13 great nature and outdoor things to do in Montreal – that most tourists don’t do
Last updated on June 15th, 2026 at 03:38 am
Montreal might be known for its arts and food scene but there is plenty going on for the outdoorsy and wild side lovers too. I’ve picked what I think are the 13 best wild things to do in Montreal – covering summer and winter! Let’s get going with warmer months first!
First a few important links to use when you plan your trip. They are affiliate links, but I use them all for my travels and if you do too it will help me keep producing this content. Cheers!
A Quick Guide to help you plan your trip
Flights – use skyscanner or booking.com to find and book your flight – I often find the same flight for a lot cheaper than booking direct with the airline!
Insurance – Use EKTA or SafetyWing. TBH I usually use EKTA – they accept any nationality, any age and its ok if you are already traveling – which is perfect for me!
Accommodation – use booking.com or for a hostel – Hostelworld. I use both.
Internet – buy a yesim eSim or Airalo before you go. I use both depending on where I am going.
Buses, trains, ferries – 12Go is always my first option for buses, ferries and trains
Car rental – use DiscoverCars – they are my ‘go-to’ car rental site
Hiking – I use AllTrails for online and offline hiking trails – it means you know exactly where you are on the trail and makes getting lost a lot harder!!
Tours and Activities – book with Viator, GetYourGuide, or Eatwith. These are my top picks for you:
- Go rafting in nature near the city
- Take a bike tour of the city or get a Fat bike rental on the Lachine Canal (winter)
- Jet Boat the Lachine Rapids
- Take a curling lesson and have a game
Thanks so much if you use one of these links – it costs you nothing but helps me keep writing!
1. Bike the city (spring, summer, fall / autumn)
Bike almost anywhere in the city but my personal favorite is the ever-popular Lachine Canal path which opened back in 1977! Check out the variation of buildings from houses to old factories (look for the amazing pink house perched high on top of an old silo) and ruins from the days gone by when this was an important source of power for the water mills, and for the flow of goods along the St Lawrence River. Enjoy the parks, beer gardens, and nature on the way. I like to stop off at the Atwater Market for some flavorsome food to feast on under the trees in the narrow park that runs alongside the canal.
If you don’t have your own bike, there are share bikes all over the place so grab one and go. The path follows the canal for 14.5 km, from the Bonaventure Expressway west of the Old Port to the Chemin du Musée in LachineI. And before I finish on the topic I have to add – the speed limit is 20kmph!! Perfect – no stress about getting there fast – right?
P.S. You can also go on a great bike tour using the cycle paths around the city, old port and more. They offer 3 or 4 hour rides, e-bikes if you want them, wine or beer, and the best part is they let you keep the bike for the rest of the day. I’d definitely book a morning slot!
And for a load of fun in winter – rug up and get out to fat bike! My favorite option is on the frozen Lachine Canal! But these are all great options – you choose!
- Fat bike rental on the Lachine Canal
- Electric Fat Tire Bike Ride on Mount Royal
- Park Entry with Fat-bike Rental – Îles-de-Boucherville (a bit out of town but a lovely ferry ride to get there!)
2. Hike in the heart of the city (all year)
There are so many parks and green spaces in Montreal, like Jean Drapeau Parc, Parc Angrignon, or Parc La Fontaine, I’d be here all day noting them down. But first and foremost on your walking or hiking list, and where you can have a longer hike, is Mount Royal Park!
Mount Royal has kilometers of walking trails – some paved and popular, but most are through the trees and quite natural. the first time I went I walked 18km – mostly through the small paths in the trees. You forget you are in the middle of a city of around 2million! There are also a few viewpoints looking over the city that you can get to with a little less effort!
Check out the best trails in Mount Royal and the city on AllTrails.
3. Swim the mighty St Lawrence river (summer)
Ok its never going to be the best swimming you’ve ever had but there are river beaches and you can swim in the rivers. Popular spots include Verdun beach, John Doré beach and Cap Saint Jaques beach – all pop up in google maps. Verdun and John Doré being a lot lot easier to get to if you don’t have a car.
Don’t expect a peaceful time of it if its hot, there will be plenty of others wanting to cool off too. Despite being in the north – Montreal gets very hot and humid in the summer.
Note that John Doré has an entry fee and if its hot you should buy tickets online first to make sure you get on the beach. Cap St Jaques has a parking fee. Verdun is free all round if you park on the streets!
If you just want to sit on a beach and read, you can try the Clock Tower Beach right in Montreal’s Old Port – parasols and sand available – but no swimming!
4. Go kayaking or boating on the Lachine Canal (summer)
Kayak, canoe, or even peddle boat the historic Lachine canal. You can rent kayaks at H20 Adventures on the canal. Read the reviews and be careful about your booking. But it is fun! An alternative option is to go with a professionally guided tour – Kayaking Day Trip to Lachine from Montreal
Alternatively, get a ferry to Îles de Boucherville National Park and rent a kayak there – a bit more of a natural setting and so easy to get to from the city! The bonus is you get a nice cruise down the river from the city if you take the ferry! Kayaking here was one of my favorite summer days in the city. You do need to be comfortable in the water – not really for beginners due to the currents.
