Paseos en bici

A rest stop on the Route verte cycling route along chemin Bellerive in Carignan, with benches, picnic tables, interpretation panels and a bike rack. A pleasant break on a ride along the Richelieu between Chambly and the Montreal area. Free, open year round; cycling season is roughly April to November.

A flat 20 km path along the historic Chambly Canal links Chambly to Vieux-Saint-Jean, great for cycling, walking and running from spring to fall. In winter it becomes the Sentier hivernal du Canal-de-Chambly, a groomed trail for fat biking, snowshoeing, running and walking, with leashed dogs allowed. Site access is free and open daily from sunrise to 11 p.m.; Parks Canada maintains the summer path from April 15 to November 15, and the winter trail is groomed separately once there is snow. Parks Canada parking costs $6 per day; skating on the canal ice is forbidden.

More than 39 km of bike paths and lanes linking the train station, the town centre and the orchards along chemin de la Montagne, at the foot of Mont Saint-Hilaire. It connects to the 143 km Oka to Mont-Saint-Hilaire regional trail. Rest stops along chemin de la Montagne include one with a minor repair station at Ozias-Leduc. Free to ride; best from spring to fall.

Boucherville sits on a 143 km multi-use trail that crosses 17 towns of Greater Montreal and links the region's three national parks. Ride its riverside sections along the St. Lawrence from Longueuil. The trail is free; national park entry is paid.

The City of Laval's guide to its bike paths, with riverside routes along both the Rivière des Prairies and the Rivière des Mille Îles. Use it to plan your own ride north of Montreal. Free.

Cross downtown west on the De Maisonneuve bike path, from the Grande Bibliothèque to the Atwater Market, then continue along the Lachine Canal to the Old Port. An easy urban loop. Free.

A long riverside park in Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve with a flat bike path along the St. Lawrence, play areas for kids and plenty of space for a quiet ride. Free.

A loop around the edges of both islands of Parc Jean-Drapeau, always along the St. Lawrence, past the old fort, the Biosphère and the Lac des Régates, a lovely picnic stop. Free. Metro Jean-Drapeau (yellow line).

A classic Plateau ride: start at Parc La Fontaine and follow the Rachel Street bike path east to Espace pour la vie, with the Botanical Garden, Parc Maisonneuve and the Olympic Stadium at the end. Flat and easy. The ride is free; the museums charge admission.

A Route verte path along the St. Lawrence on the South Shore, from Parc Marie-Victorin in Longueuil to Boucherville, with footbridges and wide river views. Flat and easy. Free.

A scenic ride west along the Rivière des Mille Îles in Laval, past Berge des Baigneurs, Parc de la Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, Bois de la Source and Berge aux Quatre-Vents. Continue across the river to Saint-Eustache or Deux-Montagnes if you want more. Free.

Cross from Montreal to Laval on the Île Perry footbridge and ride the Route verte north across Laval to the charming old village of Sainte-Rose, with views of the Rivière des Prairies and the Mille Îles. Free.