Walks and Views

A 50 hectare city park in Laval with gardens, ponds, a small farm, a tropical greenhouse and 5 km of walking trails. In winter there is skating on the lake, a tubing hill and cross country trails. Open all year. Entry is free; parking and equipment rentals are paid.

More than 25 km of paths and trails across Île Sainte-Hélène and Île Notre-Dame: the waterfront, Mont Boullé, the Floralies Gardens, the Biosphère from the outside and the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve track. Leashed dogs welcome. Open daily from 6 a.m. Walking is free; parking is paid, and attractions like the Biosphère, La Ronde and the beach charge admission. Metro: Jean-Drapeau (yellow line).

About 2.5 km of riverside promenade along Rue de la Commune, from the Clock Tower Pier to the locks, with picnic spots, public art and views of the St. Lawrence. Free extras include the outdoor Cité Mémoire projections and the "Histoires de navires" exhibit at the cruise terminal. The site is open 6 a.m. to midnight, all year. Walking is free; parking lots on site are paid.

Walking trails from 0.7 to 7.7 km through forest, marsh and swamp, with a 500 m boardwalk over the marsh for watching wildlife and the Pointe-aux-Carrières lookout. Canada geese stop here during migration. Open daily 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Entry is free; parking is paid (card or online only). Dogs on a leash; no dogs on the beach.

A 97 hectare park in the southwest with forest, open clearings and a 1.1 km lake, plus picnic areas, barbecues, playgrounds and a dog park. A favourite for long walks right next to Angrignon metro. Open all year. Free, with both free and paid parking. The small farm and the children's play fort are currently closed.

A peninsula at the mouth of the Lachine Canal with 22 large contemporary outdoor sculptures along its paths, views over Lac Saint-Louis and the South Shore, an arboretum of about 70 tree species, and lovely sunsets from the tip. Open daily 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Free; parking is $2.75 an hour from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

A former quarry and landfill turned into a huge park, with walking trails, hills, prairies, lookouts and big white spheres. Good for walking, running, cycling, bird watching and even star gazing. Kites, scooters and bikes can be borrowed for free at kiosks in season. Open daily 6 a.m. to midnight. Completely free, including both parking lots.

A lakeside nature park in the west of the island with wide views over Lac des Deux Montagnes and a picnic area. Popular for windsurfing in summer and for ice fishing and wind sports on the ice in winter. A calm spot to watch the lake rather than a long trail walk. Open daily 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Entry is free; parking is paid.

A 261 hectare nature park at the eastern tip of the island, with 8.4 km of walking trails through marshes, woods and along the river. A great place to see birds and white tailed deer, with a lookout over the marsh. Open daily 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Entry is free; parking is paid. A second entrance is at the Des Marais pavilion, 12300 Boulevard Gouin Est.

A big 330 hectare nature park where Lac des Deux Montagnes meets the Rivière des Prairies, with forest walking trails, an organic farm, a sugar shack and historic houses. Open daily 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Entry and the main trails are free; parking is paid, and one trail (Le Lièvre) is paid in summer only. During current watermain work, lots P4 and P5 are closed: park at P3 to reach the farm.

The wide gravel path that winds gently around Mount Royal, 8.3 km in all, linking Beaver Lake, the Chalet du Mont-Royal and the summit cross. An easy, beautiful walk in every season. Start near Avenue des Pins and Rue Peel, or from Beaver Lake. The park is open daily 6 a.m. to midnight. Free; parking in the park is paid.

A 2 km riverside park along the St. Lawrence in the east end, the best spot in the area to watch the big commercial ships go by. Picnic areas, a pebbled shore for fishing, and in summer a river shuttle to Île Charron. Open daily 6 a.m. to midnight. Free, with free parking.