Isa Tousignant is a Montréal-based editor and storyteller with a curiosity that runs deeper than most. She has chatted life philosophies with celebrity chefs, gemologists, arena rockers and furries. All were transformative.
This article was updated on June 10, 2022.
Runners know a jog is the best way to explore a city. Here are 4 trails that’ll take your breath away.
This beautiful downtown hotel may feel far from the mountain, but it’s actually a hop, skip and a jog away. Start by running northward up de la Montagne Street until you hit Des Pins Avenue. Turn left and find the entrance to Mount Royal just before Cedar Avenue. Jog up the stairs, and then the mountain is your playground: you can explore the entire western quarter on any of a dozen paths available. Find the main path that leads to beautiful Beaver Lake and run around it before turning back and retracing your steps.
This bijou boutique hotel in a heritage building counts a mere 23 rooms, which guarantees you get an intimate experience that will make you feel like a local. For a lovely run that’s different from the average downtown jog, head east along Sherbrooke Street until you reach Parc La Fontaine. With its picturesque topography, lake and curving footpaths, this large park offers lots to explore. Start by running its perimeter, then head inwards in any direction that catches your eye. For a varied experience, take Cherrier Street instead of Sherbrooke on your way back to the hotel; turn left on Saint-Denis, and in a couple of blocks you’ll be back where you started.
This gorgeous Old Montréal hotel is a fantastic starting point for an extensive exploration of the Lachine Canal. Featuring waterside parkland on both banks, it reveals a serene side of the city. Head south from the hotel until you hit De la Commune Street, then turn right. The run will start out with an urban vibe, as you pass the Old Port, until you reach the canal bank proper, about 1 km in. Then, keep heading west until you feel like turning back. A good halfway mark is at Atwater Market, where you’ll find a footbridge to the southern bank. Run back eastward towards the hotel, and cross back over on any of three crossings at your disposal.
Right in the thick of chic Old Montréal, you’d never think this historic property is within reach of the parochial Parc Jean-Drapeau. Not for the faint of heart, granted, this 10 km run starts on Saint-Sulpice Street. Head south until you hit the water. Run west on De la Commune Street until you reach the bridge at Mill Street. Continue on Mill Street westward until Riverside Street, then turn left and continue until you hit Pierre-Dupuy Avenue. Turn left again and stick on Pierre-Dupuy Avenue until it turns into Concorde Bridge. Cross (check out the view!), and there you are, on St. Helen's Island, where you can run amok among the verdant paths of Parc Jean-Drapeau. Why not bring a picnic and make a day of it? When you’re ready to come back, simply repeat in reverse.
Isa Tousignant is a Montréal-based editor and storyteller with a curiosity that runs deeper than most. She has chatted life philosophies with celebrity chefs, gemologists, arena rockers and furries. All were transformative.
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