Read About Our Favourite Spots for Winter Outings Around Mont Saint-Bruno!
Remember the old Bruce and Terry song that said, “Summer means fun?” They forgot to mention that winter means fun, too! The winter landscape is a perfect playground for you and your family to enjoy. And since winter seems like it’s going to stick around for a while, why not take advantage? In and around Sainte-Julie, in Montérégie, there are many places where you can express your love for snow. Read on to find out our favourites.
Parc Edmour-J.-Harvey in Sainte-Julie
Skating and sliding
Fancy a few spins on the ice or a fun ride on a slide? Parc Edmour-J.-Harvey in the town of Sainte-Julie offers a wide range of surfaces for skating, including Lac des Outardes. Would you rather sit yourself down for a ride on a slide? The park also has a tube slide! If you’d like to explore more of the town, you can visit its many parks, which feature skating rinks, skating trails, and sledding hills.
Les parcs Le Rocher and Parc Étangs-Antoine-Charlebois
Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, sledding, and skating
Parc Le Rocher in Saint-Amable is located on the former site of a 125-hectare sand pit. When covered with snow, the marshy and wooded landscape offers beautiful trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Not only are you in the middle of a park, you’re also in a protected natural area. There you’ll find a skating rink, sledding hill, and a wealth of nature to discover—even in winter.
If you want to take your snowshoes and explore the area even more, you can continue your trek in the neighbouring Parc Étangs-Antoine-Charlebois. Located on the border between Saint-Amable and Sainte-Julie, this nature centre is home to an array of wildlife, including many species of birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles, as well as a variety of plant species. While many of these animals hibernate or leave during the winter months, certain birds and mammals can be spotted year round. And even if you don’t see a single one, you’ll still have had a beautiful winter jaunt surrounded by nature.
Want to find out more? Check out this brochure on the trails and activities at both parks.
Ski Saint-Bruno
Downhill skiing and snowboarding
We obviously have to include the ski resort in Mont-Saint-Bruno. Grab your skis or board and hit the slopes! There are nearly 20 runs at Ski Saint-Bruno. You can also take advantage of the resort’s fun zones, which include the SSB and Sensatiö snow parks and the Enchanted Forest, a ski run where you can meet colourful characters as you go. Your little skiers will love it!
Parc national du Mont-Saint-Bruno
Cross-country skiing, fatbiking, snowshoeing, hiking, and sledding
Another regional favourite in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville is Parc national du Mont-Saint-Bruno. There’s no shortage of winter activities here! The choices are endless, from fatbiking, which is perfect for snow, to snowshoeing and hiking. The park even has a Ski-Viel, a device that can be adjusted and put on wheelchairs that allows people with limited mobility to enjoy a winter hike on snowy paths.
Mont-Saint-Hilaire Nature Reserve
Snowshoeing and hiking
The community can enjoy mountain access all year long at the Gault Nature Reserve in Mont-Saint-Hilaire, founded by McGill University. During the winter months, visitors can enjoy snowshoeing and hiking in the reserve. Mont Saint-Hilaire, with its diverse flora, fauna, minerals, and old-growth forest that hasn’t been cut since colonial times, is a unique spot for taking a walk and enjoying winter.
Parc de Montpellier in Saint-Basile-le Grand
Ice skating
When Lac Montpellier freezes over, skaters can enjoy the beautiful large rink in Parc de Montpellier, which features breathtaking views of Mont Saint-Bruno. It’s also where the town holds its big winter festival, Plaisirs d’hiver, in early February. It’s the perfect place to take advantage of the ice and snow!
La Vie en alpaga in Beloeil
Interpretive tour of an alpaca farm
Want to be outside, but don’t feel like exercising? How about a visit to La vie en alpaga, where you can learn about the amazing alpaca? Located in Beloeil, this farm raises alpacas and offers interpretive tours in both winter and summer to teach visitors about this mammal, originally from the Andes mountains.
There you have it! We hope these favourites will inspire you to play outside around Mont Saint-Bruno. Enjoy some snowy fun as the winter wind turns your cheeks rosy! There’s still time to get out and enjoy the winter wonderland.
