The university received this territory – starting from an area of 66 square kilometres (25 sq mi) – from Government of Quebec in 1964 by an emphyteutic lease of 99 years.

In 2014, the Forêt Montmorency benefited from an extension which brought its area to 397 square kilometres (153 sq mi).

Over a hundred dissertations and theses dealing with one aspect or the other of the Montmorency Forest have been deposited at the Faculty of Graduate Studies of the University Laval since the creation of the experimental station.

Cuts with soil protection (CPRS [fr]) of limited dimensions are practiced gradually and irregularly, so that the forest presents a mosaic of stands of different ages.

The thick layer of snow also makes the forest an excellent place for snowshoeing.