Lachine Canal (Canal du Lachine) Review

Ranked as one of the most beautiful urban routes by Time magazine in 2009, the Lachine Canal extends from the Old Port to René-Lévesque Park. Along the way, you’ll experience extraordinary views of the St. Lawrence River and ride through a mosaic of distinctive Montreal neighborhoods. It’s an energetic 60 minutes for experienced cyclists, and a leisurely afternoon for others, with plenty of pit stops for rest and refreshment.

This bike path along the Lachine Canal in Montreal is a well-maintained, two-laned, flat path bordering parks, old brick buildings with modern conversions, neighbourhoods and industrial areas. There is an accompanying map for tourists describing the sites/destinations: a canal museum, restaurants, historical sites and even a Montreal brewery (St. Ambroise). You can also rent paddle boats, canoes or kayaks. You can ride in either direction from this popular starting point, going either the shorter 23 kilometre route, or the longer route, past a bird sanctuary on the St. Lawrence River. I highly recommend this activity.

A major site for industrial development and economic stability during the nineteenth century, the Lachine Canal, which spans over 14 km, is now a major tourist attraction as well as a popular walking and biking trail. One way to get on the Canal trail is to walk to the western-most end of the Vieux Port, past the outdoor food vendors, where you see the bridge (Rue Mill) cutting through Rue de la Commune. Just follow the flow of bikers and walkers, and you’ll eventually see the famous Farine Five Roses factory, which is the only company in the Peel Basin (the beginning of the Canal) still in operation today. Go a little further and you’ll cross through the Peel Basin and into a pretty greenspace, which has bike paths and small bridges, some of which take you across the canal back into urban areas like Griffintown, which has some good restaurants and cafes.

walk from the townhome, bycicle, canoe, cruise, etc

The Lachine Canal is a canal passing through the southwestern part of Montreal, from the Old Port all the way to Lake St-Louis. It is a 14.5km long urban park. You can visit by foot, bike or boat. There are several Bixi stations along the way and it is a nice bike ride. You can start from the Old Port, buy lunch at the Atwater Market, picnic on the shores, rent a kayak and just lounge in the sun. This is a good place to try out the Bixi bike rental system. It is also a fantastic place to jog or to roller blade. Very enjoyable!