Terra-Cotta Natural Park

Visitors can explore the 4.4 kilometres of hiking trails, enhanced by 12 interpretive panels that enrich the experience, providing visitors with information on local wildlife. In any season, the park offers a wide range of outdoor activities, including hiking and birdwatching in summer, snowshoeing in winter, and even artificial sports fields for sports enthusiasts.

See map of hiking trails

The Terra-Cotta Natural Park is also an example of active conservation. Initiatives such as the planting of native vegetation and the installation of nest boxes for birds and bats are aimed at preserving and enriching this precious ecosystem.

Whether you are a nature enthusiast or simply looking for a quiet place to recharge your batteries, Terra-Cotta Natural Park is a must-see destination in Pointe-Claire.

Help Us Preserve the Park

• Stay on the trails.
• Do not remove any natural elements (animals, plants, wood, stones, etc.).
• Do not feed the animals.
• Put your garbage in the bins at the park’s entrances.
• Keep your dog on a leash at all times.
• Put your dog’s excrement in an airtight bag and dispose of it in a bin at the park entrance.

History

Located in Montréal’s Hochelaga neighbourhood, the Montréal Terra Cotta and Lumber Co. was founded in 1888 by the honourable Alphonse Desjardins. A few years later, a major clay seam was discovered in Pointe-Claire on land used for agricultural production and firewood. The company bought the land and began extracting the clay in 1912.

Alphonse Desjardins (1841-1912), lawyer, journalist and industrialist, served 18 years as a member of the House of Commons, then as a senator. The title “honourable” distinguishes him from Alphonse Desjardins, founder of the Caisses populaires Desjardins, who lived during the same period.