Where to rent winter sports equipment in Montréal

Thanks to Montréal’s Parc actif program, you can borrow snowshoes, toboggans, spikes and walking poles at some of the city’s public libraries! Ski and skate rentals are also available from Poubelle du Ski, a one-stop-shop that offers a wide range of winter sports equipment rentals and services, including cross country and downhill skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, and hockey gear for both men and women. Equipment includes helmets, gloves, skis, snowboards, and ice skates to meet all your winter sports needs. LOCAPAQ lets you rent high-performance equipment that's perfect for Montreal winters. Also, Tuque & Bicycle delivers winter sports equipment directly to your lodging in Montréal.

In the heart of downtown Montréal’s Quartier des spectacles and just steps from cultural performance hub Place des Arts, Esplanade Tranquille transforms into a skating rink from mid-November to March. Visit the illuminated outdoor rink at the corner of Saint-Catherine Street and Clark to ice skate to music day or night, pick up a few tips from instructors, and maybe even see a surprise performance. Ice skate by night among the lights of Au Bord du Lac Tranquille, an interactive experience that lets you paint a trail of colourful light behind you as you skate. Bring your own skates or rent them there!

See a different side of Montréal's most famous park during the winter months, when Mount Royal Park boasts an outdoor refrigerated rink at Beaver Lake, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails, snow tubing and more. Starting in mid-December, rent ice skates, cross-country skis and snowshoes at the park from nature stewardship organization Les amis de la montagne in the Beaver Lake Pavilion.

Grab a map and explore Mount Royal on your own – the view from the Kondiaronk Belvedere is just as photo-ready and breathtaking in winter (and when you catch your breath again, you'll be able to see it – so “’grammable”!). Or go on a nature-inspired, eco-friendly discovery walk or excursion with Les amis de la montagne to learn more about the park's history and ecology and meet some locals too.

A charming natural ice rink lit softy all winter, with a fountain at its heart and surrounded by trees, the Parc La Fontaine ice skating rink is definitely unforgettable. Once the pond's surface is solidly frozen, locals and tourists of all ages can be found skating along the rink's meandering path, day and night. Rink-side, you can rent ice skates, pick up a new toque and mittens, and even take a skating lesson. Whether you're on a romantic couples getaway or looking for outdoor things to do with energetic kids, take advantage of the park's proximity to restaurants and stores on Rachel Street, Mont-Royal Avenue and Saint-Denis Street, where you can fuel up before or after skating or pick up a snack. 

In summer, Parc Jean-Drapeau exists as a perfectly green oasis and festival venue just across the Saint-Lawrence River from the Old Port. In winter, it welcomes nature lovers and winter sports enthusiasts for plenty of cold weather fun. The refrigerated Skaters Trail lets you skate among the trees and see views of the city along the way, while snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and fat bike trails offer a wintery way to explore the park – rent equipment on site with Patin Patin. Meanwhile, inside the Biosphère environment museum’s Buckminster Fuller geodesic dome experience exhibitions and activities designed to connect us with nature.

Skate like a pro-hockey player at BLEU BLANC BOUGE refrigerated outdoor rinks at Parc Willibrord in the Verdun neighbourhood (so many good restaurants!) and in Parc Hayward in LaSalle and Parc de la Confédération in Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce – they're bigger than most rinks because they were built to match official National Hockey League size by the Montréal Canadiens Children's Foundation. 

Thanks to La TOHU, you can borrow cross-country skis, snowshoes and even kites for free to enjoy winter at Parc Frédéric-Back, one of the largest parks in Montréal, boasting skiing trails in winter and biking and walking trails in summer. First come, first served for rentals.

Explore the forested areas of the island of Montréal on the cross-country ski trails maintained by GUEPE, a group of outdoor educators dedicated to year-round nature appreciation. Rent new skis at nature parks including Parc-nature de l'Île-de-la-Visitation, Parc-nature du Bois-de-Liesse Des Champs and Parc-nature du Cap-Saint-Jacques.

If you’re looking to mix things up, or if the weather's particularly cold, head indoors to the lively atmosphere of Atrium Le 1000, a skating rink located in one of the city’s tallest buildings, Le 1000. A windowed glass dome allows the ice to be lit by beams of natural light, while seasonal dressing and year-round events maintain a festive mood. Featuring a soundtrack of fun tunes for your skate, Atrium Le 1000 also offers rentals and skating lessons for kids and adults, features a food court with several, family-friendly restaurant options and can be conveniently reached through the Underground Pedestrian Network from Bonaventure metro station.

The Old Port of Montréal ice skating rink is one of Montréal's most picturesque, with views of Old Montréal's historic architecture, including the neoclassical silver dome of Marché Bonsecours and the angels atop Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel (the one in the middle is the “Lady of the Harbour” in Leonard Cohen's song, Suzanne), La Grande Roue de Montréal, the Jacques-Cartier Bridge and beyond. Among the city's biggest refrigerated outdoor rinks, it opens in early December and doesn't close until winter's over in mid-March, amping up the on-ice fun with DJ nights, cardio workouts, karaoke and other themed events. You'll also find skate rentals for all ages, lockers and a warm-up area.