Domaine St. Bernard

At the Domaine, the chickadees actually
eat out of your hand

The Domaine St. Bernard has a varied history.  Originally a farm over a century ago, the land has served as a refuge for parish priests, as a resort area, and as of 1999, a city-owned land trust to be preserved for the enjoyment of local residents and visitors alike.  The Domaine boasts 1,500 acres of hills, trails, lakes and rivers, offering year-round activities for those who love the outdoors.

Our first experience at the Domaine was in the autumn of 2010, right after we bought our chalet in the area, hiking some of the trails amid beautiful fall colours.  We instantly fell in love with the facilities and have since visited the Domaine in all seasons.  Here are some of the things we love most:

• Swimming.  Lac Raynaud is a small lake on the west side of the Domaine, about a 60-second stroll from the parking lot.  It has a nice beach area, well suited for children, and is supervised by a lifeguard.  Never too crowded, this little lake is warm, deep and very clean.
• Exercise.  The Wheeler Parcours circles Lac Raynaud and is a trail of about 2km, with a series of ten exercise stations.  The stations include stair climb, pushup bars, pullups, hill sprints and more.  Definitely a good workout that you can make more or less intensive depending on your preference, followed by a refreshing dip in the lake.
• Hiking.  The Domaine is flat and open in the centre where the parking, admin buildings and accommodations can be found.  But this centre is surrounded by forested mountains with great hiking trails.  Autumn is our favourite when the fall colours are out, but also enjoyable in summer.  Bring bug spray, although with the contre-moustique (biological insecticide) that the city sprays from May to September, the flies and mosquitoes aren't too bad.  September 2020 update: read our post on the amazing hike on Mont St-Bernard.
• Snowshoeing.  Read our full story on this wonderful activity.
• Cross-country skiing.  The Domaine is the official headquarters for cross-country skiing (ski de fond) in the Tremblant area.  You can buy your trail passes here, rent gear, and enjoy the many miles of professionally groomed trails.
• Astronomy.  The wide open clear skies at the Domaine are perfect for astronomers, and the Velan Astronomy Pavillion is open to the public every Saturday night for observation.  The discussion is in French, but even if you don't speak the language, you'll enjoy the viewing.

The Domaine as seen from Tremblant mountain

The Domaine St. Bernard is about a ten-minute drive from the pedestrian village and well worth a visit if you're in the area.  You can even stay at the Domaine...modest, inexpensive accommodations are available in the Farm House, hunting pavillion and main building, the Grand St. Bernard.  Check out the Domaine site for more info.