Article content Montreal has made major strides in recent decades toward becoming one of North America’s most bike-friendly cities. Summer and fall are great seasons to explore the island and beyond by bike, so why not pack a picnic in your pannier and head out on a cycling adventure? Here are some ideas for bike picnics on or near the island that are all accessible by scenic bike-path routes ..
. because on two wheels, the journey is as important as the destination. At the western end of the the canal of the same name, Lachine offers great potential for bike picnic destinations.
If you are coming from the west, you can follow the scenic bike path along the lakeshore. From downtown, take the Lachine Canal path to its western end at Lac St-Louis. If you start at the Old Port, you will ride 14.
5 kilometres along a picturesque, although often very busy, bike path. The route highlights the canal’s history as Canada’s “cradle of industrialization,” with many former factories transformed into swanky condo developments. You can stop at the Atwater Market to grab some fresh picnic fare, then head onward to Lachine.
When the canal ends, keep going along the path onto the green peninsula known as René-Lévesque Park . There is an official picnic area with tables, but you can choose any spot along the water to sit on the grass and enjoy beautiful views of Lac St-Louis, the South Shore and the Mercier Bridge. This park boasts one of the largest open-air sculpture gardens in e.