The Canals | Brockville to Montréal

Before leaving Brockville, take time to visit its unique attraction: Canada’s first railway tunnel, completed in 1860! Then head west along the picturesque Waterfront Trail. This trail takes you along the majestic St. Lawrence River and through charming villages rich in history. A little further on, in Iroquois, pause to observe the canal and its impressive lock. The lock allows ships to pass through a 21-metre drop in elevation. You can observe their passage from an adjacent park. Continuing on, don’t miss Fort Wellington and the Battle of the Windmill National Historic Site near Prescott. Along the way, take advantage of the beaches to refresh and relax. To round off your day in style, enjoy a delicious local wine in the enchanting setting of Morrisburg.

Possible attractions/stops: Iroquois Lock, beaches (Iroquois, Prescott, Morrisburg), Fort Wellington (Prescott), StoneCropAcres Winery (Morrisburg)

Night in Morrisburg

Depart from Morrisburg. Why not visit Upper Canada Village? An open-air museum that recreates 19th-century life in the area. Continue on a beautiful bike path through the woods. Pass through a migratory bird sanctuary and you’ll reach the highlight of the day with the Long Sault Islands, a quiet route that passes through a series of islands that were created from the highest points of land flooded by the St. Lawrence River in the 1950s. Cycle back along the bike path and see the Lost Village Museum and the R.H. Saunders Power Plant. Then, cycle along the historic Cornwall Canal into downtown Cornwall, a very bike-friendly city with easy access to restaurants, shops, attractions and more!

Possible attractions/stops: Upper Canada Village, Mille Roches Beach located on Long Sault Road, Lost Village Museum, Saunders Hydro Dam Visitor Centre, Historic SDG Jail, Cornwall Community Museum, Lamoureux Park, Downtown Cornwall

Night in Cornwall

Leave Cornwall towards Salaberry-de-Valleyfield. Take the Waterfront Trail and follow the river from the start. When you arrive in Quebec, at Rivière Beaudette, follow the Route Verte. Discover the landscapes and history of Suroît, a region that is distinguished by its riverine and rural character. In Saint-Zotique, enjoy the beach to cool off. In Les Coteaux, take the Soulanges Canal bike path. Finish your journey in style by following Lake Saint-François and the historic city centre of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield.

Possible attractions/stops: Saint-Zotique beach, MUSO (Musée de société des Deux-Rives in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield) , Delpha-Sauvé park (Salaberry-de-Valleyfield)

Night in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield

Leave Salaberry-de-Valleyfield towards Beauharnois and take the Route Verte. Drive along the Beauharnois Canal, one of the most important engineering works in the country. Visit the Beauharnois hydroelectric dam, the fifth largest in Quebec, and visit the Beauharnois Canal interpretation centre, which will reveal the secrets of its construction and operation.

Possible attractions/stops: La Petite Grange, Beauharnois hydroelectric power station, Pointe-du-Buisson – Musée québecois d’archéologie, Beach at the Parc régional des Îles-de-Saint-Timothée, Ferme Hubert Sauvé (Salaberry-de-Valleyfield)

2nd night in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield

Discover the beauty of Montérégie-Ouest, its waterways, regional parks and cities. In Coteau-du-Lac, stop to see the remains of one of the oldest lock canals in North America. Take the Soulanges Canal trail, which runs alongside the old canal of the same name. It crosses the municipalities of Coteau-du-Lac, Les Cèdres and Pointe-des-Cascades. Also stop at Village-des-Écluses. You can eat, rent a kayak or go swimming. From the lookout, you can admire the point and the meeting of the Ottawa River and the St. Lawrence River, a superb viewpoint!

Possible attractions/stops: Coteau-du-Lac National Historic Site, Le Bourg des Cèdres Vineyard, Village-des-Écluses, Vaudreuil-Soulanges Regional Museum

Night in Vaudreuil-Dorion

The bike route between Vaudreuil-Dorion and Montreal is a great way to discover the banks of the St. Lawrence River and the Lachine Canal. You’ll quickly pass by the Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue Canal. Take a break at the Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue Canal National Historic Site to admire the rapids and the junction of Lac des deux Montagnes and Lac Saint-Louis, which is a widening of the St. Lawrence River. Continue on the Dorval riverside bike path, which follows the St. Lawrence River and offers other magnificent views of the water. In Montreal, take the Lachine Canal bike path. Cross the Griffintown district, a former working-class area transformed into an artistic and gastronomic hub, to arrive at your final destination at the Old Port of Montreal. Your day’s route combines nature, heritage and urbanity!

Possible attractions/stops: Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue Canal Historic Site, The Fur Trade Museum in Lachine, Lachine Canal, Atwater Market, Old Port

Night in Montreal