Boisé de l'Île des Soeurs
Not included on many lists of Montreal-area nature parks is the nature preserve on Nuns' Island. On different maps and signs this area is labelled variously as Domaine Saint-Paul, Boisé de l'Île-des-soeurs and Parc Adrien D. Archambault.
Whatever its name, this is basically a 26-hectare forest encircling a semi-artificial lake, the Lac des Battures. It's regarded as part of the Lachine Rapids eco-territory and the Pôle des rapides. The lake feels quite natural and is apparently simply an enhancement of a wetland that was already naturally present, and the park exists to protect a number of local species of plant and animal.
In the wooded parts of the park, many of the paths are overbuilt with wooden walkways and it's forbidden to stray off them. No doubt this helps control damage and erosion and keeps one's feet out of the marshier spots, but it does mean that walking is noisy: animals and birds have plenty of time to hide.
There are occasional signs with information about bird, animal and tree species, but they tend to be a little skimpy and don't include useful basics like Latin species names. The park is nonetheless a little gem of bird and plant life, the official site claiming that 128 bird species have been seen there. As for mammals there are the inevitable squirrels, and some trees show considerable damage from busy beavers, but these make no appearance when people are stamping around.
The list of park rules forbids bicycles but this doesn't seem to be enforced much. The park doesn't have ski trails in winter, either.
While in the woods there's a pleasant sense of remoteness and rusticity, but on coming to the edge of the lake, you see large buildings and new construction looming off in several directions. It's clear that although the park's surprisingly unspoilt, it's already partly hemmed in by development, with more on the way. Despite this, there is nothing in the way of services connected to the park, not even a public bathroom, and Nuns' Island is strikingly devoid of urban amenities like dépanneurs and cafés. Bring your own water bottle or thermos, and enjoy the walking trails in the woods for what they are.
The park is accessible by public transit by taking the 12 or 168 bus down from the metro.
Information 514-765-7270
