The best family-friendly hikes and walks in Bois De L'Équerre

Launch straight into the Rivière des Mille Îles from the park's main rental centre and explore a maze of islands, marshes, and quiet waterways at your own pace. Canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, rowboats, and rabaskas are available to rent for three-hour blocks or a full day on a first-come, first-served basis. Your rental also helps support the conservation of the river's unique ecosystems and wildlife, making it a great way to experience the park from the water.

Rivière des Prairies is a picturesque waterway that flows between Montréal and Laval, winding past islands, parks, and neighbourhoods before joining the St. Lawrence River. Walking and cycling paths follow sections of the shoreline through green spaces and riverfront parks, with beautiful views and opportunities to spot birds and other wildlife along the banks. Although it runs through a highly urban area, this stretch is calm and slow-moving, making it popular for walking, paddling, and spending time near the water.

Île Perry is a small island nature area along the Rivière des Prairies in Montréal, known for its peaceful setting, riverside views, and protected habitat. There are walking paths and lookout areas with benches to enjoy the quiet shoreline scenery, with mature trees and natural vegetation creating an important refuge for birds and other wildlife along the river. Connected to nearby green spaces, including Parc des Bateliers, the island has a calm, tucked-away feel that makes it a lovely place to pause and enjoy the water.

With plenty of trails, a small pond, picnic areas, outdoor fitness equipment, and a disc golf course Parc Bernard-Landry is the perfect place for a relaxing day at the park or for an outdoor workout. The park also host various events throughout the year so you might come for a picnic and end up staying for an evening concert.

Pont Viau is a concrete arch bridge that spans the Rivière des Prairies. While it's a major part of the cities transport infrastructure, it also has convenient paths for pedestrians and cyclists to use.

The Route Verte (Green Route) is North America’s largest cycling network, stretching thousands of kilometres across Québec and linking hundreds of communities with signed, mostly low-traffic routes for biking and walking. This section is popular with recreational riders and hikers, commuters, and long-distance touring cyclists, offering an easy, traffic-free way to explore Laval’s natural surroundings and city highlights, whether you’re on foot or on a bike.

Bois de Naples is a beautiful urban woodland in the Vimont sector, part of a larger green corridor that encompasses several other woodlands and natural spaces. It's an inviting natural environment for cyclists and walkers, and, compared to other wooded areas in Laval, it lacks the development of formal trails and parks, making it an ideal spot to pause and take in the quiet scenery.

Bois d’Édimbourg is a forest oasis, with wooded trails and natural habitats nestled within the city’s landscape. The forest features paths suitable for walking and nature observation, with diverse tree cover, marshy patches, and typical southern Québec woodland ecology. As part of a network of woodlands that help buffer urban heat islands and support regional biodiversity, it creates a beautiful, peaceful backdrop for anyone riding or cycling through this area.