lakes woodland, an area spanning 97 hectares made up of wetlands, including swamps, wooded peat bogs as well as two bodies of water. More than 100 avian species can be observed on this 3.5km circuit.
Plan-Bouchard
450-434-5200
https://blainville.ca/actualites
10. Société d'aménagement du Parc des Îles-de-la-Paix
Google 4.5 Stars (14 Reviews)
The Îles-de-la-Paix archipelago is a national wildlife reserve and a migratory bird sanctuary belonging to the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS).
Unfortunately, water levels surrounding the islands are kept higher, a decision made by the International Joint Commission (IJC) for reasons of power generation, navigation and stability. These high levels led to the death of the riverine forest and hence the banks became prone to erosion.
In 1991, the Société d'ménagement du parc des Îles-de-la-Paix, a non-profit corporation, was founded and registered as a charitable organization. This is dedicated to the preservation of this archipelago located in Lake Saint-Louis. The Society is made up of around fifty members and is supported by several organizations that it calls its partners.
1 Rue Hotel-de-Ville
438-491-4989