Paddling near Montréal, Quebec

Montréal sits on an island at the confluence of the St. Lawrence and Ottawa rivers, and that geography shapes everything about paddling here. The combined currents split around the islands of Montréal and Laval, forming the Rivière des Prairies, the Rivière des Mille Îles, and the Lachine Rapids on the St. Lawrence — one of the most accessible urban whitewater runs in North America. Within the city you can SUP a sheltered lagoon at Parc Jean-Drapeau or surf standing waves on the St. Lawrence; a short drive out opens up national-park channels, highland lakes, and the quieter rivers of the Eastern Townships.