Where to go snowshoeing in Montréal
This article was updated on January 5, 2024.
Winter in Montréal opens up a world of possibilities for outdoor fun—and one great example is snowshoeing. This low-fuss and low-impact activity gives you a cardio workout, tons of fresh air and the chance to enjoy some time alone or with friends, family or fellow outdoor enthusiasts. Here are some top spots to strap on your shoes and get the most of our city snowscapes.
The snowshoeing trails of the city’s “backyard” are a great place to spot creatures furry and feathered as you walk among the trees. Be sure to stop off at the Belvédère for a pic—rosy cheeks, bright smiles and the glittering city in the background will make it an Insta-hit! Bonus: Les amis de la montagne offers guided snowshoeing tours at night. Rentals: Yes
Our lovely Lachine Canal is the perfect place to hear the satisfying crunch of snow underfoot as you trek along the trail. Featuring a 15-kilometre groomed winter path that links the boroughs of Lachine, LaSalle, Le Sud-Ouest and Ville-Marie, this walkabout is a total keeper. Rentals: Yes
Take your snowshoes to this popular Plateau park and watch the magic of a Montréal winter unfold around you, as people skate, slide and stroll around its twinkling pond and under its beautiful snowy boughs. Rentals: Yes
You can get in a quite a few kilometres at this much-loved 63-hectare park, whether you loop around it once or many times. The terrain is mostly flat, but it’s a way to stretch your legs in the outdoors, next door to the Botanical Garden. Rentals: No
Easy metro access (get off at Angrignon station) makes this 97-hectace park in Montréal’s southwestern quarter a perennial favourite. It offers 3 kilometres of snowshoeing trails, classic cross-country and skate-skiing trails, a pond and wooded enclaves for an outdoor escape at the heart of the city. Rentals: No
From limestone quarry to landfill to environmental gem, Parc Fréderic-Back is a sprawling urban oasis on a 192-sectare site in the city’s Saint-Michel neighbourhood. Trek to your heart’s content on 7 kilometres of snowshoeing trails. The white spheres (biogas-capturing wells) on its snowy swaths give this park an intriguing lunar look—very fitting, because its environmental ambitions are out of this world. Rentals: On weekends
Another easy metro ride (hop off at Parc Jean-Drapeau station) will get snowshoers to another prized piece of parkland just off the island. From shoreline vistas to small summits, you’ll have a blast taking in the flora, fauna and fresh air. The backdrop includes visuals like the Biosphère, outdoor sculptures and a historic fort. Rentals: Yes
Parc-nature de l’Île-de-la-Visitation
The borough of Ahuntsic-Cartierville is home to a grand linear park that hugs the Rivière des Prairies riverbank and includes a small island called Île-de-la-Visitation. Trees, birdwatching and the calm of the water will make your snowshoeing day spectacular. Rentals: Yes
Parc-nature de la Pointe-aux-Prairies
Head east to enjoy the expanses of this 261-hectace riverside park in the city’s Rivière-des-Prairies and Pointe-aux-Trembles neighbourhoods. It offers 6.7 kilometres of snowshoeing bliss that includes the chance to walk among tall grasses and maybe spot a white-tailed deer. Rentals: Yes
Parc-nature du Bois-de-l’Île-Bizard
While it’s more of a hike to get to, this park on Île-Bizard on Montréal’s northwestern tip is certainly worth the trip. Get your nature fix on 12 kilometres of snowshoeing trails that include wooded enclaves and glittering snowscapes. Rentals: No
Shared by the neighbourhoods of Ahuntsic, Cartierville, Pierrefonds, Roxboro and Saint-Laurent, this grand park offers over 10 kilometres of snowshoeing trails in an idyllic setting. Get out and enjoy a forest filled with rare maples and other wildlife, pristine powder and fresh air. Rentals: Yes
Parc-nature du Cap-Saint-Jacques
Spanning 330 hectares, this massive park is Montréal’s largest, welcoming outdoor enthusiasts to trek 12 kilometres of snowshoeing trails. It also boasts a sugar shack and two heated chalets. Rentals: Yes
Parc-nature du Ruisseau-De Montigny
This linear park shared by the Rivière-des-Prairies and Pointe-aux-Trembles neighbourhoods features 3.3 kilometres of snowshoeing fun that includes sweeping views of the Rivière des Prairies waterway. A definite mood-booster! Rentals: No
Neighbourhood parks
The Ville de Montréal’s excellent initiatives to keep people active in winter include the addition of equipment rentals in the following neighbourhood parks: Parc du Père-Marquette, Parc Joseph-Paré, Parc Lafond, Parc Beaubien and Parc du Pélican. If you just want some fresh air and a shorter jaunt, they’re the perfect snowshoeing solution.
Rentalplaces
You can rent skis and skates at outdoor stores such as La Cordée or Poubelle du Ski. The latter offers a wide range of services and equipment rentals for winter sports, including cross-country skiing, snowboarding, ice skating and field hockey, for both men and women. Equipment includes helmets, gloves, skis, snowboards and ice skates for all your winter sports needs.
Thanks to the Parc Actif program, you can also borrow snowshoes, toboggans, spikes and walking poles from some of Montreal's public libraries.
Rebecca Sellers
Hailing originally from the big country skies of Manitoba, Rebecca adopted Montréal over 20 years ago after living in Québec City and France as a student. When she is not writing, translating or teaching English, she can be found pedaling the city’s bike paths, strolling the streets in search of hidden gems, and striking up conversations with local merchants, creators and folks in the neighbourhood.