Did you know that it’s been scientifically proven that proximity to water is a powerful anxiolytic? Just looking at the water (in this case, the river) for a few minutes a day can make us calmer, happier and, more broadly, mellow the vibe.
Maybe that’s why we’re so chill in Montreal (that and the SQDC), but sometimes a stroll through the Old Port or along the banks of the Lachine Canal isn’t enough to satisfy our desire for water. We need to dip our toes in a lake.
In Quebec, there are over 500,000 lakes – and 12% of the territory is covered by freshwater. That’s almost too much, so we made a list of 7 lakes within a three-hour drive of the city for our next road-trip…
1 Lac des Deux Montagnes
It’s right next to Montreal, and with Vaudreuil on one shore and Oka National Park on the other, it’s a semi-urban atmosphere invaded by nature that we’re going to enjoy immensely.
distance from Montreal: about 1h10min drive
2.lake Memphrémagog
This gigantic lake on the border of Quebec and Vermont is the region’s water sports heartland. Skating and ice fishing in winter, boating and sailing in summer, and everything else you can do in the water. We have a soft spot for Georgeville’s little marina, and love strolling along the waterfront in Magog.
distance from Montreal: about 1h50min drive
3.lake Saint-Louis
At the end of the Lachine Canal, Lac Saint-Louis is a little country for sailing and water sports enthusiasts. In summer, it’s like your childhood village, with the added bonus of being close to downtown…
distance from Montreal: about 30min drive, or 1h by public transport
4.lake Tremblant
Tremblant is most often thought of as a ski and winter sports resort, but Lac de Tremblant is as sublime as its mountains under the winter powder. It’s a national park, and nature is incredibly well preserved – you can walk the trails around the lake to soak your feet…
distance from Montreal: about 2h30 by car
5.large lake Saint-François
This is Quebec’s largest lake and a fishing destination for all enthusiasts.
It’s the meeting point for many of the Eastern Townships’ inhabitants, and as soon as summer arrives, it’s easy to spend a nostalgic afternoon with soft ice cream, feet in the grey sand of the lake’s beach, and a stint on Lambton’s scorching asphalt to end the day.
distance from Montreal: about 2h50 by car
6.lake Saint-Pierre
Classified as a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, Lac Saint-Pierre is a must-see destination for birdwatchers.
You can’t swim there, but you can see the thousands of birds that live there and walk between the marshes and reeds that grow along the banks.
distance from Montreal: about 2h50 by car
7.lake Massawippi
This is the most cinematic lake in the Eastern Townships region, and on its shores are several picture-postcard villages (including Ayer’s Cliff with its famous farmer’s market, and Quebec’s most picture-perfect village, North Hatley) and hiking trails overlooking wilderness mini-criques.
distance from Montreal: about 1h35 by car
Enjoy the ride, the soft-serve ice cream and the dip!