Easy Montreal Hike Guide: How to Hike Mont Royal & Find The Cross!
Mount Royal is a hill in the centre of Montreal island with a large steel cross at the very top that watches over the city and has become a popular place for locals to hang out and tourists to climb. As well as an activity to do when exploring Mount Royal Park in Montreal.
Look no further for an easy Montreal hike that will provide scenic views of Downtown Montreal and the Saint Lawrence river. Here is a complete guide to how to hike Mont Royal and find the Mt Royal cross.
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Visiting Montreal Tips
- Sort accommodation in advance – I use booking.com.
- Make Sure You Get Travel Insurance – I always use Coverwise when travelling unless on a working holiday visa where specific insurance is required. Coverwise is reliable, cheap, has straightforward policies that are emailed and kept on file and the website is easy to navigate. Find quotes for your travel insurance with Coverwise here.
- Download Uber to help you get around the city.
- Knowing French will go a long way here for the locals! Say Bonjours on Mount Royal in Montreal!
- Find your tours via Viator for Mount Royal Montreal and other city activities
- See my Montreal blog posts here
About Mont Royal in Montreal
There are two mont royal hiking trails: via the stairs and around Olmsted Trail.
This information is in regards to hiking mount royal Montreal via the stairs and NOT using the switchbacks around the Montreal mountain.
mont royal hike trail: Olmsted Trail
distance of total hike: 8.4km / 5 miles, to the lookout, the cross and back down
difficulty: Easy
mount royal hike time: hiking Mont Royal took us about 1.5 hour round trip
best time to visit: Summer is the best time to visit for the best conditions of Mount Royal hike Montreal, epic views and easy to navigate. I’m aiming to return for the Autumn foliage to see the orange and beige leaves on the full trees when I do the Olmsted Trail on the Mont Royal mountain.
closest accommodation: As the Mt Royal hike starts downtown, there are a multitude of options via booking
mount royal montreal address: 1260 Chem. Remembrance, Montréal, QC H3H 1A2, Canada
Mont Royal Map
Love Hiking? You must visit Banff National Park in Canada for out-of-this-world hikes. See all my Banff posts here.
Easy Montreal Hike – How to Hike Mont Royal Montreal
How to Get to Starting Point to Climb Mont Royal
By metro: Take Line 1 to Peel Metro Station which is the closest to Mount Royal Park Montreal. From here, follow Peel Street to the path at the Uni.
By foot: Wherever you come from, if you head toward Downtown Montreal (where the skyscrapers and central station is) before getting to Old Montreal, you will pass the entrance to McGill University.
By bus: Bus number 11 will take you to the entrance of the Uni near Tim Hortons (classic Canada).
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Directions for Mount Royal Lookout
Walk the length of the path within the McGill University grounds towards the main building and bear left.
Join a slightly inclined road so the main building is on your right.
Turn left.
Cross the road until you get to Pine Avenue West and Peel Street intersection and cross at the traffic lights.
This is the beginning of the hike up Mont Royal at the stairs or turn right to follow Olmsted Trail.
These are the first set of stairs:
Either follow every set of stairs you can see on this route as you go up or follow the switchbacks on Olmsted.
You’ll see many more stairs like this:
But the views start coming!
Continue on the path until you see the large building at the observatory.
Enjoy these epic views!
Related Post: Montreal Food Tour Review!
Join a guided tour to reach Mont Royal and the Cross with ease by searching availability here:
Directions for Finding the Mont Royal Cross
Continuing the mont royal montreal walk, you will want to the find croos.
From the lookout, turn your back to the city to look at the main building.
Follow the path to the left of the building (so the building is on your right).
This is the start of the circular loop that, if you keep following it, you will get back to the lookout spot.
After 20 minutes, you will find a small path that you can take to the right that will get you next to the cross.
Then you can either turn back on yourself to get back to the mount royal Montreal lookout or you can continue the trail to get you there quicker and to complete the loop.
Woo, you have completed the Mount Royal hike!
What Is The Montreal Cross?
The Mount Royal also known as Croix du Mont Royal sits at the top of the hill overlooking the city. It has been there, in one form or another, since the 1600s, starting as a wooden cross that the founder of Montreal placed there as a vow if the city survived flooding. Which it did.
Today it is made of steel, stands at 98 feet and covered in LED lighting.
View of Montreal from Mont Royal
These were taken on the way and at the top of the Montreal Mount Royal lookout:
Montreal Royal Mountain Hike Tips
- There are facilities at the lookout like toilets, cafe, picnic benches and visitor information.
- Wear comfortable shoes for the mount royal park hike.
- Take time afterwards to enjoy mont royal park with a picnic, some beers, music and enjoy the surroundings of the green part of Montreal.
- Note this is a popular trail so lookout for joggers, groups, dogs, strollers and tours.
Mont Royal Tours Including Mt Royal Park
If you prefer to hike Mount Royal Montreal while meeting other people who are doing it, or as part of a wider tour, see here:
Hope you find hiking mont royal Montreal easier with this blog.
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