Fall officially begins on September 22, but the nights are already cool in Montreal, and that makes us want to spend as much time as possible living like the “main character” in a “small-town” movie or TV series.
We want to be an Owens sister from PRACTICAL MAGIC (before the second movie comes out on September 11, 2026), we want to be a Gilmore Girl, we want to be Max Dennison in the original HOCUS POCUS, and we want a pumpkin spice latte.
To pick apples, walk through the forest as it changes colors, and stroll through a very charming village that looks like it came straight out of a fall movie, we’re spending the day at Mont Saint-Hilaire.
Mont Saint-Hilaire is about a 55-minute drive from downtown Montreal, or 1 hour and 11 minutes by EXO train (Line 13, departing from Gare Centrale—at the Bonaventure metro station).
OUR FAVORITE SPOTS IN MONT SAINT-HILAIRE
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THE MOUNTAIN AND THE GAULT NATURE RESERVE
The mountain is one of the 10 Montérégie hills—in the Montérégie region—and rises like a monolith amid the region’s flat farmland. The Abenaki, the region’s Indigenous people, call the mountainWigwômaden, “longhouse,” because of its elongated shape.
The mountain is protected and studied by scientists from McGill University: it’s the Gault Nature Reserve. Its geological richness is at the heart of several scientific discoveries, and a mineral—Hilairite—is named after the mountain.
It’s a treasure trove of legends and folklore, and mysterious events to explore before visiting—if you’re not just going for the view…
Where? Gault Nature Reserve, 422 Chemin des Moulins, Mont Saint-Hilaire
When? The reserve is open every day of the year/
From November through March, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. /
From March to November, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. /
What? Online reservations only, $8.78 for adults and free for children
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CAFÉ CHEZ CHEVAL
After a walk in the woods, we recommend the pumpkin spice latte at Chez Cheval—which has been back on the menu since September 2—paired with a ham-and-cheese croissant. It’s simple, seasonal cuisine and one of the prettiest logos we’ve seen this year for a coffee shop.
Where? At Cheval, 290 Sir Wilfrid Laurier Boulevard, Mont-Saint-Hilaire
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PETIT & FILS ORCHARDS
To pick apples, get lost in a corn maze, and bring some local cider back to Montreal, we head to the very charming Vergers Petit & Fils. Vergers has over 20 award-winning ciders, and kids (and adults) can go scratch a goat under the chin before heading back to the city.
Where? Vergers Petit & Fils, at 1020 Chemin de la Montagne, Mont-Saint-Hilaire
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