A bike ride along the Lachine Canal (Montreal, QC)

The Lachine Canal runs from the Old Port of Montreal in the heart of the city to Lac-St-Louis, on the west side of the Montreal island, passing through the boroughs of Sud-Ouest, Lasalle and Lachine. The 35km or 22 mile (roundtrip) Lachine Canal trail was named by Time Magazine, as one of the top 10 urban bike routes in the world.

Montreal is located on the traditional territory of the Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) Nation.

Tour Map

Bike through the historic streets of Old Montreal on the way to the Lachine Canal (Aug 2020)

Starting Point

We’ll start our tour in the heart of Old Montreal (closest metro stops: Square Victoria or Place des Arts). If you haven’t had a chance to explore the area, make sure you do during your time in Montreal. Old Montreal dates back to the 17th century and features numerous shops, cafes, restaurants, and atmospheric narrow cobblestone streets.

Olive + Gourmando
351 rue St-Paul O
9am to 5pm

Olive + Gourmando is a popular spot in Old Montreal and offers a wide variety of pastries, breakfasts, sandwiches, coffee, and more. Next, we’re heading down to the Old Port and then along the Lachine Canal.

Load up on french pastries and coffee to fuel your bike tour of Montreal (Aug 2020)

Turn right on rue St-Pierre and continue to the Old Port.
Hop onto the bike path along the river and continue along the Lachine Canal for about 3 km.
Turn right onto rue Bérard (just past Atwater Market)
After cutting through the park, turn right onto rue Notre Dame Ouest.

We’re bypassing the Atwater Market but we’ll be back here for some treats on the way back. For now, we’re heading to the Southwest or ‘Le Sud-Ouest.’ With a working class history, the Southwest is seeing many of its old factories being converted into lofts and condos.

Once a hub for industry, the Lachine Canal is now a prime destination for recreation (Aug 2020)

SudWest Gyros & Co.
3401 rue Notre Dame Ouest
11:30am-9pm (opens at noon on Sunday)

SudWest Gyros, in the heart of ‘Le Sud-Ouest’ neighbourhood offers international-themed gyros including the habibi, the ‘bad hombre’ and the Godzilla.

Return to the bike path and continue for about 7 km.
Turn right onto av. St-Paul
Turn left onto rue St-Jacques

Falafel St-Jacques
345 rue St-Jacques
9am to 8pm

Continuing west on the path, we’re going for more goodness in wrap form at Falafel St. Jacques. Owned and managed by an Israeli-Palestinian duo, St-Jacques brings people together by offering some of the best Middle Eastern food in the city, including sabich (made with eggplant and eggs), a spicy tuna sandwich, and of course -falafel.

Retrace steps to bike path and continue for about 4km.

Biking to Parc Rene-Levesque on one of the top urban bike routes in the world (Aug 2020)

Before we head back downtown, make a short detour to check out Parc Rene Levesque. Not only does the park offer a 360 degree view of the Saint-Lawrence River, it’s also home to the Musée plein air de Lachine, one of the largest outdoor sculpture museums in Canada, featuring 50 works of art. 

Sculptures along the 'fleuve’ at the musee plein air (open-air museum) in Parc Rene-Levesque (Aug 2020)

After enjoying the art, and relaxing along the river, we’re re-tracing our steps and heading back to centre-ville.

Return back east along the bike path for about 9km.
Once you go under the highway, you’ll see the terrasse on your left.

Terrasse St-Ambroise
5080 rue St-Ambroise
Noon to 11pm (opens at 4pm on Monday); open seasonally

One of the most popular microbreweries in Quebec, St-Ambroise is located right along the canal path. Its terrasse (patio) is a perfect spot to try one their famous apricot wheats, raspberry ales or oatmeal stouts.

Grab a seat at the patio (‘terrasse’) along the canal and relax with an apricot wheat from one of the original Quebec microbreweries (Aug 2020)

Continue east along the bike path for about 2km.
Cross over the Atwater Footbridge

Havre aux Glaces (Marché Atwater)
138 av Atwater
Open seasonally; summer hours TBD

Operating since 1933, the art-deco Atwater Market, is open year-round and is where you’ll find everything from butchers to chocolatiers to fresh Quebec cheese. Right outside the market, you’ll find Havre aux Glaces, an artisanal ice cream shop and the perfect place to end our biking tour along the Lachine Canal.

Delicious ice cream and scenery at the Atwater Market (Aug 2020)

From here you can hop on the metro at Lionel-Groulx or return by bike to Old Montreal by continuing east for about 4km.

Route Information

Tour map

Total distance: Approx. 30km.

Start in the heart of Old Montreal. The closest metro stations are Square Victoria or Place des Arts.

1. Olive + Gourmando (351 rue St-Paul O)

   Turn right on rue St-Pierre and continue to the Old Port.
   Hop onto the bike path along the river and continue along the Lachine Canal (3km)
   Turn right onto rue Bérard (just past Atwater Market)
   After cutting through the park, turn right onto rue Notre Dame O.

2. Sudwest Gyros & Co. (3401 Notre Dame O)

   Return to the bike path and continue (7 km.)
   Turn right onto av. St-Paul
   Turn left onto rue St-Jacques

3. Falafel St-Jacques (345 rue St-Jacques)

   Retrace steps to bike path and continue (4km.) to Parc Rene-Levesque and the Musee plein air de Lachine.

   Then, turn around and continue along bike path towards downtown (9km).

4. Terrasse St-Ambrose (5080 rue St-Ambroise)
   Continue east along the bike path (2km.)
   Cross over the Atwater Footbridge

5. Havre aux Glaces/Marché Atwater (138 av. Atwater)
   Metro from Lionel-Groulx or return by bike to Old Montreal by continuing east on the path (4km).