7 trails and parks to get away from it all
Here, every step is a call to physical activity in complete serenity. You can hike with your family, as a couple, with friends or on your own. Here are 7 parks and trails where you can stroll and fill up on nature and fresh air.
CIME Haut-Richelieu
First of all, Mont Saint-Grégoire is a natural and historical jewel. It is protected by the Centre d'interprétation du milieu écologique (CIME) Haut-Richelieu. And there are two trails leading to a summit with a breathtaking panorama. You can see Montreal, Rougemont, Mont Saint-Hilaire and the Adirondacks. Interpretive panels enhance the hikes, transforming them into epic and instructive escapades.
Centre-de-Plein-Air-Ronald-Beauregard
Then, the Centre-de-Plein-Air-Ronald-Beauregard welcomes you with a friendly atmosphere, enchanting decor and varied activities that blend perfectly. It's a great place to have a good time in summer. From water games and picnics to beach volleyball. Non-motorized boats can also be rented to enjoy the peaceful Richelieu River.
Center de plein air l'Estacade
Since 1979, the Estacade outdoor center has been inviting nature lovers to enjoy the great outdoors. With over thirty aquatic, sporting, ecological, cultural and winter activities. Not only do its vast grounds, wooded areas, playgrounds and hebertism make it a little paradise where you can move around and breathe in the fresh air, but equipment is also available on loan free of charge for an optimal experience.
St-Bernard Regional Park
This 210-hectare park is ideal for relaxing with family and friends. Explore the various trails and facilities, venture out on the permanent orienteering circuit, challenge yourself to a game of disc golf or mini-putt: the options are numerous. What's more, the picnic area, welcome chalet and snack bar make this a place where comfort rhymes with the great outdoors.
Park and Nature Trail
The spectacle of Canada geese in spring is a must-see to appreciate the richness and life to be found in this biodiversity sanctuary. A 2.5 km trail unveils a wealth of ecosystems, from Neville Nature Reserve to McFee Creek. And the walks are enhanced by birdsong. In this vibrant setting, a beaver lodge, a true feat of natural architecture, testifies to the vitality of the local fauna. Here, nature is not static, but unfurls to fill us with wonder.
Parc naturel des Parulines
A green lung in the heart of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, this biodiversity haven unfurls its 25 hectares of tranquility. Over 3 km of winding trails, wetlands and woodlands make this a place to discover again and again. Admire the royal hickory, an emblematic tree with a singular bark, then let yourself be guided by birdsong. You can then relax in one of the rest areas, in harmony with your winged companions at the bird feeders. Just a stone's throw from the hustle and bustle of urban life, nature soothes the spirit and reconnects you to the essential.
Parc des Éclusiers
Parc des Éclusiers is the ideal destination for a break, especially before or after a walking or cycling tour of the Chambly Canal National Historic Site. It's also a place to meet and relax in the heart of Old Saint-Jean. With its view over the water, its fireplace that lights up and warms up in the evening, its luminous bench featuring 26 paintings illustrating the fascinating history of the Richelieu River, and its proximity to the best cafés and restaurants, the place becomes a refuge as natural as it is urban.
