One-Week Wild Camping and Trail Itinerary in Montreal

Morning

Start at Marché Jean-Talon when the stalls are getting going, ideally around 8:30–9:00 AM. Allow about 90 minutes to buy trail food without overloading yourself: bread, cheese, dried fruit, apples, sturdy vegetables, and anything you can eat cold. For a week outdoors, avoid relying on fresh meat or delicate produce unless you have a cooler. The market generally opens in the morning, but individual vendors vary; bring a reusable bag and some Canadian cash, although most stalls accept cards. From downtown, take the métro to Jean-Talon station and walk roughly 10 minutes, or use a taxi if you are carrying bulky gear.

Late morning, head to MEC Montréal in Mile End to check the items that matter most before leaving the city: waterproof layers, stove fuel compatibility, a bear-resistant food container or approved storage system, headlamp batteries, and a compact repair kit. Allow an hour, but confirm the store’s current hours before going; May opening times and stock can change. Do not assume ordinary hanging food bags are sufficient for every campsite—check the rules for Mont-Tremblant National Park and Parc régional de la Forêt Ouareau before buying equipment. A short taxi or rideshare is easiest with packs; public transit is workable but slower with camping gear.

Afternoon and Evening

After lunch, make your shakeout hike in Mount Royal Park, entering from Monkland Street or Park Avenue depending on where you are coming from. Spend about two hours on the main paths and wooded slopes, wearing the boots and pack you will actually use. Check for heel rubbing, loose straps, and rain-layer access, and take a proper water break before heading back. The park is free and open year-round; its paths can be muddy in early May, so expect soft ground and occasional leftover snow or ice in shaded areas. From Mount Royal, allow 20–30 minutes by taxi or métro-and-bus connections to reach Little Burgundy.

Finish with dinner at Le Nil Bleu, a relaxed Ethiopian restaurant in Little Burgundy, around 6:30–7:00 PM. Plan on roughly C$35–55 per person and allow 90 minutes; the shared platters are filling, though ask about spice levels if you are not used to berbere. It is a good final city meal before the trail days, but keep the evening practical: return to your accommodation afterward, charge every device, label your food, and lay out your departure gear so the next morning is not spent repacking.

Morning

Start at Gare Centrale de Montréal around 8:00 AM to collect your rental car or confirm the regional transport arrangements. Allow roughly 45 minutes for paperwork, a vehicle inspection, and loading your food and camping gear; photograph any existing scratches before leaving. From downtown, take Autoroute 25 east across the Samuel-De Champlain Bridge, then follow signs toward Boucherville—the drive is usually 25–35 minutes outside rush hour. A car is the practical choice today, since trail access and later resupply are much easier than relying on infrequent buses.

Continue to Parc national des Îles-de-Boucherville for a gentle first outing, arriving around 9:30–10:00 AM. The park’s marked paths through islands, wetlands, and woodland make a useful shakedown walk before the longer northern sections; keep the pace easy and test boots, packs, and rain layers. Check current day-use access and trail conditions with Sépaq before leaving—May can still be muddy, and some seasonal facilities may not yet be operating. Pack water and snacks in the car, and allow about 2½ hours including stops for birdwatching and river views. Park only in signed areas and do not assume overnight camping is permitted outside designated sites.

Afternoon and Evening

After the park, spend about an hour on your Boucherville grocery and pharmacy stop. Choose a supermarket and pharmacy along Boulevard de Montarville or near Place Longueuil, where you can easily find fuel, stove-compatible snacks, blister care, sunscreen, insect repellent, and any forgotten toiletries. May blackflies can appear quickly around wetlands, so add a head net or repellent to your kit. Keep refrigerated food in a cooler and avoid buying more than you can safely carry; rural stores near the trail areas have shorter hours and less selection. Recheck permits, weather, fire restrictions, and the status of your planned campsites before driving onward.

For dinner, head to L’Anecdote in Longueuil, allowing roughly 15–20 minutes from Boucherville depending on traffic. Expect approximately C$30–50 per person before drinks; verify the 2027 opening hours and reserve if possible, especially for a weekend evening. Keep the meal unhurried but practical—this is a good time to eat a proper hot dinner, charge devices, and review tomorrow’s route before the drive north. If you have camping gear in the car, use a well-lit parking area and keep valuables out of sight.