There are plenty of ‘boating’ options as you can see below!
5. Go surfing – yes surfing! (summer)
There are two key surf spots in Montreal, and they are both on the mighty huge and mighty fast St Lawrence river. Its not like your beach surfing where you catch a wave that soon finishes. These spots have a permanent wave that you paddle out and back into then ride for as long as you can stay up.
The first is at Guy’s Wave – Vague à Guy and the second at Habitat 67. My daughter gave it a go when she was here so I had to go watch. Its great fun watching for a while too!
P.S. Guy’s Wave is easy to find. To find the wave at Habitat 67 – go around the end of the apartment complex closest to the bridge and you will find a path through the trees. You will see the spot!
6. Scream your heart out white water rafting, jet boating, or jet skiing the rapids (summer)
You can do either – and either way your likely to end up screaming as you hit the rapids of the enormous St Lawrence River! This is one way to really get the adrenaline pumping in Montreal – and a great way to experience that incredible river! these are some fun options:
1. Either Book a jet boat ride on the Lachine rapids, with a bilingual guide – French and English. Or take this 2-hour trip Jet Boating Montreal’s Lachine Rapids. Expect to get wet!
2. Go rafting in nature near the city, on the Lachine Rapids, or if you want to go a bit further afield in the mountains, you can take a rafting day trip from Montreal).
3. Try jet skiing – and you can try the rapids! Book this Jet Ski Sunset tour.
7. Rollerblade the hundreds of kilometers of cycle paths (summer)
My favorite place for this is from Verdun Beach all the way to Rapids Park and Vague à Guy (Guys Wave). It is a wonderful green corridor with a great cycling path the whole way.
There are swing seats, recliner seats, picnic tables, loos, and pretty much all you could want as you go – as well as the views across the enormous St Lawrence the whole way. Bring your own blades or rent them for a day or week at Boutique Solo inline.
8. Fly high on the Tyrolienne MTL Zipline (summer and sometimes winter weekends)
Wild but not wild? Maybe!
In case you’ve got a zipline addiction, or have never been before, its easy to access in the Old Port in the city. If you’ve done many its probably not worth it, but if its a first time – why not? You get good views of the river as you fly!
They say to book ahead, especially in weekends. So you’ve been warned – book now!
Note:
- You must be 13 years old to go on the zipline.
- Tickets are in the $20-30 CAD range at the time of writing.
- Nearby is Voiles en Voiles – an aerial obstacle course and climbing also in the old port!
9. Put on your skates and hit the ice (winter – and indoors in summer) or go curling!!
As classic as poutine in Montreal. With frozen canals, you know the weather is right for ice skating. There are many indoor rinks – but that’s not really making the most of the city!
Popular outdoor spots are
- Quartier des spectacles in the city center
- Beaver Lake below Mount Royal
- The Old Port’s Skating Rink
- Parc La Fontaine
You can hire skates at all these popular ice-skating places.
If that’s not for you – another Canadian classic is curling! Try your hand with a curling lesson and game and head to the ice all set to go!
10. Speed down a hill on a snow tube or taboggan (winter)
Mount Royal also has a dedicated toboggan hill overlooking Beaver Lake. And right next to it are lanes for snow tubing. (See them in the photo above.) Tickets are sold for tubing and tube rental at the Beaver Lake Pavilion.
In Laval, the Centre de la Nature also rents snow tubes!
Of course there are other places to go for more serious (adult) snow tubing out of town, like Les Super Glissades St-Jean-de-Matha about an hour away. But there is plenty of fun to be had in the city itself!
11. Ski or Snowshoe the trails in the hills (winter)
All over the city the parks like like Jean Drapeau Parc, La Fontaine Park, and Parc Angrignon, and of course Mount Royal, are great for cross country skiing and snowshoeing. Hire skis or shoes at Mount Royal and have a blast of a day on all the trails through the trees there.
You can also go snowshoeing on Îles-de-Boucherville – either just an Entry Ticket and Snowshoeing, or do a combo with Entry ticket with Fat-bike & Snowshoeing.
You can also try this full day guided ski trip, or this skiing or snowboarding day trip on mountains outside of Montreal – good for beginners as well as experienced skiers / boarders.
12. Make your own real Canadian maple syrup taffy in the snow (winter)
It may not be wild – but it is in a way – you do use fresh snow after all! And it is what you need after all that snowshoeing and skiing and….
You can buy taffy from plenty of taffy stalls – especially in the city and old port area. But its so much more fun making your own in real snow. There are two ingredients – maple syrup and snow!
