Where to run in Montréal: the best routes and trails

This guide highlights the best places to run on the island, with details for each including approximate distance, surface, atmosphere, recommended skill level, and highlights. We’ll wrap up with practical tips for choosing a route based on your goals, running in the winter, and staying safe. Lace up your shoes—let’s go explore the city on the run.

Mont-Royal: the mountain in the heart of the city

You can’t talk about running in Montréal without starting with Mont-Royal. The mountain is the training ground for thousands of runners, from beginners to elite athletes. It offers everything from rolling flats to challenging hills—all just minutes from downtown.

Olmsted trail

This is the mountain’s signature trail. This wide gravel path winds gently and steadily uphill from Avenue du Parc to the Mont-Royal Chalet.

• Distance: approximately 5 to 6 km round trip, depending on your starting point
• Surface: compact gravel, easy on the joints
• Difficulty: intermediate (steady climb but never steep)
• Atmosphere: urban forest, quiet, shaded in the summer
• Highlights: excellent gradual incline for building endurance without the impact of asphalt

The climb to the summit and the lookout

For those looking for elevation gain, the trails and stairs leading to the Kondiaronk lookout offer a breathtaking view of downtown as a reward for the effort. The famous Mont-Royal stairs (nearly 300 steps depending on the route) are a classic strength-training workout for runners.

• Distance: variable; loops ranging from 6 to 10 km are possible
• Surface: a mix of dirt trails, gravel, and stairs
• Level: intermediate to advanced
• Highlights: elevation gain, spectacular views, a natural setting right in the heart of the city

The Lachine Canal: a flat, fast trail

While Mont-Royal is the mountain, the Lachine Canal is its perfect opposite: flat, straight, and running alongside the water for kilometres. It’s the go-to spot for runners who want to control their pace or go on a long, uninterrupted run.

• Distance: approximately 14 km end-to-end (from the Old Port to Lake Saint-Louis in Lachine), or nearly 28 km round trip
• Surface: smooth, well-maintained asphalt
• Difficulty: all levels
• Atmosphere: historic, with locks, bridges, and industrial ruins along the waterfront
• Highlights: a flat course ideal for maintaining a steady pace, few intersections, and distances that are easy to measure

The canal is perfect for a tempo run, a 10-km test run, or a long marathon training run. Since the path is shared with cyclists, stay alert and keep to the right.

Jean-Drapeau Park: running between the river and the city

Located on Sainte-Hélène and Notre-Dame Islands, Jean-Drapeau Park offers a unique setting: the St. Lawrence River on one side and the downtown skyline on the other. The Gilles-Villeneuve Circuit, on Notre-Dame Island, is a 4.3-km asphalt loop that’s very popular with runners and cyclists.

• Distance: 4.3 km loop on the circuit, plus numerous trails on both islands
• Surface: asphalt
• Level: all levels
• Atmosphere: open and airy, views of the river and the city, a sense of escape
• Highlights: a measured loop ideal for interval training or repeated 5K runs, with almost no car traffic

Maisonneuve Park: the large green space in the east

Located next to the Botanical Garden and the Olympic Stadium, Maisonneuve Park is a vast green space where many running clubs from the eastern part of the city gather.

• Distance: 2- to 3-km loops, easy to string together for a 5K or 10K
• Surface: paved trails and gravel paths
• Level: beginner to intermediate
• Atmosphere: spacious, open, family-friendly
• Highlights: mostly flat terrain, well-lit in places, perfect for beginners or club training sessions

Île-de-la-Visitation Nature Park: nature in the north

Located in the northern part of the island along the Rivière des Prairies, this nature park offers a breath of fresh air and a touch of history with its dam ruins and old mill.

• Distance: approximately 8 km of trails
• Surface: dirt and gravel trails
• Difficulty: all levels
• Atmosphere: peaceful natural setting, wooded areas, riverside
• Highlights: a complete change of scenery, soft terrain, ideal for a peaceful run away from traffic

Angrignon Park: the southwestern woodland

Located in the Sud-Ouest borough, Angrignon Park is known for its large, mature trees, ponds, and shaded trails. It is one of Montréal’s most beautiful urban woodlands.

