Morin-Heights: Trails, Forests and Historical Traces

Morin-Heights offers several distinct reasons to stay: a long trail along a former railway line, an extensive network of winter trails, mountain biking routes and a historically significant church. Depending on whether you mainly want to spend time outdoors, hike in the snow or explore cycling trails, different offerings will take center stage. These interests can also help clarify what you’re looking for when searching for a vacation rental.

The Corridor aérobique: a long route through changing landscapes

The Corridor aérobique is a 58-kilometre linear trail along the former CN railway line between Morin-Heights and St-Rémi-d'Amherst. Mountains line its route; it also passes through dense forests, valleys and rural areas, and along the banks of numerous streams and cascades. The route thus takes in a variety of landscapes. From June to mid-October, the Corridor can be explored on foot, on skis or by bicycle. If you’re making this trail the focus of your trip, you can plan your travel dates around it.

Winter trails with varying maintenance conditions

Morin-Heights maintains a 130-kilometre network of cross-country ski and snowshoe trails, including 65 kilometres of machine-groomed trails. The municipality also maintains 18 kilometres of snowshoe trails. The network also includes 65 kilometres of trails that are not machine-groomed. These trails are cleared in the fall, but are not machine-maintained in winter. For planning purposes, the distinction between groomed and non-machine-maintained trails is a useful guide. The characteristics of each trail offer different ways to enjoy a winter vacation, though not all sections receive the same kind of maintenance.

At Sommet Morin Heights, there are 12 kilometres of snowshoe trails. Les Sommets manages access to them; seasonal snow cover affects whether they are open. If you’re planning to use this option, check the latest opening information in advance. This ensures that your snowshoe outing is planned around the actual seasonal conditions.

Mountain biking routes: distances, viewpoints and difficulty levels

At Parc Basler, the mountain biking trail network covers about 15 kilometres; most trails are rated easy to intermediate. The network includes two scenic viewpoints and a loop around Lac Lefebvre. Sommet Morin Heights also offers an extensive mountain biking trail network, with terrain at varying difficulty levels. This gives you several useful points of reference for planning a cycling trip: at Parc Basler, the approximate distance, the rating for most trails and specific trail features are provided; at Sommet, the range of difficulty levels is the main consideration.

A short hiking trail and a site of historical and cultural interest

Parc du Geai Bleu complements the longer trails with a short hiking trail leading to a viewpoint. At the municipal rest area on the Rivière-à-Simon, cyclists and kayakers have access to the river. These two offerings appeal to different interests: one is a short walk to a viewpoint, while the other focuses on river access for cyclists and kayakers.

The Anglican Trinity Church and its cemetery add a cultural dimension. Their historical and social significance gives them heritage value; the church is one of the oldest surviving buildings in Morin-Heights. This means the area has more to offer than just recreational trails. If you’d like to include local history as well as activities in your vacation, the church offers a specific historical point of interest.

Discover more destinations: Piedmont, Sainte-Anne-Des-Lacs, Wentworth-Nord, Estérel, Ste-Marguerite-Du-Lac-Masson, Saint-Sauveur-Des-Monts, Sainte-Adele.

For the main travel overview: Les Pays-D'en-Haut.