Paddleboarding will now be welcome on part of the Lachine Canal National Historic Site, which is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its reopening this year.
Previously used for commercial purposes and reopened in 2002, the Quebec canal in the heart of Montreal is now used by boaters from all over.
Paddleboarding is now permitted on a 12-kilometre (7.5-mile) route between locks two and five for those with a non-motorized boat season pass. And new this summer, Parks Canada instructors will teach the basics of kayaking as well as canoeing.
A Learn-to Camp program will be offered on select July and August weekends. It introduces camping to people who have little to no experience, and the goal is to pique their interest in exploring national parks and nature.
Located on a small island of greenery on the shores of the canal, a few steps from the Old Port, the program offers overnight stays with outdoor cooking workshops, games and activity circuits. Kayak and canoe trips are on offer plus a traditional campfire with marshmallows.
A link between the city and nature, the canal is in the southwest section of Montreal. Its 13.5-kilometre (8.4-mile) urban route runs between the Old Port and Lake Saint-Louis, a navigable waterway punctuated by five locks. Along its banks, a linear green urban park is lined with vestiges of the industrial era when the canal boomed.
It’s free to access the canal grounds and watch boats navigate through the canal.
Other things to do along the canal include:
• Rent a bike (or get repairs) from MaBicyclette just steps away from the Atwater Market.
• Enjoy a cocktail and snack on the (stationary) Canal Lounge boat.
• Explore the Port of Montreal waterway right up to the Atwater Market with Le Petit Navire.
• Watch for 22Dragons, one of Canada's largest dragon boat racing clubs.
• Rent a wide range of watercraft from electric boats to kayaks and paddleboats from H2O Adventures.
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