Walks and Views

A city nature park with 5.8 km of marked trails along the Milette River, for walking, hiking and snowshoeing. Entrances are on rue de Courcelette, boulevard Rigaud and boulevard des Chenaux, with parking at Parc Lambert off boulevard Rigaud. Dogs are welcome on a leash; the trails are not suitable for strollers or reduced mobility, flood quickly after heavy rain, and are not maintained by the City in winter. Free.

A city woodland (formerly called Forestia) with 5.5 km of marked trails through a pine forest behind the Moulin seigneurial de Pointe-du-Lac. The City lists it for walking and snowshoeing. The trails are free; the historic mill museum next door is a separate attraction.

A major pilgrimage site with a basilica, the 1720 fieldstone Old Shrine and gardens with walking paths, including the Way of the Rosary with bronze statues. The gardens are open from morning until 9:30 pm, the basilica from 9 am (8 am on Sunday) to 8 pm, and parking is free. Walking the grounds is free; pets (except guide dogs), bikes, skateboards and scooters are not allowed in the gardens.

A short self guided walk of about 0.9 km through the heritage site of Old Trois-Rivières, one of the city's earliest settlement areas, starting at Terrasse Turcotte on the St. Lawrence. The City publishes this "Architecture et patrimoine" route on the On This Spot website and app. Nearby rue des Forges has artistic ground markings, and in summer an archival photo exhibit is set up at Terrasse Turcotte. Walking the streets is free.

A riverside promenade along the St. Lawrence in the Trois-Rivières sur Saint-Laurent district, about 3.3 km return. You can reach it from boulevard Saint-Maurice, rue des Commissaires or avenue des Draveurs. The park is open every day from 6 am to 1 am, all year. Free.

This nature park in Saint-Jérôme is used for walking, running, cycling and fatbiking, and in winter for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing on a marked 4 km loop. The City says access is free for everyone. Start from the parking lot at the end of rue Ouimet. The trails are not lit and there is no welcome pavilion.

The Forêt du Grand Coteau in Lorraine has a 6 km main trail open all year and a 2.2 km interpretive trail about the wildlife, the plants and the Dominique-Juteau stream. The City asks winter users to take extra care, since winter use is at your own risk. Free public trails.

The Boisé des lacs Fauvel is a 70 hectare wood in Blainville with about 3.5 km of walking trails and parking on site. Access is free, and leashed dogs are allowed. The trails are not cleared in winter, so they are best from spring to fall.

The Boisé de Chambéry is a 49 hectare wood in Blainville with more than 4 km of walking trails. The City says access to its trails is free, and leashed dogs are welcome. The trails are not cleared in winter, so they are best from spring to fall.

Mascouche's big nature park has about 23 km of marked trails among tall pines and two ponds, used for walking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and mountain biking. In winter there is a skating path of about 600 m near the second pond, a small rink and a snow mound for young children to slide on, with toilets in the small pavilion. Parks are open every day from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; winter facilities open when weather allows, usually from December. Free.

A Metro Vancouver park along the Fraser River with shaded forest trails, open fields and mountain views. The flat Edgewater Bar to 208 Street trail (5.4 km) and the 2 km Edge Trail, known for its big cottonwoods, are easy walks, and the Heritage Area tells the story of the first Fort Langley, a Stó:lō village and the Houston homestead. Dogs must be leashed except in the off leash area west of the Edgewater Bar campground; open daylight hours, closing no earlier than 5 pm; free.

A 140 hectare park of natural second growth forest with about 4 km of nature trails, including the Douglas fir and Moss trails. The 0.8 km Wally Ross universal access trail offers an accessible option. Open dawn to dusk; free.