These Are The Activities You Can Do In Montreal Parks This Winter

Skiing, skating, snowshoeing and more...
Reporter

Mayor Valérie Plante recently announced the city's plan for winter in Montreal, unveiling new winter "resorts" in 17 boroughs as well as winter sporting activities at every major park.

All major parks will have cross-country skiing, hiking and snowshoeing trails. 

This year, you'll also be able to reserve equipment, such as snowshoes, online — free for Montrealers 18 and under.

While we wait for the full scope of winter fun to begin, many upcoming seasonal activities are already listed on the city's website along with the parks where you can find them.   

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FREE Winter activity equipment rentals for Montrealers 18 and under

Cross-Country Skiing

Cross-country skiing is offered in major parks around Montreal including Maisonneuve, La Fontaine and Angrignon. You can rent equipment at a specific group of them: Jarry, Mount Royal, Cap-Saint-Jacques and a few others.

Consult the Cross-country skiing page on the City of Montreal website for more information about how to make the most of the city's "some 100 kilometres of cross-country ski trails."

Sledding

The mayor recommended sledding at Grovehill Park in Lachine and Ignace-Bourget Park in Le Sud Ouest in her press conference on November 26.

But there are a whole range of snowy slopes for Montrealers to choose from this winter, such as the ones at Frédéric-Back. Check out the city's Sledding webpage for more information.

Skating 

Montreal has municipal arenas as well as more than 200 refrigerated outdoor rinks where people can get their skate on, according to the Arenas and outdoor skating rinks page of its website.

Some arenas are listed online as being already open for skating. A few examples are Aréna Ahuntsic, Aréna Clément-Jetté and Aréna Saint-Charles, which have a "limited number of activities offered."

Fat Biking

You'll be able to find fat biking trails at Anse-à-l'Orme, Cap Saint-Jacques, Jean-Drapeau and Pointe-aux-Prairies parks.

A Special Program At Jean-Drapeau Park

Jean Drapeau "will not be outdone" this winter, says the city, offering a special program in place of its usual Fête des neiges.

Starting on December 19, several free activities will be available. Expect hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, an outdoor exhibition presented by the Biosphère, a refrigerated skating rink, a fatbike trail and free sledding.

Keep an eye on the Parc Jean-Drapeau webpage for details.

  • Lea Sabbah
  • Lea Sabbah was a Staff Writer for MTL Blog. Previously, Lea was a radio host on CJLO 1690 AM and her work has been published by Global News, the Toronto Star, Le Devoir and the National Observer. In 2019, she was part of the investigative team that uncovered lead in Montreal's drinking water — a story which won Quebec's Grand Prix Judith-Jasmin. She's a graduate of the journalism program at Concordia University.

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