Destinations Canada Montreal Things To Do 12 Best Snowshoeing Spots in Montreal Parks, Canals, and Arboretums to Get You Outside in the Winter By Evelyn Reid Evelyn Reid Evelyn Reid is a writer who specializes in Montreal. Travel's editorial guidelines Updated on February 28, 2020 Fact checked by Michelai Graham Fact checked by Michelai Graham Michelai Graham is a technology and business reporter who has written for The Urban Institute and Scoop News. She reports for AfroTech, Lifewire, and The Plug. learn more The ancient practice of snowshoeing was used as a mode of transportation for snowed-in Native American tribes, but now yesteryear's necessity is today's sport. It's also a recreational rite of passage for many Canadian children. Montreal's extensive park system makes a great venue for getting in some exercise and breaking a sweat. The season for snowshoeing—or raquette as they say in Montreal—is contingent on snow, so December through March is the prime time to get your snowshoes on in Montreal. 01 of 12 Mount Royal Park RENAULT Philippe/Getty Images Montreal's best-known park comes alive seasonally as a winter wonderland, with trails suitable for all ages. Its central location makes it easy to access for tourists, since it can be reached by public transportation. There are about three kilometers of trails, plus facilities where you can rent snowshoes, use the bathroom, or grab a snack from the vending machine. This go-to park has all the amenities for a day of tromping through the snow. 02 of 12 Cap Saint Jacques Nature Park Robbie Sproule/Flickr The largest park in Montreal, Cap Saint Jacques Nature Park offers great views, an ecological farm, and a sugar shack where you can sample maple products. Enjoy five kilometers of trails, snowshoe rentals, nature interpretation strolls, and bird watching. These trails are multi-use, so keep your eye out for bikers and yield to cross-country skis. 03 of 12 Bois de l'Île Bizard Nature Park @angelaauclairphotography/Getty Images This enchanting Montreal nature park boasts seven kilometers of trails for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. This park is also a favorite of bird watchers, as seasonal species enjoy the winter alongside recreationists. Snowshoe rentals are available for both adults and kids. 04 of 12 Lachine Canal Artur Staszewski/Flickr This 14.5-kilometer canal passes through the southwestern part of Montreal. Every year, it freezes and fills with snow in the winter, making it the perfect "undesignated" snowshoe spot. You probably won't be sharing the six kilometers of trails with tourists, either, as this spot is more often frequented by neighborhood residents. There are no services at the canal, however, so plan accordingly if you go. 05 of 12 Bois-de-Liesse Nature Park Sébastien Côté/Getty Images Northwestern Montreal and Bois-de-Liesse Nature Park offer some of the city's most visually-appealing scenery. The park's reception centers invite visitors to heat up by their fireplaces, offering a toasty respite for snowshoers. Enjoy nine kilometers of trails specifically suited to snowshoeing. Sledding mounds for the kids, rentals, and nature interpretation tours are also available. 06 of 12 Parc Jean-Drapeau Joanne Levesque/Getty Images Only five minutes from downtown Montreal, this park is known for its cultural events and sports programming. Four kilometers of trails host snowshoers, fat bikers, and cross-country skiers. Don't miss their annual Fête des Neiges festival, which takes place over four winter weekends and includes activities like sledding, ice sculpting, family shows, snow tubing, and films. 07 of 12 Nature Park of L'Île-de-la-Visitation Jacques Fournier/Flickr A riverside park on Montreal's north shore, Nature Park of L'Île-de-la-Visitation offers one of the most extensive snowshoeing trail networks in Montreal. And it's also the only nature park in Montreal where you can unwind at the end of the day with cocktails and hors-d'oeuvres, courtesy of its on-site bistro. Eight kilometers of trails wind along the river's edge and it's easy to get to by taking public transportation. 08 of 12 Pointe-Aux-Prairies Nature Park Janet Kimber/Getty Images Ornithologists and bird enthusiasts will love Pointe-Aux-Prairies Nature Park, with its magical landscape perfect for viewing all kinds of bird species. This vast park connects the Rivière des Prairies to the St. Lawrence River and includes wooded areas, fields, and frozen swamps. Enjoy almost seven kilometers of snowshoeing trails which you'll share with cross country skiers and fat bikers. Snowshoe rentals are available from facilities on-site. 09 of 12 Maisonneuve Park Philippe Henry/Getty Images A sizeable urban park adjacent to the Montreal Botanical Gardens and across the street from the Olympic Stadium and the Biodome, Maisonneuve Park has five kilometers of snowshoeing trails and an ice skating rink. This park originally contained an 18-hole golf course, which has now been converted into rolling hills for sledding and a trail network. 10 of 12 Morgan Arboretum Robbie Sproule/Flickr The Morgan Arboretum is a picturesque preserve situated on the campus of McGill University. For a nominal fee, you can enjoy 15 kilometers of groomed trails suited for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. You can also buy an annual membership, which will grant you recreational access from dusk until dawn and dog-walking privileges. 11 of 12 St. Michel Environmental Complex Linda Raymond/Getty Images Sharing space with Circus Arts City TOHU, the St. Michel Environmental Complex's complete transformation from a landfill to 192 acres of park is slated for completion in 2020. But a large portion has already been turned into green space, which includes two kilometers of trails and open spaces that host a variety of family-friendly activities, including snowshoeing and team sports. 12 of 12 Ruisseau-De Montigny Nature Park marianna armata/Getty Images This waterside park boasts waterfalls, limestone beds, and several islands—perfect breeding grounds for muskrats, herons, ducks, and fish. A rather new addition to Montreal's park lineup, Ruisseau-De Montigny Nature Park offers three kilometers of snowshoeing trails, but does not have rentals, bathrooms, or food-service options. 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