Oka National Park
Region : Laurentides (Qc)
Start :
Mont Calvaire
Plage d’Oka
Distance from start : 7km (mountain) – 12km (beach side)
Parking : Parking lot
Fee : $8.50/person (More info)
Trail Markings : Horribly identified
Difficulty : Very Easy – Easy
Washroom: At the start
Map : Given at the reception
Website : Parc national d’oka / Sépaq Official page
Notes : Dogs Allowed / Winter Snow Shoes trails
Dates of hike :
– 2016-10-06 • 7.97km • Richelle, Ben R., Cath. H., Mathieu L., baby Florence
– Many other summer dates
I’ve often been to this national park, mainly because of its proximity to my house. The trails are easy but horribly identified. You’d better be good at keeping track of a map on the mountain side of the trails. Luckily for us, there were many people in the woods on a tuesday so we just asked them. The locals know these woods like their own back yard.
Summit trail
We started the Mont Calvaire summit on the “sommet” trail. This is 100% in the woods with no view points. The forest is old and the trees are towering.
At the summit, there are a couple of piknik tables in a little clearing
Mont calvaire summit in all its glory!
Calvaire trail (Chapel)
Ironically, this is the second trail we do in a row that has a chapel. This is the only viewpoint along the whole trail.
Chapel on Mont Calvaire – Oka
Mont Calvaire Viewpoint – Oka
Beach Side
I don’t have many pictures but I did this one years ago. It’s basically a stoll in the park. Bring your bathing suit and enjoy the beach.
Winter Hiking
We did the beach side winter snow shoe hike many years back. The woman at the front desk told us it was a 2 hour trail back and forth to the refuge…. it took us 3 hours to get there. Prepare for a full day of hiking if you do this one. Since it’s so badly identified, maybe we got lost, maybe we didn’t… who knows?
One way or the other, this park is not at all challenging but is one of the closest ones to Montreal. If you go in the fall, that’s the region where all the good apple picking happens as well. You’ll have time for everything… unless you decide to do the same trail again and again.
Happy Hiking