• Distance: network of trails offering loops ranging from 3 to 5 km
• Surface: paved trails and gravel paths
• Difficulty: beginner to intermediate
• Atmosphere: wooded, cool, with bodies of water
• Highlights: flat terrain, plenty of shade in the summer, accessible by metro (Angrignon station)

The Old Port: running along the river in downtown

The Old Port connects the Lachine Canal to downtown and offers a riverside promenade dotted with piers and views of the St. Lawrence River. It’s an ideal starting point if you’re staying downtown.

• Distance: about a 2.5-km walk; combine it with the canal to extend the route
• Surface: cobblestones, asphalt, and trails
• Difficulty: all levels
• Atmosphere: touristy and lively, stunning at sunrise
• Highlights: highly accessible, flat, direct connection to the Lachine Canal

La Fontaine Park: the plateau classic

In the heart of the Plateau-Mont-Royal, La Fontaine Park is a popular spot for urban runners. Its loop around the ponds is short but perfect for a quick workout between other activities.

• Distance: approximately 2 km loop around the park
• Surface: paved trails
• Level: beginner to intermediate
• Atmosphere: urban, lively, very busy
• Highlights: central, easy to access, ideal for short intervals or a morning run

Cap-Saint-Jacques Nature Park: the trail to the west

Located at the western tip of the island, Cap-Saint-Jacques Nature Park is the largest of Montréal’s nature parks. Its wooded areas, fields, and riverbanks make it a top destination for those who want to experience trail running without leaving the city.

• Distance: Over 30 km of trails, with loops ranging from 5 to 15 km
• Terrain: dirt trails, forest roads, a few more technical sections
• Difficulty: intermediate to advanced
• Atmosphere: wilderness, forest, beach on the shores of Lake des Deux Montagnes
• Highlights: authentic trail running experience, moderate elevation gain, perfect for long runs in nature

How to Choose your route based on your goal

For beginners

If you’re new to running, stick to flat, safe routes close to home. Maisonneuve Park, La Fontaine Park, Angrignon Park, and the Lachine Canal are perfect: even terrain, distances that are easy to adjust, and the reassuring presence of other runners. Start by alternating between walking and running, without worrying about your pace.

For your 5K or 10K

Measured loops are your best tools for working on your pace. The Gilles-Villeneuve Circuit in Jean-Drapeau Park (4.3 km) and the Lachine Canal are perfect for tempo runs and timed workouts. Maisonneuve Park, with its looped trails that can be strung together, is ideal for a running club preparing for a 10K.

For long runs

When it’s time to go the distance, nothing beats the Lachine Canal: nearly 28 km round trip without interruption, on a consistent surface. For a long run with a bit more elevation and nature, Cap-Saint-Jacques Park and Mont-Royal offer the elevation gain that will prepare you for hilly courses.

For elevation gain and strength

The hills of Mont-Royal and the mountain’s staircases are Montréal runners’ open-air weight room. Incorporate one hill workout per week to build power and improve running efficiency.

Running in winter in Montréal

Montréal winters shouldn’t stop you. Many routes remain accessible year-round, as long as you’re properly equipped. The Olmsted Trail on Mont-Royal is often groomed and well-travelled even in January. The Lachine Canal and Maisonneuve Park are partially cleared of snow. A few tips:

• Use removable cleats (spiked soles) for traction on ice
• Dress in layers and protect your extremities (toque, gloves, neck warmer)
• Slow down and take shorter strides on slippery surfaces
• Choose well-lit routes, as it gets dark early
• Stay visible with reflective clothing or a headlamp

Safety and best practices

• On shared paths like the Lachine Canal, keep to the right and signal when passing others
• Run facing oncoming traffic when there is no dedicated trail
• Let a friend or family member know your route for long runs in nature parks
• Bring water, especially in the summer and on trails far from water fountains
• In the evening, stick to well-lit and busy areas
• Check our map to find starting points and nearby services

Record and share your routes

Once you’ve found your playground, you can check out our detailed routes and exact distances in the GPS Routes section. And if you feel like competing against others, check out the race calendar: several events take place right on these iconic routes, from Mont-Royal to Jean-Drapeau Park.

Conclusion

Montréal has everything a runner could want: the mountain for elevation gain, the canal for speed, nature parks for a change of scenery, and a host of urban loops accessible year-round. The best route is the one that makes you want to go out for a run, so mix it up and explore the city from a new perspective. To take it further, discover running routes with their GPS maps, and plan your next race using the Québec race calendar. Happy running!