Here is our list of the top five beaches around Montreal. Don’t forget your sun tan lotion!
Verdun Beach – Newly-opened Verdun Beach is getting rave reviews, in part because it is so accessible and no admission fees are charged. The City of Montreal spent $7 million creating an artificial beach behind the Verdun Auditorium. A jetty has been constructed to block the current of the St Lawrence River here and a sloped, sandy beach constructed with a maximum water depth of 1.5 metres. Opening hours are from 10am to 7 pm daily and beach access is free. The location at 4110 LaSalle Blvd, Verdun H4G 2A5 is about a 6 minute walk from de l’Eglise metro station. For more information, call 514.280.0789
Cap St. Jacques
Nature Park is a large, municipally-operated beach on Montreal Island with shoreline on Lake of Two Mountains. The beach here is open daily from 10am to 7pm until August 25 and then weekends to September 2. Adult entrance fees are $5 and parking charges of up to $9 per day also apply. The site features shade trees, a boat ramp, dry toilets, and changing rooms. The address is 20099 Gouin Blvd W. Pierrefonds (Montreal) 514.280.6871
Oka Park
Offers 5km of naturally sandy beach along the Lake of Two Mountains. This provincial park can accommodate thousands of bathers. There is ample parking, facilities (snack bars, boutique, changing rooms, beach volleyball, camping, boat ramp, hiking trails) and many shade trees near the beach. The isolated, eastern end of the beach even features a quieter ‘nude area’. The beach is open daily from 8am to 8pm and lifeguards are on duty until the Labour Day weekend. Adults pay $8.75 to access the beach while kids under 16 are free. Parking charges of $9 also apply. More info: 450.479-8337 or visit: www.sepaq.com
Parc Jean Drapeau Beach
The Beach in Parc Jean Drapeau is a large, well-designed, municipally-operated beach on Lac des Regattes, an artificial lake on Ile Notre Dame. There are many spots to hang out on the beach, or in the shade of nearby trees. The lake, which reaches about 1.5 metres in depth, is great for swimming. There are snack bars, changing rooms, lockers, and showers here. The beach is open daily from 10am to 7pm to August 18 and then weekends to Sept. 2. The regular adult fee is $9 and discounts are offered after 4pm. Parking costs up to $20 per day. The site is also accessible by public transit (Jean Drapeau metro) and by bicycle. 514.872.6093 plage@parcjeandrapeau.com
Parc regional des Iles-de-Saint-Timothee
Is upstream from Montreal where the St. Lawrence River often runs crystal clear. The white sandy beach and verdant offshore islands can be reminiscent of the Caribbean. Outside of the designated swimming area, scuba diving, pedal boating, canoeing and kayaking are among the activities offered. Lifeguards are on duty daily until mid-August and then weekends through Labour Day from 10am to 6pm. Regular adult admission is $10 with discounts after 4pm. Facilities include a snack bar, changing rooms, bike paths, children’s play areas, etc. The address is 240 rue St-Laurent, Salaberry-de-Valleyfield. More info at: 450.377.1117 www.ville.valleyfield.qc.ca
Other articles from mtltimes.ca – totimes.ca – otttimes.ca
Montreal neighbourhood ranks 11th coolest around the world – Which one is it?
