Parc Nature Pointe aux Prairies
Park Pointe-aux-Prairies is a large, remote park area with forests, ponds and forest clearings located near the Northern tip of Island of Montreal accessible by public transportation. This park is one of the top three in Montreal area and a mandatory stop for us every year, every season.
How to get to Parc Nature Pointe aux Prairies
To visit middle and east section, take metro line green until to the end station Honoré-Beaugrand and then bus line 186. The western part of the park area has been accessible in winter from the central part. Recently, this connection has been closed. You still can walk around the golf course on the left side of the highway but it is a long walk. Thus, access to the western part is limited because of lack of public transportation. Nevertheless, it is an astonishing location for photography and you should find a way to get there.
What to See Here
In winter, you can see White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) besides birds like different woodpeckers and hawks. During spring thanks to the different ponds, you can see and hear different frog species. Finally, in summer this park with the different ecosystems like prairies, forest, swamps, ponds and rivers is a place abundant of different species habituating these ecosystems.
Photography Tips
In this park area, we identified four spots of special interest.
Pond near Entrance: Close to the entrance in the central park area, there is a pond with a bridge. In early April, this pond is populated with hundreds of Wood Frog (Lithobates sylvaticus). You will be able to hear them from a distance.
Forest along Highway: All year long you will be able to see White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) which are a great opportunity for photos specially during winter months.
Pond Eastern Area: There is a large pond in the Eastern area with ducks and frogs and a pathway through the forest until down to the river. There is no guarantee to spot a specific species but opportunities for to spot and photograph waterfowl and forest birds. You need a large lens though (400mm +)
Crossing Two Ponds: There is a pathway between two ponds in the middle of the Western area of the park. At this spot you have a good view on each side. With a decent camera and tele objective you are able to take photos of waterfowl and other birds living in this habitat.
Observed Animals by Season
"x" indicates the species was observed, while "-" indicates no observation. Lack of observation doesn't necessarily imply that the species is absent. Data is derived from our park visit journals.
Observed Flowering Plants by Season
| Species | Spring | Summer | Autumn | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) | x | - | - | - |
| Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) | x | - | - | - |
| Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) | x | - | - | - |
| Woolly Blue Violet (Viola sororia) | x | - | - | - |
"x" indicates that the species was observed flowering, while "-" indicates no observation. The absence of observation doesn't necessarily imply that the species was not flowering. Data is derived from our park visit journals.
All content on this page — including photos, videos, and field audio recordings — was created by Karl-Heinz Müller, a Montréal-based wildlife filmmaker, sound recordist, and photographer. Founder of MUUUH and Québec Sauvage, he has spent over a decade documenting Canada’s natural habitats through immersive soundscapes and wildlife films. Learn more about Karl-Heinz
Last updated: 2025-10-23