Mount Royal is the beating heart of Montreal. This Quebec heritage site, shaped by famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted in 1876, offers year-round escapades on its 764-foot “mountain”. Divided across three summits—de la Croix, Westmount Summit, and Tiohtià:ke Otsira’kéhne—this iconic destination weaves history, nature, and recreation into an essential urban experience.

In winter, Mount Royal’s slopes transform into thrilling tobogganing trails, while its meandering paths remain accessible for those eager to hike through snow-dappled forests. Summer is when the park truly shines: Beaver Lake is perfect for barbecues and picnics, while the northern side comes alive with Tam-Tams, a weekly Sunday drum circle near the George-Étienne Cartier Monument that has drawn Montrealers for over four decades.

The park’s trails and lookouts cater to all explorers, from leisurely walkers to intrepid hikers seeking ever-changing city views. And for the more rugged adventurer? Stray from the beaten path to discover hidden plateaus and untouched wilderness—where possible, that is, as caretakers don’t want you trampling anything precious.

Whether you’re sledding, biking, jogging, or soaking in the sweeping vistas, Mount Royal remains an evergreen escape—a green lung breathing life into Montreal year after year.

Once the industrial artery that fueled Montreal’s rise, the Lachine Canal is now where the city slows down—at least for a few kilometers. Cutting through Griffintown, Saint-Henri, and LaSalle, this stretch of water was once jammed with cargo ships and lined with factories, but today, it’s where cyclists, joggers, and kayakers carve their own routes through the city.

The bike path is legendary—one of the best urban rides in North America, leading straight from Old Montreal to Lachine’s waterfront parks. In the summer, it’s a parade of picnics, rollerblades, and boats drifting past converted red-brick warehouses that now house cafés, breweries, and lofts. Winters are quieter, with frozen-over stretches that locals use for skating or simply walking along in crisp solitude.

It’s a place where the city meets the water, where Montreal’s industrial past still lingers in rusted rail bridges and old silos, but where the energy has shifted—from hard work to leisure, from production to play. Whether you’re paddling, pedaling, or just sitting by the locks with a beer and a bagel, the Lachine Canal is where Montreal catches its breath.

Parc La Fontaine is the Plateau’s backyard, a sprawling green expanse where Montrealers claim their patch of grass for picnics, pétanque, or a midday nap under the towering trees. In summer, the park’s pond reflects the city’s energy, with fountains spraying mist into the air and Théâtre de Verdure hosting free outdoor performances. When winter sets in, that same pond transforms into an open-air skating rink, complete with rentals and music. Sports fields, tennis courts, and bocce lanes keep the competitive types busy, while playgrounds and wading pools cater to kids. The park’s network of trails makes it a prime spot for cycling and cross-country skiing, with enough tree cover to make you forget you’re still in the middle of the city. Steps from the Plateau’s best cafés and bars, it’s the kind of place you pass through—and somehow end up staying all day.

Nestled atop Montreal’s Mount Royal, Beaver Lake (Lac aux Castors) is a man-made marvel with a history as rich as its surroundings. Built in 1938 on a former swamp, the lake owes its name to a beaver dam discovered during construction. Shaped like a four-leaf clover and designed by Frederick Todd, this serene basin has been a gathering spot for Montrealers year-round ever since.

In warmer months, the grassy lawns surrounding the lake become a great spot for picnics and barbecues. Paddleboats drift lazily across its waters, mingling with ducks and the occasional swan, while the vibrant fall foliage transforms the area into a postcard-worthy scene. Winter, however, is when Beaver Lake shines as its frozen basin is coated in ice—once a natural skating rink, it’s since been replaced by an adjacent artificial one, and the slopes above it are perfect for tobogganing.

The mid-century modern pavilion nearby, designed by Hazen Sise and Guy Desbarats, houses a café and rental facilities for sleds, snowshoes, and more. Renovated with care, it has earned architectural accolades for preserving its heritage while adding modern functionality.

Spanning two islands in the Saint Lawrence River, Parc Jean-Drapeau is a landmark rich with history, culture, and year-round activity. Comprised of Île Sainte-Hélène and the man-made Île Notre-Dame, this expansive green space was home to Expo 67 and the 1976 Summer Olympics, and today remains a hub for festivals, outdoor adventures, and architectural relics and modern-day wonders.

The park’s attractions are as varied as its history. Music lovers flock to massive events like Osheaga and Piknic Électronik, while thrill-seekers can enjoy La Ronde, the Six Flags amusement park. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve draws Formula 1 fans for the Canadian Grand Prix, while serene spots like the Jean-Doré Beach or the lush flower gardens of Île Notre-Dame offer peaceful escapes. History buffs can explore the Victorian-era fort on Île Sainte-Hélène or admire Expo relics like the Biosphere, once the U.S. pavilion, and the monumental sculpture L’Homme by Alexander Calder.

