Val-David Regional Park
Region : Laurentides (Qc)
Start :
• Chalet Anne Picher (Dufresne-Val-David Sector)
• Chalet Far Hills (Far-Hills-Val-Morin Sector)
Distance from start : Variable
Parking : Discovery and Visitors Center – la Disble sector
Fee : 7$/day – 10$/day if climbing
Trail Markings : Ribbons and trail markers
Difficulty : Easy – Medium
Washroom: Dry stalls depending on which trail you choose
Map : Hiking trails / Bike trails
Website : Val David Regional Park
Date of hike :
August 18, 2014 (Ben and I)
November 5, 2016 (Melodie P., Alex B., Jean-Marc C., Sébastien M.)
Note : Mountain biking paths available
Val David regional park is a place where we love to go for our spontaneous hikes. There are good hikes for when you’re completely out of shape on top of being close to our home.
We’ve already brought friends on our trail and had a blast. There are some very nice viewpoints, especially at Condor and King “summits”.
Always remember to pay your entrance fee at the front Chalet. There is usually a ranger that walks the trails checking if everybody has their ticket. Also, when you pay, you make sure that the trails are well taken care of.
The trails in the park are all well maintained and usually pretty flat, except for the occasionnal push to get you up to the summit.
There are some free trails, that are not indicated on the map above. The start is at Chalet Anne Picher and they are indicated by blue & white tree markings. This trail is made to run between two villages, so don’t expect anything interesting on this one.
Mount Cesaire
This time, we spoke to the guy at the front desk who suggested we try Cesaire (north mountain) to change from our usual King/Condor combo. We were dissapointed by this trail.
The trail you take to go up the mountain is on the western side of the park, meaning that it is right next to the village. You wouldn’t expect that there would be so much noise coming from such a small village but they find a way. The most annoying was the street sweeper that must be 100 years old. Don’t forget that you are in a valley so the sound just resonates… ugh!
Once you head towards the eastern trails, the annoying noise stops and you can start relaxing!
When you reach the summit, you are in the woods (no view) and are greeted by some totems and a poster about trees and whatnot. The viewpoints are a little bit further on and give a view of the city and street sweeper.
Val David – View on the city – first viewpoint at mont Cesaire
Val David – Second Mount Cesaire viewpoint
Mount King and Condor
Thank goodness the first time at Val David we took the trails to these summits instead of Césaire. Easy-Medium trails are available and there are very nice viewpoints with little benches to raise your feet upon 🙂
Condor has two summits that are both worth seeing. At the western summit there is a belvédère to view the town and has the farthest view, usually packed with hikers, as well as a washroom. The eastern summit is a little more humble but with a nicer view of the forest & close mountains.
King summit also has a nice view of the close by mountains.
Lake Amigo
The name doesn’t sound very canadian, but you don’t get more canadian than this.
This lake is a breeding ground for loons (the ones on our looney … or 1$ coin for thoses that aren’t from around). There are a couple of observation cages but the trail goes all around the lake.
Loons are very shy creatures. The breeding period is between april 1st and july 31st (according to the posters around the lake). You shouldn’t approach a loon because they are bad parents and will abandon their young when hiding, making them vulnerable to other predators (or humans in need of a fancy omelette).
Lake Amigo – Little water littlies
The rest of the park
The rest of the park is mainly in the woods with a few belvedères that are marked on the map.
There are refuges along your trail that you can take a break from nature in, subsidized by Merell. They are mainly there for the winter to warm adventurous hikers
All in all, we love Val David and will be heading there again. The park is beautiful and well kept. As you noticed, the only problem was the timing of the city street cleaning and people mowing their lawns (seriously, who mowes at 12 pm!? It’s way too hot!).
Val David – Merell Refuge at Lake Amigo
Happy hiking!