Monteregian Hills Mountain

Website: https://www.ccmep.ca (regional info)

The Monteregian Hills are a group of isolated igneous hills and small mountains scattered across the Saint Lawrence Lowlands south of Montreal in Quebec. They stand as rounded, often steep-sided elevations that contrast with the surrounding flat agricultural and urban plains.

The hills are composed of igneous intrusive rock formed during the Cretaceous period; they appear as a chain of distinct ridges that include both urban and rural protected sites. Several hills are prominent local landmarks and host parks or nature reserves.

Examples within the group include Mont Royal in the centre of Montreal, with its large urban park, and Mont Saint-Hilaire, which is a designated nature reserve noted for botanical diversity. Other members include Mont Rougemont, Mont Yamaska and Mont Shefford, each forming a local high point in the Monteregie region.

Geographically the Monteregian Hills run across the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River in the province of Quebec, between Montreal and the Eastern Townships.

• Geology: A series of isolated igneous hills rising above the surrounding Saint Lawrence Lowlands that are remnants of intrusive volcanic activity from the Cretaceous period.
• Conservation and urban use: Individual hills host distinct protected areas and urban parks, with Mont Royal forming the major urban green space within the city of Montreal.

What to See#

• Mont Royal: Mont Royal within the city of Montreal serves as the urban park and highest of the range’s better-known hills.
• Mont Saint-Hilaire: Mont Saint-Hilaire is a protected natural area to the east of Montreal, known for its diverse flora and ornithological interest.
• Other hills: Other named hills in the chain include Mont Rougemont, Mont Yamaska and Mont Shefford, which appear as isolated rounded elevations across the Saint Lawrence Lowlands.

The Monteregian Hills are distributed across southern Quebec. Mont Royal is within Montreal and reachable by metro (Mont Royal station/Outremont) and buses. Other hills like Mont Saint‑Hilaire are accessible from Autoroute 20 (A-20) with local roads and commuter trains from Montreal’s Central Station to nearby towns.

• Visit Mont Royal (the largest of the Monteregian Hills) at sunrise for city views and quieter trails.
• Bring binoculars for birdwatching around Mont Saint-Hilaire - it's a biosphere reserve with rare species.
• If driving, use the Autoroute 10 corridor and then local roads to hop between the hills; public transport links exist but are slower.