I tried Kayaking a couple of years ago and ever since, it’s been my go-to activity in the summer. I did try canoeing, but honestly, I enjoyed kayaking more. I felt unstable in a canoe vs a kayak. I have yet to try paddleboarding, which is very tempting by the way. You’ll find below 5 places that I’ve been to across Quebec that are less than 2h from Montreal, so definitely worth the road trip. Check out also my Kayaking packing checklist.
1. Rivière aux cerises & Lac Memphrémagog
Located in the beautiful town of Magog in the Eastern Townships, 1.5H away from Montreal. It’s worth the visit. Technically you can kayak from the Riviere aux Cerises to the Lac Memphremagog. But you can also do one of the 2. Honestly, I recommend you start with Riviere aux Cerises, enjoy the postcard-perfect views, and head towards the Lac Memphremagog where the water is clear.
Distance from Montreal?
A 1.5H drive.
Where To Rent?
We rented the Kayaks from Vie de Plein Air. Overall the experience was good, the kayaks were clean and new. We opted for the 2h Kayak to be able to cruise along the River and check out the Lake.
How much will it cost?
For 2h, you can rent the simple kayaks for CAD 34.79 and the double kayaks for CAD 47.83.
2. Parc de la rivière des Milles Iles
This Kayak destination is close to Montreal. It’s the river that’s just above Laval, North of Montreal. The cool thing about it is that there are 4 rental locations in different cities, so you can pick the closest to you! Also, you pass by nice-looking houses that make you want to own one haha.
Distance from Montreal?
A 30mins drive.
Where To Rent?
The Parc de la Rivière-des-Mille-Îles offers 4 rental locations in Bois-des-Filion, Boisbriand, Rosemère, and Saint-Eustache (starting September).
How much will it cost?
For 3h, you can rent the simple kayaks for CAD 36.25 and the double kayaks for CAD 53.25.
3. Parc National d’Oka
The cool thing about the Parc National d’Oka, is that you can spend the day at the beach then rent Kayaks from there, so it could be a full day activity! I quite like this park as it’s well maintained and you can enjoy a good picnic at the beach once you’re done.
Distance from Montreal?
A 45mins drive.
Where To Rent?
You can rent the Kayaks online from the Sepaq website. Keep in mind that you will need on top of the Kayak rental, to purchase a daily Sepaq access and the parking cost.
How much will it cost?
For 4h, you can rent the simple kayaks for CAD 33.50 and the double kayaks for CAD41.50.
For the Sepaq Access, it’s CAD 9.25 per adult.
For the Parking, it’s CAD 9.13 per car.
4. Parc National de Plaisance
A peaceful park for kayaking that could be combined with a very short hike to see the Waterfalls of Plaisance. It’s honestly worth the 10km kayak trip! The water is not very clear to be honest, but the view compensates!
Distance from Montreal?
A 1h45mins drive.
Where To Rent?
You can rent the Kayaks online from the Sepaq website. For this park, you will also need on top of the Kayak rental, to purchase a daily Sepaq access.
How much will it cost?
For 4h, you can rent the simple kayaks for CAD 33.50 and the double kayaks for CAD 41.50.
For the Sepaq Access, it’s CAD 9.25 per adult.
5. Parc national des Îles-de-Boucherville
This one is actually the closest to Montreal, a 30 mins drive. This Park is also part of the Sepaq network. Kayaking there means you’d be paddling along the Saint Laurent River.
Distance from Montreal?
A 30mins drive.
Where To Rent?
Same as above, you can rent the Kayaks online from the Sepaq website and you will need on top of the Kayak rental, to purchase a daily Sepaq access.
How much will it cost?
For 4h, you can rent the simple kayaks for CAD 39.00 and the double kayaks for CAD 52.00.
For the Sepaq Access, it’s CAD 9.25 per adult.
To be prepared for your kayaking day trip, head to my blog for the complete packing list.
Happy Kayaking!
4 thoughts on “5 Places to go Kayaking Near Montreal”
I’m interested to find a place near Montreal that I can go kayaking. I have my own equipment.
Thanks
Larry 🚣
Hey Larry! I believe you can go kayaking in any of these places using your own equipment. In some cases, you might need to pay entrance fees.
Thanks for this post!
Which one of these would you recommend for kayak beginners who don’t have a car? (Need to get there by public transport from Montreal)
Hi Clara, you can try parc de la riviere des milles iles in Laval, it’s accessible by bus from the Montmorrency metro stop.