With 25 kilometres of walking, biking, and skiing trails, the park is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts, and the landscape is alive with public art and views of the St. Lawrence. In winter, the Fête des Neiges transforms the park into a snowy wonderland of family-friendly fun. Named after visionary mayor Jean Drapeau, who spearheaded Expo 67, the park is a testament to Montreal’s ability to blend innovation, recreation, and natural beauty.

Dieppe Park may be small, but it delivers some of the best views in the city. Perched on the eastern tip of Cité du Havre, this 7-hectare stretch of green juts into the St. Lawrence, offering a panoramic look at the Old Port, downtown skyline, and the iconic Jacques Cartier Bridge. It’s a prime spot for photographers, cyclists, and anyone looking to catch the Montreal Fireworks Festival from an unbeatable angle. The park’s belvederes provide a front-row seat to the river’s steady traffic, from cruise ships docking at Alexandra Quay to surfers tackling a standing wave that runs alongside Habitat 67, a reminder of Expo-era innovation, while picnic tables and open spaces make it an underrated escape from the city’s bustle. Whether you’re here for sunrise solitude or summer-night crowds, Dieppe Park is proof that location is everything.

Westmount Park is the city’s answer to a perfectly curated green space—landscaped, historic, and meticulously maintained. Spanning 26 acres, this park has been a centrepiece of the borough since 1892, with its design inspired by Frederick Law Olmsted, the mind behind Mount Royal and Central Park. A winding stream, shaded by weeping willows, flows past benches and footpaths, creating a setting that feels both refined and deeply inviting. Sports facilities include tennis courts, soccer fields, and baseball diamonds, while chess tables, ping-pong tables, and a floral clock add a touch of charm. The Westmount Recreation Centre, with its underground ice rinks and pool, keeps the park active year-round, while the Public Library and Victoria Hall Community Centre anchor its cultural side. Whether for a quiet walk, a lively game, or a moment of stillness by the water, Westmount Park remains one of the city’s most elegant public spaces.

Parc Maisonneuve is 63 hectares of wide-open space, a rare expanse of greenery in the heart of the city that shifts with the seasons. Once a golf course—traces of the fairways still visible—it now hosts everything from cross-country skiing and skating in winter to picnics and bike rides in summer. It’s also home to one of Montreal’s more unexpected sights: a small flock of sheep grazing in the park’s northern section, part of an urban eco-grazing project that includes a henhouse, beehives, and vegetable gardens. Just next door, the Botanical Garden, Insectarium, and Olympic Park add layers of discovery. The park also serves as the backdrop for major events, including the city’s Saint-Jean-Baptiste celebrations. Whether you’re here for a quiet morning run or a full day of exploring, Maisonneuve offers plenty of room to roam—and maybe even a few surprises along the way.

Jarry Park is where Montreal’s northern neighbourhoods come to play. Stretching across 36 hectares between Parc-Ex, Villeray, and Little Italy, it’s a hub for everything from casual soccer matches to world-class tennis at IGA Stadium. On any given day, you’ll find families setting up for birthday picnics, musicians jamming under the shade of old trees, and weekend warriors taking over the baseball diamonds, basketball courts, and beach volleyball courts. The pond doubles as a skating rink in winter, while cross-country ski trails carve through the snow-covered fields. A wading pool and playground keep kids entertained, and when the summer heat peaks, the public pool offers a solid escape. Beyond the sports and scenery, Jarry Park has history—it once hosted the Montreal Expos and even a papal mass. Today, it remains a gathering space where the city’s cultures and communities intersect, one kickabout or pétanque match at a time.

Baldwin Park may not have the sprawl of Parc La Fontaine, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in character. Straddling the Plateau and Rosemont, this long, tree-lined space is a go-to for locals looking for a quieter alternative. Towering silver maples provide ample shade, while paths wind past a fenced dog run, a well-equipped playground, and a community garden. There’s a soccer field for pick-up games, an outdoor rink in winter, and Terrasse Mercure for those who just want to sit and take it all in. The swimming pool and paddling pool are currently out of commission for renovations, but the park still offers plenty of ways to stay cool, including water games and a drinking fountain. A hammock stand and picnic tables round out the amenities, making this a spot where you can linger—without the crowds.

Rapids Park is where the St. Lawrence River puts on a show. Spanning 30 hectares along the LaSalle shoreline, this park delivers front-row seats to the crashing white water of the Lachine Rapids, where surfers, kayakers, and rafters take on the current. A key stop along Montreal’s waterfront cycling path, it’s also a prime spot for birdwatching, home to Quebec’s largest colony of great blue herons. Beyond the adrenaline, the park offers quiet escapes—picnic areas, winding trails, and historical remnants from centuries of river activity, including old mill ruins and the foundations of a long-gone hydroelectric plant. In winter, cross-country skiing and ice skating keep the landscape alive. Whether you’re here to push limits on La Vague à Guy or just to take in the view, Rapids Park proves that Montreal’s wilder side is never too far from the city.

