7 spots around Montreal to go cross-country skiing this winter

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Quebec is under nightly curfew between 8 pm and 5 am. Stay home and consult the Confinement in Québec page for curfew details.
Outdoor sites will have controlled access and the number of visitors will be managed per site. We remind everyone to follow all public health guidelines, which should be posted at all outdoor venues.

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If one of your resolution for the new year includes exercising more, cross-country skiing is a fun way to keep your beginning-of-the-year dedication high.

Here are 7 of the best spots to go cross-country skiing around Montreal this winter.

Sentiers de ski Grand-Sud-Ouest

Crossing Verdun, Lasalle, and Lachine, the Grand-Sud-Ouest trails span over 21 kilometres for true cross-country skiing lovers. The best part? Most of the trails run along the Saint Lawrence River, showing off Montreal’s beautiful riverfront landscapes. You can access the trails through Verdun’s Parc Arthur-Therrien, as well as a few other sites indicated on this interactive map.

Parc-nature du Bois-de-Liesse, Pierrefonds

Surrounded by a dense maple forest, the 9 kilometres of cross-country skiing trails at Parc-nature du Bois-de-Liesse offer varying difficulty levels, which makes it the perfect spot for family and outings with tour social bubble. Equipment rentals require an online reservation to keep everything perfectly COVID safe.

Montreal Botanical Garden and Maisonneuve Park

Did you know you can go cross-country skiing at the Botanical Garden? The site offers 3 kilometres of ski trails for those who miss its diverse flora during cold winter months and connects to Parc Maisonneuve’s 12 kilometres of trails to enjoy even more time outdoors.

Mount-Royal Park

Mount-Royal Park’s sinuous trails are made for those who are looking for a challenge. You can reserve equipment online if you don’t have your own, and ski rentals are completely free for children 17 and under.

Parc-nature du Bois-de-l’Île-Bizard

If you’re looking to get away from the city, Parc-nature du Bois-de-l’Île-Bizard is the perfect spot. Cross-country ski trails span over 7 kilometres, and you can reach a lookout over Lake of Two Mountains for a quick photo break.

McGill’s Morgan Arboretum

McGill’s Arboretum, located on its McDonald campus in Saint-Anne-de-Bellevue, offers 15 kilometres of groomed trails, with three circuits for the different views of the site. Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, it’s one of the best spots to go skiing in Montreal.

Parc-nature de l’Île-de-la-Visitation

A short bus ride from Henri-Bourassa station will take you to Parc-nature de l’Île-de-la-Visitation’s 7 kilometres of ski trails. Running along Rivière des Prairies and through the forest, your cross-country ski excursion will offer some of the best views on the island.