Saint-Hippolyte: Trails, lakes and outdoor activities

Saint-Hippolyte offers a variety of ways to enjoy an outdoor stay: trails for different activities, a landscape of lakes and wooded areas, and options for both warm and cold seasons.

A landscape of lakes and mountains

Saint-Hippolyte is home to a total of 62 lakes. The bodies of water mentioned include Lac de l’Achigan, Connelly, Morency, Écho and Lac-en-Coeur. The landscape also includes large wooded areas and several Laurentian mountains, whose peaks reach elevations of up to 400 metres. This means that, alongside activities on the trails, the area is defined by water, forest and a mountainous setting.

Saint-Hippolyte is also one of five towns that manage the Parc régional de la Rivière-du-Nord. The park’s trail network covers 43 kilometres in total; the other participating towns are Prévost, Saint-Jérôme, Sainte-Sophie and Saint-Colomban. This figure refers to the park’s entire trail network, not to Saint-Hippolyte alone.

Trails for warm and cold seasons

During the summer season, Centre de plein air Roger-Cabana has 19.3 kilometres of trails for hiking, trail running and mountain biking. If you are planning a trip around outdoor activities, you will find several named activities within one seasonal trail network. The figure indicates the total trail length, so your choice of activity is also an important factor in planning.

In the cold season, 21 kilometres of trails are available there for cross-country skiing, Nordic hiking, snowshoeing and snow biking. This selection includes activities on skis or snowshoes, as well as Nordic hiking and cycling. You can plan according to your preferred activity without confusing these options with an alpine ski resort.

Two shorter trails at Centre de plein air Roger-Cabana offer different destinations. The Art-Nature Trail is 500 metres long, accessible to everyone and features unique works made of stone or wood. The Express-point-de-vue Trail, also accessible to everyone, is a 2.4-kilometre out-and-back route leading to a viewpoint. Their lengths and destinations provide a clear guide when choosing between seeing artworks along the way or reaching a viewpoint at the end of the route.

More experiences and practical information

The entrance to the ecological trail in the Réserve naturelle du Parc-des-Falaises is at Parc-des-Falaises, at 617–623 Chemin du Lac Morency in Saint-Hippolyte. Parking there is limited. Keep this in mind when planning your arrival if you intend to visit the trail.

Parc du Grand-Héron has a public beach with a supervised swimming area and designated swimming zones. A different activity is offered by Aventures Plein Air: an introduction to dog sledding on a flat, two-kilometre route. The flat route is particularly suitable for young children, families and older people. It adds a distinct option to the trail activities and should not be confused with cross-country skiing or snowshoeing.

You can also include a cultural visit in your plans: the Saint-Hippolyte library has a multipurpose exhibition space at 2258, chemin des Hauteurs. You can therefore give different weight to nature trails, activities on the water and cultural interests during your stay. Guide your search for accommodation in Saint-Hippolyte by deciding which of these themes you want to shape your trip.

For the broader travel overview: La Rivière-Du-Nord.