Sir-Wilfrid-Laurier Park is the Plateau’s definition of a community hub—active, unpretentious, and always in use. Flanked by Laurier Avenue’s cafés and bakeries, it sees a steady flow of joggers, dog walkers, and parents chasing kids across the playground. The park packs a lot into its space: a baseball field, a soccer pitch, an outdoor gym, and even a couple of ping-pong tables. In the summer, the public pool and wading area offer relief from the heat, while pétanque players claim their stretch of gravel and film screenings light up the evenings. Winter keeps the action going with natural ice rinks and snow-cleared trails. A few picnic tables and a hammock stand make it just as welcoming for those who’d rather sit back and watch it all unfold. It’s lived-in, well-used, and a little different every time you visit.

Frédéric-Back Park is a striking example of urban reinvention, transforming a former landfill into one of Montreal’s largest and most ambitious green spaces. Spanning 192 hectares in the Saint-Michel Environmental Complex, this evolving park is a massive environmental rehabilitation project, blending recreation, sustainability, and culture. Its white biogas-collecting spheres—surreal markers of the site’s past—dot the landscape, while meadows, trails, and wooded areas carve out space for runners, cyclists, and cross-country skiers. Educational programs and public art installations make it as much a cultural space as a natural one. The park’s ongoing restoration introduces thousands of trees and shrubs, reclaiming the land with biodiversity in mind. With lookout points, picnic areas, and a growing network of paths, it’s both a bold ecological statement and a much-needed urban escape—proof that even the most damaged landscapes can find new life.

Parc Angrignon feels like a world away from the city, despite sitting at the last stop of the green metro line. Spanning 97 hectares, it’s one of Montreal’s largest green spaces, designed in the style of 19th-century English gardens with wide-open meadows, dense forests, and a 1.1-kilometre lake winding through it all. In summer, the park’s trails are a draw for walkers and cyclists, while picnic areas and a children’s playground make it a go-to for families. Come winter, the landscape transforms into a vast snow-covered playground, offering cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and tobogganing. Once home to a small farm and a “fun fort” for kids, the park has shifted toward a more natural retreat, though it still retains an adventurous spirit. Whether you’re here for a quiet stroll or a full day outdoors, Angrignon has more than enough space to disappear into.

Jeanne-Mance Park is where the city meets the mountain, a 14-hectare stretch of green at the foot of Mount Royal that serves as the Plateau’s ultimate backyard. Whether it’s for a pickup soccer match, a game of beach volleyball, or a few laps around the baseball diamond, the park is always buzzing with activity. In winter, the fields become skating rinks and cross-country ski trails, while the city’s joggers keep up their circuits year-round. Benches along the tree-canopied paths make for prime people-watching, with card games and conversations unfolding between longtime locals. The playground, paddling pool, and water games keep younger visitors busy, while picnic tables invite weekend barbecues—within the city’s fuel restrictions, of course. Once known as Fletcher’s Field, the park has a deep history, from military drills to lacrosse matches, but today, it’s simply where Montrealers come to move, meet up, or stretch out under the open sky.

Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Park has been the heart of NDG for over a century, a space where the neighbourhood gathers to lounge, play, and mark the seasons. Mature trees—including the old silver maples that survived the 2017 tornado—offer shade for picnics and solitary afternoons with a book, while kids take over the vast playground and run through the summer sprinklers. The park’s two dog runs cater to pups both big and small, and the sports facilities—outdoor rinks, soccer fields, and courts—keep the athletic crowd moving. Cultural life pulses here too, with events like NDG Arts Week animating the space. History lingers in the air, from its early days as a farmland settlement to the creation of Vimy Square, honouring Montrealers who fought in World War I. Whether you’re here for a slow stroll or an impromptu game of chess, NDG Park remains the borough’s most beloved green escape.

Outremont Park is a quiet, elegant retreat with just enough charm to feel like a hidden gem. Once a pond fed by a mountain stream, this space was transformed into the borough’s first public park in 1912, thanks to land donated by the Clerics of Saint-Viateur. Today, it remains one of Montreal’s most picturesque small parks, with manicured gardens, a tranquil pond, and a footbridge that’s become a favourite backdrop for photo shoots. Benches line the walking paths, offering a shaded spot to take in the scenery, while the surrounding streets showcase some of Outremont’s most beautiful architecture. Just a short stroll away, Saint-Viateur Park adds to the appeal, offering a livelier atmosphere with its own water feature and a prime location near some of the city’s best cafés. Together, the two parks make for a perfect escape in this refined corner of the city.