People Watching at Mont Royal Lookout Points

The small mountain of Mont Royal is located smack dab in the middle of the island of Montreal. The mountain is more like a hill in terms of size, but compared to the rest of the city it is an impressive centerpiece, a remnant of an eroded volcanic complex. In the summer people walk, jog, and bike up to the top. In the winter you can go cross country skiing, sledding, snow shoeing and other snow friendly activities. It is very fitting to have this outdoor playground in the middle of a city with such active inhabitants. The streets are just as filled with people riding their bikes and walking around as they are with cars.
There is a beautiful view from the lookout point at the top of Mont Royal, just a short walk from Beaver Lake. You can see downtown Montreal, the bridges that connect to Montreal island, as well as Island Sainte Helene, where you can visit the biosphere or La Ronde amusement park. If you look closely at the picture below you can see a red roller coaster. During the summer there is a firework show every Saturday that you can watch from Sainte Helene and the Old Port. A different country hosts these shows each week. Sadly I have yet to see any of these shows.

Watching everyone with their bikes made me really nostalgic for my tiny, blue, city cruiser I used to ride last year.

This woman decided to get some sun after a ride to the top.
There is another lookout point at the opposite end side of Mont Royal. The only way to get to it is by car, or through a more discreet path from the middle of the mountain. The road less traveled if you will. Last year I stumbled upon it by accident with a few friends. The lookout itself isn’t too impressive (it is basically an extension of a small parking lot) however the view is worth it. You can see eastern Montreal, including the Olympic stadium in the distance. Also the sunset is much prettier from here, in my humble opinion. A couple times when I went up Mont Royal at night I noticed that people tend to convene here with wine and other alcoholic beverages, which I assume they do before going out. I’m not sure what the legalities are behind this practice, therefore it is probably safer if you enjoy a bottle of wine at a close by cafe.
I took this picture at Beaver Lake while the sun set last fall.