With the type of weather that we got in the past few weeks, it’s easy to tell that Summer is fully engaged. Time to gather your Summer gear and to get out of the house! For the scorching hot days ahead, we got some great swimming spots on tap that you definitely need to visit.
If you know Quebec Summers, you know that at some point it’s going to be so hot that you won’t have a choice to have access to swimmable water in order to get outside the house. Unfortunately, swimming spots are not a given around the Montreal area, but there’s still a handful of places where you can enjoy a nice swim session in nature without having to drive more than 2 hours.
We’re talking about river swimming here. Fresh, cool and moving water, sometimes even a few waterfalls! Forget about your neigborhood’s public pool, pack a bag with food and all your Summer Essentials and hop in the car with your friends. Good times guaranteed!
Parc des Chutes Dorwin - Rawdon
This swimming spot is one of the best out there and is very popular when it gets hot out. Only one hour away from Montreal Dorwin Falls is perfect for an afternoon road trip. Located in Rawdon, the falls are easily accessible on the marked trail in Dorwin Falls Park.
For the best views of the 18-meter tall waterfall, you will need to go to one of the several lookout points, but the thing that we love the most about this spot is obviously relaxing along the banks of the Ouareau River to swim and admire the beautiful wildlife while sipping on a cold one with friends. Dogs on leash are also allowed in the park.
How to get there
This one is pretty easy to reach, follow the map below to find out.
Parc d’Environnement Naturel de Sutton
Out of all the river/waterfall setups to swim at, the Sutton Parc d'Environnement Naturel stands out. Shallow water, waterfalls, swimming ponds and hikes for days. Once you get to the site, venture out to the The park’s “Witches’ Cauldrons”, a series of naturally occurring stone pools along the river.
There’s no better place to be hiking on a hot day as there will be fresh river water at your disposal all along the way. There’s even a few cliffs that you can jump off of that are very cool! Tucked in the wilderness, this is a truly gorgeous spot that’s well worth the detour. Visit the PENS website for all the infos you need about this amazing spot and leave the stress behind by venturing out to Sutton’s Parc d’Environnement Naturel.
How to get there
Visit the P.E.N.S website for directions to the Sutton Natural Environment Park and to have access to maps of the territory.
*****BECAUSE OF IT'S GROWING POPULARITY AND BY RESPECT TO THE NEIGHBOURS, WE HAVE BEEN FORCED TO REMOVE THE THIRD SPOT FROM THIS BLOG ARTICLE, SORRY!******
Check out our Summer Essentials at the link below, grab all that you need, a few cold ones and go enjoy what nature has to offer around the Montreal area!
Browse Through our Summer Essentials →
