Mount Royal with kids: the easy route, even with a stroller

At a glance: a free 2–3 hour outing, doable with an all-terrain stroller and kids from age 4–5. The best effort-to-view ratio in Montréal, as long as you pick the right starting point.

Mount Royal is Montréal’s green lung and the postcard view of downtown. But with kids, the question isn’t “should we go?” — it’s “where do we start so nobody melts down halfway?”. Here’s the route that works for us.

Why go

• The view from the Kondiaronk lookout over the skyscrapers and the river.
• It’s free, open year-round, and you can spend an hour or a whole day.
• There’s space to run, picnic and, in winter, go sliding.
• The park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed New York’s Central Park.

Getting there: the right starting point

This is the tip of this post: don’t start with the Peel Street stairs if you have kids or a stroller. It’s the best-known climb, but it ends with a long series of steep steps.

Start instead at Smith House on Remembrance Road, already at the top of the mountain:

• By bus: STM line 11 runs along Remembrance Road and serves the park. From Mont-Royal metro station, it’s the easiest option.
• By car: there are paid parking lots near Smith House and Beaver Lake. They fill up fast on summer weekends.

The route

1. Smith House: restrooms, a small café and park information. Stock up here.
2. To the Kondiaronk lookout: about 10–15 minutes on a wide, almost flat path. Very stroller-friendly.
3. The lookout and chalet: photo time, then a break inside the chalet (restrooms, heated in winter).
4. Back via Beaver Lake: a bit more walking, with lawns for picnics and, depending on the season, sliding and skating.

Keen walkers can add the Mount Royal Cross, about 20 minutes from the lookout along the trails.

What we loved

• The main path (Olmsted Road) is wide and gently sloped, perfect for little legs.
• You can do a very short loop (Smith House → lookout → back) if the weather turns.
• On summer Sundays, the Tam-Tams at the foot of the mountain near the George-Étienne Cartier Monument: a unique, free atmosphere.

What we liked less

• The lookout is packed at sunset, especially in summer. For a quiet photo, go in the morning.
• Parking is paid and fills up quickly. The bus is often less stressful.
• Few food options at the top: bring snacks and water.
• The main path is gravel: a city stroller with small wheels will struggle.

With kids

• Best age: from 4–5 on foot for the full route. Younger: carrier or all-terrain stroller.
• Restrooms: at Smith House, the lookout chalet and near Beaver Lake.
• Motivation tip: promise sliding (winter) or a lakeside picnic (summer) as the end-of-walk reward.

Practical info

• Starting address: Smith House, 1260 Remembrance Road, Montréal
• Hours: the park is open daily, 6 a.m. to midnight
• Price: free (paid parking)
• Time needed: 2–3 hours with kids
• Best time: mornings or weekdays. October for fall colours.

Our verdict

A must, as long as you start from the top. With that starting point, it’s one of the easiest (and cheapest) family outings in Montréal.

Info checked on October 20, 2026. Hours and parking rates may change: check the Les amis de la montagne website before you go.