Top 5 Local Cycling Destinations This Summer
Ready to explore the local cycling paths but don't know where to start? We've got your back. Here are a few of our favourite local cycling hotspots that you should check out this summer!
Rigaud
Located in about 70km west of downtown Montreal at the junction of Ottawa River and Rigaud River, Rigaud operates as a ski resort during the winter months and boasts over 15km of primarily cross-country mountain biking trails during the summer. Rigaud’s expansive slopes feature cross-country to enduro runs with well-designed switchbacks to work your way to the top, as well as a pump track at the bottom of the slopes. The surroundings of Rigaud offer also awesome road riding including eastern Ontario roads nearby. Climbers, you can’t miss out on Chemin Bourget
Parc Jean-Drapeau (Circuit Gilles Villeneuve)
Parc Jean-Drapeau, which is situated on Ile Ste-Hélène and Notre-Dame in the St. Lawrence River, has expansive bike paths spanning over 25km. The bike paths are part of the Route verte du Québec, which is the longest bike path in North America, and of the Great Trail, one of the longest networks of trails in the world.
The park has several access points such as from the Old Port, by taking the De la Concorde Bridge, from the south shore, by taking the Victoria Bridge bike path, or even by the Jacques-Cartier Bridge. There is also the option of taking your bike into the metro with you to get to the Jean-Drapeau metro station.
Cyclists can enjoy the natural beauty and attractions of the parc on a beautiful summer’s day, or test out their speed on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, the Formula 1 racetrack located in the park.
Mont-Royal (Camillien-Houde)
Located at the heart of Montreal, Parc Mont-Royal offers both challenging upwards climbs as well as insanely fun descents – not to mention the breathtaking panoramic view of the city that you’ll see once you reach the top.
If you’re looking for a more relaxed ride, you can take the Chemin Olmstead, a 6km 5%climb which takes between 20-40 minutes to ascend, depending on your speed and how busy the wide, shared dirt track is that day. For serious cyclists training for a race, the steep Camillien-Houde is one of the most popular training routes in Montreal. There are also many other beautiful winding roads around Mount Royal not to be missed on the Westmount side
Lachine Canal
Spanning nearly 15km along the St. Laurence, the Lachine Canal offers stunning views of both natural spaces and industrial parks. Cyclists can start their journey from the Old Port and head towards the Atwater market, stopping at the scenic circuit in Parc René-Lévesque, which has its own scenic circuit, before finishing the trip at the Chemin du Musée, in Lachine.
For a scenic detour away from the crowds along the popular Lachine Canal route, cyclists can also bike through Verdun via the Berges Ouest bike path along the St. Lawrence River to check out the Parc des Rapides.
Bois de l’Île Bizard (Gravel)
Situated roughly 40km to the northwest from downtown Montreal, the Bois de l’Île Bizard features a mix of beach, woods, and marshland located on Île Bizard island. The trip from downtown to the island could take anywhere from a couple of hours to half a day, depending on your speed. You’ll want to pack plenty of food and water and plan to spend a few hours exploring the forest and fauna on the island. Bring your camera!