Morning

Leave Montreal around 7:00 AM for Mont-Tremblant, following Autoroute 15 north and then Route 117. The drive is about two hours in normal conditions, but check Québec road reports before departing and download offline maps—cell service can become unreliable around the Laurentians. Fill the tank before leaving the city, and aim to reach Domaine Saint-Bernard by late morning. Park in the designated lot, pay any applicable day-use fee, and keep valuables out of sight; trailhead parking can fill on pleasant spring weekends.

Spend roughly three hours on the well-marked forest and lakeside trails at Domaine Saint-Bernard. May can still feel wintry in shaded sections, with mud, wet roots, and occasional lingering snow, so waterproof footwear and trekking poles are worthwhile. Follow the current trail notices rather than assuming every route is open, and carry water, snacks, and a downloaded map. This is a good first Laurentians hike: scenic without committing you to a remote backcountry route before you have checked conditions.

Afternoon and Evening

After the hike, drive into the pedestrian area of Mont-Tremblant village—about 15–20 minutes, depending on the trailhead and traffic. Spend an hour collecting any required camping permits, confirming campground or sector conditions, and buying forgotten essentials. The village has outdoor shops, groceries, fuel, and cafés, but prices are higher than in Montreal, so use this stop for genuinely important items such as fuel canisters, water treatment, or extra food rather than a full resupply. Check the official park or campground notices in person, particularly for fire restrictions and spring access closures.

Have dinner at La Diable Microbrasserie, allowing about 90 minutes for a substantial meal before heading to camp. Budget approximately C$30–50 per person before drinks and tip; the pub-style menu and hearty portions suit a night before carrying a pack. It is wise to arrive early or reserve ahead, especially on a Friday or Saturday. Before leaving the village, charge your phone and confirm the final driving route to your permitted campsite—do not rely on finding an informal wild-camping spot after dark, as camping is regulated on public and private land in this area.

Morning

Start early at the Lac-Supérieur sector, Parc national du Mont-Tremblant, ideally around 8:00 AM. This is a full backcountry day rather than a casual park stroll: plan on roughly five to six hours on designated trails, with a light pack, a map, and more food and water than you think you need. May conditions can still mean mud, lingering snow, swollen streams, and fallen branches, so wear waterproof boots and use trekking poles. Confirm the sector’s trail status and access requirements with Sépaq before setting out; park access and overnight camping require the appropriate reservation or permit, and parking is generally at the signed sector trailhead.

Afternoon

After returning to the trailhead, drive to the Lac Monroe Discovery Centre for a late-afternoon check-in, allowing about 45 minutes. Use the centre to confirm weather, fire restrictions, campsite access, and any temporary trail closures before committing to the night’s route. This is also the sensible place to refill water if facilities are operating and to ask about current wildlife notices—do not assume every route shown on an older map is passable in early May. Keep a fuel stove as your primary cooking plan, since open fires may be prohibited; opening hours can be seasonal, so verify them with Sépaq before relying on an in-person briefing.

Evening

Continue only to your reserved Réserve faunique Rouge-Matawin designated backcountry campsite, camping strictly at the authorized site rather than choosing an informal clearing. Set up before dark, keep your tent well away from the cooking area, and store food, toiletries, and rubbish in a bear-resistant container or the park’s required storage system. Prepare your packed trail dinner at camp—something simple such as couscous, instant rice, or dehydrated soup—budgeting about C$10–20 per person. Clean up immediately, strain dishwater well away from camp, and pack every scrap out; May nights are cold and damp, so change into dry layers before settling in and keep tomorrow’s clothing inside your sleeping bag.

Morning

Break camp early at Réserve faunique Rouge-Matawin and leave with enough time for the slower Laurentian roads—allow roughly two hours to reach Saint-Donat, depending on your exact sector and spring conditions. Check Québec road reports before setting off, refuel whenever you have the chance, and keep your offline map open: mobile coverage can be patchy. After arriving in town, park near Parc des Pionniers and take its gentle lakeside path for about 90 minutes. It is a good recovery walk after the previous day, with picnic tables and views across Lac Archambault; bring your own coffee and snack, as facilities may be limited in early May.

