Mont Royal in Montreal

Parking at Saint Joseph's Oratory, Queen Mary Road.

(S/E) From the car park, head towards the Oratory. Before starting the route, visit the interior of this magnificent building. After the visit, return to the front of the Oratory.

(1) Starton the left side of the building to walk along the Way of the Cross and its garden.

(1) Walk back past the oratory, then down to the car park and turn left at the bottom of the steps. Walk to the south corner of the car park. Continue to the right and then turn left onto Chemin de Kingston.

(2) Follow it along the pavement. Pass in front of the Chapel of Saint-Frère-André and continue for another hundred metres. You will arrive at the rear corner of the oratory.

(3) Take the small path that branches off to the right into the woods. When you come out of the woods, turn left along Devon Avenue. Leave Roxborough Avenue, go straight ahead, then turn right up Surrey Gardens Street to Gordon Crescent.

(4) Turnleft onto Summit Gardens Street, then right onto Summit Circle. Walk along the trees, following Summit Circle, which leads to a panoramic view of the city from a large lookout point above Sunnyside Park.

(5) Descend the stairs from the lookout and follow the path to Sunnyside Avenue, turn left for about 100 metres and then turn right onto Belvédère Road. At the end of this road, turn left onto Le Boulevard and continue to the end, at the intersection with Côte des Neiges. Cross the road and walk a few dozen metres to the right, to a staircase on the left.

(6) Go up the stairs and follow the path, keeping to the right at the next two crossroads. Turn left at the next one, then left again and then left again to reach Lac aux Castors. Approach the shore and go right along the lake to see the fountain.

(7) After the fountain, take the path on the right and follow it until you reach Olmsted Trail. Take this trail to the left towards Kondiaronk Lookout. Follow it up to a large crossroads with a water feature in a stone block.

(8) Continue straight ahead on Olmsted Path. At the next intersection, turn right towards the café (toilet). Behind it is Kondiaronk Belvedere.

(9) Enjoy the panorama, especially the superb view of the skyscrapers. Walk back along the building and return to Olmsted Path. Follow it to the Mount Royal Cross.

(10) After going around the cross on the left, take the small path on the left, cross Olmsted Path and take the path opposite (Escarpment Trail). At the next intersection, take the path on the left and follow it east to reach another panoramic viewpoint.

(11) This time, you can see the northeast of Montreal. Continue along the path to an intersection where there is a staircase on the right. Leave it and take the path on the left that joins Olmsted Road and the "Circular du Sommet". Take it to the right, after the left-hand bend, and enjoy the "Sunset" view.

(12) Continue south on Olmsted Road. At the next intersection on the right (old stone tunnel), a few metres further on your left is the "Circle Stone". Continue on the Summit Circular. Turn right onto the path that leads back to the crossroads with the fountain.

(8) Take the^second exit on the right, then turn left towards the visitor centre (toilets). Go around the car park on the left and return to Beaver Lake. Walk along the right-hand side of the lake to the Beaver Lake Pavilion (toilets). Pass to the right of the pavilion and take the path on the right towards the entrance to the Remembrance Car Park. At the car park entrance, take the path on the right, continue to the intersection and turn left. Cross Chemin Remembrance.

(13) Enter the cemetery and turn left immediately. At the next three intersections, go straight ahead. At the^{fourth intersection}, turn left and stay on this path, which leads to the Sainte-Marguerite d'Youville Mausoleum.

(14) Then walk past the small building, leaving the paths on your right and left. Then take the path on the left until you reach the exit. Cross Avenue Decelles and take Queen Mary Road until you reach the bottom of Saint Joseph's Oratory and its car park (S/E).

The cemetery at the end of the route closes at 5 p.m., so this hike should be done in the morning or in the opposite direction.

There are various toilets along the route, which are indicated in the description.

As it is not easy to find your way around Mount Royal, it is recommended that you use the GPS track.

Saint Joseph's Oratory, Way of the Cross, Saint Brother André Chapel, Kondiaronk Belvedere.

Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery (please note that it closes at 5 p.m.).