Mont Orford, Mountain peak in Estrie, Canada

Mont Orford rises to 853 m in the township of Orford near Magog, in the Estrie region of Quebec, and is one of the highest skiable mountains in the province. It stands west of Mont Giroux, east of Mont Sylvio-Lacharite and south of Mont Alfred-DesRochers, with Lac Orford at its foot to the south-west. The ski resort covers three summits: Mont Giroux, Mont Orford and Mont Alfred Desrochers.

The name Orford first appears in print between 1815 and 1831, taken from the township. In 2006 the provincial government announced it would enlarge the protected area but sell 80 hectares of ski resort and golf course to private developers; the law enabling the sale was passed on 12 June 2006. After opposition from groups such as SOS Parc Orford, Environment Minister Line Beauchamp announced on 7 May 2007 that the province would not sell, and the park has since been expanded by over 100 square kilometres.

Mont Orford sits at the heart of the Eastern Townships, a region shaped by both French and British settlement, and outdoor life here is deeply rooted in local identity. Every season brings a different crowd: skiers in winter, hikers and cyclists in summer, all sharing the same trails.

The mountain is about a 2-hour drive from Montreal and can be reached by car on well-maintained roads. Weather can change quickly depending on the season, so bringing layers and checking conditions before heading out is a good idea.

The ski area spans three summits: Mont Giroux, Mont Orford and Mont Alfred-Desrochers. The resort is the home mountain of Olympic medalist Nicolas Fontaine, and a trail is named in his honour. In 2021, 4.5 million dollars were invested to replace the 1960s double chairlift on Mont Alfred-Desrochers with a quadruple chairlift, raising its capacity by 60%.