This summer, we’re looking to cool off—it’s already very hot in Montreal, and the tons of ice cream we plan to eat to get through the long, sweltering afternoons of the coming months is a good start. But what we really want is to go for a swim in the cool waters of a lake not too far from the city.
We’ll be able to take a day-long road trip to go swimming at Lac Stukely Beach all summer long, and it’s right in the heart of one of the country’s most beautiful national parks—Mont Orford National Park.
Canoeing, kayaking, the cool waters of Lake Stukely
Lake Stukely is one of the clearest in the region, and it looks like the lake from a nostalgic movie about childhood summers at camp. The sand is soft, the lake bottom is marshy, the water is cool, and the lake smells of sausages cooking over a fire and spruce trees warmed by the sun.
At Lac Stukely Beach, swimming is supervised, and you can rent kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, and pedal boats for an hour, a half-day, or a full day. Rental rates are available on the Mont Orford National Park website here.
Don’t forget your sunscreen, bug spray, and racquets or volleyball to spend the day by the water. And for those who want to spend the whole weekend at the lake, you can stay overnight at the Lac Stukely Campground.
Practical Information
Where? Lac Stukely Beach, Chemin du Camping, Orford J0B 2B0
When? Opening hours for Lac Stukely Beach (Lac Stukely sector of Mont Orford National Park)
- June 13 to August 30, 2026
- August 31 to September 7, 2026
- Monday, September 7, 2026 (Labor Day)
What?
parking / $12.40 – to reserve a spot in advance (recommended), click here
Daily admission to Mont Orford National Park / $10.30 for adults, free for children
*Dogs are not allowed on the beach