Afternoon

After the walk, have a quick lunch from your supplies in the village or at the park, then drive to the Mont Ouareau trailhead for the afternoon hike. Set aside three to four hours for the demanding forest route, including pauses at the higher viewpoints over the Laurentian lakes. May trails can still be wet, muddy, or icy in shaded sections, so wear waterproof boots, carry traction aids if conditions are questionable, and start the descent with plenty of daylight remaining. Verify the current trail status and parking arrangements locally before setting out; do not assume every route is open after the spring thaw.

Evening

For a proper meal, drive to Microbrasserie Brouemont in Sainte-Adèle, allowing roughly 45–60 minutes from the Saint-Donat area depending on the route and conditions. Expect about C$30–50 per person for a meal and drinks; confirm opening hours before leaving, since shoulder-season schedules can change. After dinner, continue to your reserved campsite in Parc national du Mont-Tremblant, using the La Diable or Pimbina sector assigned to you rather than pitching outside an authorized site. Arrive before dark, store food securely, and check the forecast: unrestricted wild camping is not permitted here, and official reservations, fire rules, and sector access requirements apply.

Morning

Begin at Lac Ouareau while the shoreline is still quiet, allowing about 90 minutes to enjoy the water and pack up camp. In May, the lake can feel distinctly early-season: expect chilly mornings, muddy access, and possibly lingering snow or ice in shaded areas. Keep to marked access points and avoid assuming that every attractive lakeside patch is public land. Afterward, drive to the Sentier du Mont Sourire trailhead for a shorter final hike of roughly 2½ hours. Check the current trail notice before setting out, wear waterproof footwear, and carry bear spray only if advised by local authorities—black bears are possible in the Laurentians, but food storage and clean camping habits matter more.

Lunch and Afternoon

Head into Saint-Donat for coffee and lunch at Café Ohana, budgeting about C$15–30 per person. Hours can change outside the summer season, so check its social pages or call before leaving the trail; this is also a good place to download maps and check Québec road conditions while you have reliable service. Keep the stop relaxed rather than lingering too long, then make your Saint-Donat village grocery stop for water, fruit, sandwiches, and snacks for tomorrow’s drive. Local shops may close earlier than city supermarkets, particularly on weekends, so do this before late afternoon.

Evening

Spend the final night at your designated campground near Saint-Donat, not on an improvised lakeshore or trail pull-off. Confirm the reservation and seasonal opening directly with the campground, as some Laurentian sites do not fully open until mid-May. Use the evening to dry your tent and sleeping bag, clean cooking equipment, and repack the car so departure is easy in the morning. Keep all food and scented items secured overnight, and expect cold temperatures even if the afternoon felt mild.

Morning

Break camp in Saint-Donat early and leave around 7:30 AM, taking Route 125 south toward Autoroute 25 and Montreal. Allow closer to 2.5–3 hours in weekday traffic, and refuel before reaching the city. For Parc-nature du Bois-de-Liesse, use the park’s northern Saint-Laurent access rather than trying to find street parking in the surrounding residential area; arrive around 10:30–11:00 AM for an easy 90-minute woodland walk. The trails are mostly gentle, but May can still mean mud and wet boardwalks, so keep your hiking shoes on and avoid leaving food visible in the car. Parking is usually modestly priced, though check the current Réseau nature access rules before driving in.

Afternoon

From Parc-nature du Bois-de-Liesse, drive roughly 25–35 minutes toward Old Montreal, depending on traffic, and return the rental car before exploring on foot if your accommodation or rental depot allows. Continue to Pointe-à-Callière for about two hours: the underground archaeological remains and multimedia displays are particularly worthwhile after a week of trails, giving you a compact, weather-proof introduction to Montreal’s origins. Buy tickets online if possible—adult admission is typically in the C$30–40 range, with hours varying by season—and allow extra time to walk between the museum’s buildings along Place d’Youville.

Evening

Finish at Olive et Gourmando, only a short walk through Old Montreal from Pointe-à-Callière. Go for a late lunch or early dinner before the busiest evening rush; the café is known for generous sandwiches, salads, pastries, and strong coffee, with about C$25–45 per person being realistic. It is a relaxed final stop rather than a formal celebration, and the famously popular room can have a queue, especially on weekends. Afterward, take an unhurried walk along Rue de la Commune and the Old Port waterfront—the best way to end the trip without adding another scheduled attraction.