Hiking at Parc Les Salines: trails, hours and practical info

Parc Les Salines is at 5330 rue Martineau in Saint-Hyacinthe, in Quebec's Montérégie region. It covers about 105 hectares, over 60% of it wooded, and is one of the recreation facilities run by the City of Saint-Hyacinthe. Its trails and play area are free to use.

Trails and terrain

The City of Saint-Hyacinthe publishes six numbered trails. Round-trip distances, with the time the City estimates for children 12 and under and adults 65 and over:

• trail no. 1: 1 km, lit, 15 minutes;
• trail no. 2: 2.1 km, lit, 32 minutes;
• trail no. 3: 3.6 km, lit, 54 minutes;
• trail no. 4: 4.2 km, unlit, 63 minutes;
• trail no. 5: 3 km, unlit, 45 minutes;
• trail no. 6: 2.57 km, unlit, 39 minutes.

The City does not classify trail difficulty. To check the condition of the walking and cross-country ski trails, it gives the number 450 253-5082, extension 2 (a message is recorded every morning). The trail map is also available free of charge in the Ondago app.

Hours and access

The park is open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., and the Robert-Rousseau pavilion from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. The park's secondary parking lot (P-2) has an ecological toilet, accessible to people with reduced mobility. Parking rates and the number of spaces are not published: unconfirmed. Pets, even on a leash, are not allowed.

Park rules

• Notify the park staff at least 48 hours ahead for a group of 15 to 30 people (no reservations for more than 30 people).
• Free up the picnic table as soon as your meal is over: no table can be reserved.
• Use only the barbecues installed in the play area, and bring your own briquettes or bag of charcoal.
• Do not feed the animals.
• Shelters, marquees, tarps, hammocks, signs and banners are not allowed.

In winter

The City rents equipment there: cross-country skis, snowshoes, skates, skate aids, tubes, ice cleats, adapted sled, walking poles, kick scooters for snow and sleds for pulling a baby (Baby glider and Pélican). Each item costs $5 per hour, with or without the Accès-Loisirs card (the City does not state whether taxes apply); the padlock costs $1.61. Photo ID is required; payment is by credit card, Interac or mobile payment, and cash is no longer accepted.

The City's safety tips

• Make sure you have the ability and fitness required for the chosen activity.
• Plan to go in a group of at least two people.
• Bring water, even for an activity of a few hours.
• Plan footwear and clothing suited to the weather.
• Tell someone the exact destination and the time you expect to be back.
• Stay on the maintained trails.