Article

Parc de récréation du Mont-Tremblant

Published Online December 19, 2006

Last Edited March 4, 2015

Natural HistoryGeologically, the park includes the very old igneous rocks of the Canadian SHIELD and, in the south, the younger sedimentary rocks of the ST LAWRENCE LOWLANDS, all of which have been glaciated.

Mont-Tremblant, Parc de récréation du

 Québec's first PROVINCIAL PARK, Parc de récréation du Mont-Tremblant (established 1895, 1490 km2), lies in the LAURENTIAN HIGHLANDS about 140 km northwest of Montréal.

Natural History
Geologically, the park includes the very old igneous rocks of the Canadian SHIELD and, in the south, the younger sedimentary rocks of the ST LAWRENCE LOWLANDS, all of which have been glaciated. Two regions can be identified, the massif in the south, rising to Mont TREMBLANT (968 m), and the northern Great Lakes area, averaging 500 m in elevation. The park contains a major hydrographic network of over 400 lakes, 7 rivers and waterfalls, including the watersheds of the rivers St-Maurice, Outaouais and L'Assomption.

 The rich vegetation varies with altitude but includes maples, birches and conifers. The abundant fauna includes moose, bear, fox, hare, beaver, many amphibians, 193 species of birds and 36 species of fish (notably trout).

Facilities
The area was used for logging and gradually became popular for summer and winter recreation. The park was reorganized in 1981 into 4 recreation zones accessible by highway, and 3 roadless nature preservation zones. Mont-Tremblant is noted for its ski resort.