Bike or walk along the St. Lawrence, take a boat out on Lake Saint-Louis, and ride the Lachine Rapids in this water-surrounded area to the southwest of Montréal.
Bordered by the St. Lawrence River, Lake Saint-Louis and the Lachine Canal, this southwest part of Montréal offers many ways to enjoy the city’s beautiful bodies of water. Plus, visit nice parks, shop at a farmers market and learn about the early history of the city.
Rent a bike to take a ride on the 7.5-mile (12.1-kilometre) path that follows the St. Lawrence River from Champion Park to the neighbourhood of Lachine. This path continues west to encircle Lake Saint-Louis and returns to the Pole des Rapides on the other side of the St. Lawrence River.
Make a stop at the Parc des Rapides, which overlooks the Lachine Rapids. These turbulent waters brought about the construction of the Lachine Canal, since they made it very difficult to navigate the river by boat. Rent a raft to ride the rapids.
At the end of the path, explore the neighbourhood of Lachine. This features several historical relics from 19th-century Montréal, including the Fur Trade at Lachine National Historic Site. Tour the stone warehouse dating back to 1803, which was an important fur-trading hub. Today, it features an exhibition detailing the history of the fur trade in Montréal.
To the southwest of Lachine is Lake Saint-Louis. Rent a sailboat from L’école de Voile de Lachine to go sailing on the lake.
Head up the bike path along the Lachine Canal, which runs from Lachine up to the Old Port in the centre of Montréal. Atwater Market lies just off of the path. Located in a long, early-19th-century warehouse with a clock tower, this market is a common stop for bikers who ride along the canal. Make a lunch from the meat, baked goods and fine foods sold by Montréal farmers and artisans inside. Come during the summer or fall for a lively outdoor market.
