As soon as the warm weather arrives, Montérégie turns into a biking destination. In the heart of the Beauharnois-Salaberry Regional County Municipality (RCM), the regional park offers a playground where everything is within easy riding distance: riverside scenery, gourmet stops, welcoming rest areas and local discoveries. Here is a quick look at this must-visit destination on the regional cycling network as it marks its 30th anniversary.
Text by La Presse – Photos by Deny Cardinal for Escapade Beauharnois-Salaberry
30 years of enjoyment by the water
Beauharnois-Salaberry Regional Park is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, but the story of this place goes back much further. In the 1930s, construction of the world’s second-largest run-of-river hydroelectric generating station led to the digging of the Beauharnois Canal. Built by hand by thousands of workers, this monumental undertaking created an engineering gem stretching about 25 kilometres long and nearly 1 kilometre wide.
The landscape still bears the marks of this century of history. “There is a kind of coexistence between an industrial setting and a natural environment. Even though the area feels completely natural, the canal still serves as a water reservoir supplying the Beauharnois generating station,” explains Valérie Binette, Executive Director of the regional park.
In the late 1990s, local elected officials wanted to restore public access to the shoreline, which led to the creation of the park. Since then, the canal banks have been transformed into a popular outdoor destination for hiking, running, cycling and birdwatching.
Like an open-air museum, the park is dotted with interpretation stops that invite visitors to discover the landscape’s wildlife, plant life and history shaped by both human engineering and nature.
Ride a well-designed and safe route
One of Beauharnois-Salaberry Regional Park’s greatest assets is undoubtedly its cycling network, which is completely free to access. “There are 72 kilometres of linear bike paths within the park, in addition to the branches extending through the surrounding municipalities,” says Valérie Binette.
Paved and relatively flat, the path is largely part of the Route verte. Running alongside the Beauharnois Canal in some areas and farmland in others, this accessible and safe route is well suited to long bike rides. Numerous developed rest areas make it easy to stop and enjoy the riverside and rural scenery, while also offering a range of amenities for cyclists.
Need a bite after your ride? A hand with a mechanical issue? More than 30 cycling patrollers travel the network. They are trained in first aid and mechanical assistance, but they also serve as tourism ambassadors for the region. “You can count on them to help you discover the flavours, landscapes and activities that make each community unique,” adds the park’s Executive Director.
Make Beauharnois-Salaberry Regional Park the starting point for a great long-distance cycling outing. From the site, it is possible to connect with the Soulanges bike path and the Pré ferré — the Roussillon RS cycling route. More experienced cyclists can even continue on to the Sentier du Paysan, accessible about 12 kilometres from the Sainte-Martine sector.
A vast outdoor destination
Thanks to its multifunctional vocation, the site appeals to walkers, runners, inline skaters, families out for a stroll and people with reduced mobility alike. It is also a favourite among birdwatchers.
“It is an important migratory corridor, especially for snow geese. In spring and fall, as many as 100,000 birds can gather across the width of the canal; it is truly impressive,” says Valérie Binette.
Head to one of the birdwatching towers for a chance to spot some of the 150 bird species recorded in the area. Surrounded by water, Beauharnois-Salaberry Regional Park is also popular with anglers and motorized boaters. Docks and boat launches are available on site.
Surrounded by water, the Beauharnois-Salaberry Regional Park is also popular with anglers and motorboat owners. Docks and boat ramps are available on site.
Good to know: The canal’s current is not suitable for swimming or activities such as kayaking or paddleboarding. “But since waterways are everywhere in the region, there are several places near the park where this type of watercraft can be rented,” says Valérie Binette.
Stay a little longer
For vanlife enthusiasts, the park offers an unserviced stopover area for recreational vehicles close to the bike path and a boat launch. Among the accommodations available in the RCM, Hôtel MOCO stands out for its facilities and services that live up to its Bienvenue cyclistes! certification.
There are plenty of ways to end the day on a high note in the area. Why not stop by one of our many gourmet shops, visit a local producer for haskap berries or rosemary picking, or head to one of the local microbreweries or great restaurants nearby?
Partnership between Tourisme Montérégie, Escapade Beauharnois, and La Presse (2026).
