Piedmont and Prevost
Integrating conservation and public accessibility at the Alfred-Kelly Nature Reserve
Peregrine falcon (Photo by Jean-François Plouffe)
Located just 60 kilometres from Montreal, the Alfred-Kelly Nature Reserve is nestled in the Piedmont and Prévost Escarpments of the Laurentians. This 500-hectare nature reserve in the heart of one of the region’s iconic natural areas combines conservation and public access.
The nature reserve was named in honour of a generous donor, who was both a bird and nature enthusiast. The reserve was established by the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), with the help of local, regional and government partners. The escarpments in the reserve provide refuge for more than 80 per cent of all birds of prey species recorded in Quebec. Several vulnerable species, such as peregrine falcon, are found here.
The Reserve's trails are currently in winter mode. This means that for your safety, your boots must be equipped with crampons or snowshoes, depending on snow conditions. Trail surfaces may be icy, snowy, and slippery. Be prepared (water, food, clothing, means of communication, first-aid kit, etc.). Caution is advised!
Please respect the "Leave No Trace" ethos and pack out all your garbage. Reminder: trails marked in red on the map are designated for cross-country skiing. Hiking trails marked in blue on the map are summer trails only. Only trails marked in yellow are accessible to hikers/snowshoers during the winter. We ask for your cooperation in staying on the official trails and respecting skiers by not walking in their tracks. It is also prohibited to walk on frozen bodies of water. Happy hiking!
From the establishment of the nature reserve, NCC and its partners have developed outdoor structures that promote the discovery of nature while minimizing the impact of recreational activities on it.
These rocky landscapes are home to a variety of plants and animals. The property provides habitat for rare species and vulnerable species, such as smooth greensnake and pickerel frog, also live here. The property is open to the public for recreational and outdoor education activities.
Alfred-Kelly Nature Reserve, Laurentians (Photo by Mark Tomalty)
The site is open year-round for hiking on 16 kilometres of trails. In the winter it is open for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Ice climbing is allowed until the end of February, when peregrine falcons begin selecting their nesting sites.
Public access conditions, including the required membership in the Fédération québécoise de la montagne et de l’escalade, have been put in place to prevent any disturbance of current and future nesting sites. However, rock climbing (which has a more direct impact on peregrine falcons during the nesting season), dogs and bicycles are prohibited.
The trails are accessible from train station in Prévost, with the new pedestrian access that goes along the linear park of the P'tit Train du Nord. Three new access points are also available: at the end of Chemin du Roitelet, from Place des Hauteurs or from Chemin de la Rivière.
Acknowledgments
We would like to express our gratitude to all those who generously contributed to the protection of this site :
NCC would like to acknowledge the contribution of the late Mr. Allan Aitken, who facilitated the acquisition of the portion of the reserve's territory through the charitable organixation E.R.S. Youth development.
Parking is available at Le P'tit Train du Nord.