The Gault Nature Reserve
The Gault Nature Reserve, owned by McGill University, is located at Mont-Saint-Hilaire and protects more than 1,000 hectares of natural forest.
Trail map
Our trail network is 25 km and 4 summits overlook Lake Hertel.
Opening hours (trails)
Nov. 1 2020 - Mar. 13, 2021
Opening
Closing
A scientific legacy
Teaching and research are essential activities at the Gault Nature Reserve. The first scientific studies at the site date back to 1859. Famous scientists such as Sir John W. Dawson, T. Sterry Hunt and Brother Marie-Victorin have explored the vast forests of Mont St. Hilaire.
Today there are over 400 scientific articles, nearly 100 graduate and postgraduate theses, more than 50 reports and approximately 30 chapters or books that have focused on Mont St. Hilaire.
LEAP (Large Experimental Array of Ponds)
Supervisor: Prof. Andrew Gonzalez
McGill University
Start date: 2016
Research area: Gault Nature Reserve
Featured research projects
Interactive impacts of global change on freshwater plankton: implications for lake food web structure and function
Marie-Pier Hébert, PhD candidate
Supervisor: Prof. Gregor Fussmann
McGill University
Start date: 2016
Research area: Gault Nature Reserve
Pollination services are mediated by bee functional diversity and landscape context
Kyle Texeira-Martins, Master Student
Supervisor: Prof. Martin Lechowicz
McGill University
Start date: 2010
Research area: Gault Nature Reserve
Ecological and evolutionary response of phytoplankton to rising CO2
Étienne Low-Decarie, PhD
Supervisor: Prof. Gregor Fussmann
McGill University
Start date: 2012
Research area: Gault Nature Reserve
The effects of landscape structure and biodiversity on ecosystem services
Matthew Mitchell, PhD
Supervisor: Prof. Elena Bennett
McGill University
Start date: 2011
Research area: Gault Nature Reserve
Flora evolution at Gault Nature Reserve
Robin Beauséjour, master student
Supervisor: Prof. Marc Vellend
Sherbrooke University
Start date: 2011
Research area: Gault Nature Reserve
As climate warms, mice morph
Virginie Millien, PhD
McGill University
Start date: 2007
Research area: Gault Nature Reserve
Outdoor activities
The Nature Centre, our partner in conservation founded in 1972 under the initiative of the University, welcomes you 365 days a year.
Meetings
Meeting rooms
Covid-19 : Meeting rooms are not available at this time.
We offer many options for organizing an event, from our intimate chalets to the magnificent Gault House on the shore of Lake Hertel.
Covid-19 : Meeting rooms are not available at this time.
In the spring of 2011 McGill University revised Gault House’s service offer to better fulfill its mission. Consequently, the reception component (weddings, anniversaries) is no longer available.
Lodging at the Reserve
Lodging
Covid-19 : Lodging is not available for the moment.
The Gault House has 20 beds, the chalets a total of 32 beds (16+16) and the Gîte 6.