Ok I admit – we ended up bringing snow inside on a tray because it got so cold!!
Here’s the maple syrup taffy recipe and instructions! Enjoy – it would be hard not to!
13. Bliss out in a hot pool with a view (any time but best in winter)
Spend a day in the hot pools.
Wild? Not exactly but the views are countryside-style at least and you might need it after all that snowshoeing etc!
The BotaBota Spa is well known – sitting on the canal in the (noisy) Old Port area. But my favorite by far, is Strom Nordic Spa on Nuns Island! Spend a day in a quiet location with peaceful views over the reeds and river, outdoor fireplaces, steam rooms, saunas, various outdoor pools from cold to hot and a range of relaxation rooms with fires…… Shall I go on? Yes its blissful. Yes take the whole day!
14. Bonus activity – go snowmobiling!! (not in the city, but this trip leaves from the city – winter)
You can really go wild with this trip. Personally I find it noisy and prefer dog sledding and snow-shoeing, but I get it for those that like speed (like my daughter). So I’ve added in this day trip which you probably wouldn’t have thought of on a trip to Montreal! The tour takes you to Saint-Hippolyte in the nearby Laurentines. From there you get on your snowmobile and zoom off (with a guide) into the forest and on toward Olympia Mount!
Frequently asked questions about Montreal
Q: Do I need to speak French to visit Montreal?
A: If you could hear my French – you would know – the answer is no. Of course it helps, but you can easily get by without it as many people are bilingual to a more or less extent. However, locals will appreciate you using some simple French greetings like “Merci” and “Bonjour.” Learning a few basic words will go a long way.
Q: What is the best time of year to visit Montreal?
A: I’ve been winter, summer, autumn and spring and all have their advantages! I do prefer the warmer months (except the snow shoeing etc you can do in the winter – but that’s not for everyone). So I suggest you visit June – September for festivals and warm weather, or late September-October for fall leaves, or December for the Christmas holiday atmosphere! May is pleasant too with its spring freshness.
Q: Is Montreal expensive to visit?
A: I rate it as moderately expensive by North American city standards. But you can save a lot by where you eat. Avoid the tourist spots and fine dining and you will notice the difference.
Q: Is Montreal walkable?
A: Montreal is very walkable when combined with the metro system. Great areas for walking are Old Montreal, Plateau Mont-Royal, Mile End, and Downtown. I definitely would not rent a car if you are just going to be in and around the city.
Q: Is public transport good in Montreal?
A: Yes – most tourists will use the metro which is very good – its reasonably priced, clean, reliable, and easy to navigate. Buses work on the same ticket system and are also easy to use and reliable. You can buy an Opus card -which is reusable and worth it if you are here for a few days or more. Or you can tap you bankcard on and off. A single ticket or OPUS fare is valid for 120 minutes and allows you to transfer freely between different metro lines, buses, or the REM (Zone A) at no extra cost during that time.
Q: How many days do you need in Montreal?
A: 3-5 for the highlights – longer for more museums, neighborhoods and festivals or day trips.
Travel tips for Montreal
- Tipping is similar to USA – 15-20% in restaurants, $1–2 per drink in bars, 10–15% for taxis and ubers!
- Sales tax is added to your bill and not included in advertised prices! Make sure tipping quotes do not include the sales tax – legally that is not allowed! (This sales tax always caught me out!!)
- To get from Montreal airport (YUL) to downtown the main options are the 747 Express Bus (cheapest, direct airport-to-downtown service, about 45–60 minutes, works with STM transit fares), or, taxi or Uber (fastest, usually 20–40 minutes, more expensive). Taxis from YUL to downtown operate on a fixed rate – from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. – $49.45 and from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. – $56.70 CAD!
- Pack for 4-seasons not matter when you visit! Well actually in winter don’t bother to pack for summer, but the rest of the year assume all weather can and will happen!!
- Must-try foods in Montreal – don’t leave without trying: poutine, Montreal bagels, smoked meat, and of course, maple desserts and taffy!
Where to stay in Montreal
Most people will stay Downtown, in the Golden Square mile, or in old Montreal – its convenient! There are other options of course. My first time here I stayed in Verdun – near Wellington St (said by some to be the coolest street in the world)! As long as you are near a metro, you can’t really go wrong.
Book your hotel with booking.com or a hostel with Hostelworld. I have started you off with some great options:
Luxury –Four Seasons Hotel Montreal or The Ritz-Carlton, Montreal
Higher End – Hotel Gault or Le Petit Hotel Notre Dame or Auberge Du Vieux Port or David Hotel
Mid Range – Theatre Hotel by Lodgo or Eurostars Old Montreal Suites & Apartments
Budget – Quality Inn Centre-Ville or Hotel le coach
Backpackers -try one of these hostels – Saintlo Montréal or M Montreal
For good value for a group / family – try this 4-bed apartment in the Old Port
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