About us
The Gault Nature Reserve, owned by McGill University since 1958, is a research station located at Mont-Saint-Hilaire (QC) that protects more than 1,000 hectares of natural habitats.
Outdoor activities
We welcome you 365 days a year on our hiking and cross-country skiing trails.
Trail map
Our trail network is 25 km and 4 summits overlook Lac Hertel.
Opening hours (trails)
April 16 to August 31
Opening
Closing
A scientific legacy
Teaching and research are essential activities at the Gault Nature Reserve.
Adaptation to Multiple Simultaneous Stressors in Freshwater Bacterioplankton
Akhil Sanjay Kholwadwala, Ph.D.
Supervisors: Prof. Rowan Barrett and Prof. Jesse Shapiro
Affiliation: McGill University
Start date: 2023
Research area: Large Experimental Array of Ponds
Projects funded by the Gault Research Awards
Quantifying the form and function of aquatic plants in Southern Quebec
Doctorate project of Lindsay Trottier, a McGill student supervised by Lars Iversen. This project started in 2023 at Gault Nature Reserve and Wilder and Helen Penfield research station.
A Case Study on Ticks and Lyme Disease: Exploring the Impacts of Humans on Wildlife, Ecosystem Health and Disease Risk.
Kari Hollett, M.Sc.
Supervisor: Prof. Virginie Millien
Affiliation: McGill University
Start date: 2021
Research area: Gault Nature Reserve
Using Drones and Thermal Imagery to Estimate White-Tailed Deer Overpopulation on Mont Saint-Hilaire
Savannah Bissegger O'Connor, B.Sc.
Supervisors: Dr. Tim Elrick and Prof. Jeffrey Cardille
Affiliation: McGill University
Start date: 2021
Research area: Gault Nature Reserve
Monitoring the Effects of Herbicides on Bacterioplankton
Master's project of Emma Derrick, a McGill student supervised by Prof. Jesse Shapiro. This project started in 2022.
Assessing the Impact of Surrounding Microbial Community Interactions on Rhizobium Following Herbicide Stress
Maxime Guglielmetti, B.Sc.
Supervisor: Prof. Rowan Barrett
Affiliation: McGill University
Start date: 2022
Research area: LEAP
The Effect of Contaminants on Mercury Buildup in Aquatic Food Webs
Maude Lachapelle, Ph.D.
Supervisors: Prof. Irene Gregory-Eaves et Dr. Zofia Taranu
Affiliation: McGill University and Environment and Climate Change Canada
Start date: 2021
Research area: Lac Hertel
Finding Common Ground: How Hikers Influence White-Tailed Deer Space-Use Patterns in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
Master's project of Frédérique Truchon, a McGill student co-supervised by Virginie Millien (McGill University) and Martin-Hugues Saint-Laurent (Université du Québec à Rimouski). This project started in 2018.
Meeting and lodging
Gault has meeting rooms and lodging to suit whatever your group needs, whether for conferences, nature field courses, training or informal meet-ups. You can rent just one of our lodgings, multiple lodgings, or all of them at the same time for a single visit.
