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Cross Country Skiing In Montreal-Part One

© Norman P. Goldman

Now that Winter is upon us in Montreal many of you readers may be asking the question where can I find some good cross country trails in and around the city?

There is an abundance of places that are within easy reach by car, bus or métro. All of these venues provide beautiful settings where you can relax (if you call cross country skiing relaxation!) and enjoy the beauty of winter.

Here is a listing of three of the more popular trails and the ones that I myself have experienced. In future articles I will indicate others.

The Morgan Arboretum is located in Ste Anne de Bellevue that is about a half hour drive from the centre of Montreal. The trails are groomed and even on very cold days you are protected by the abundance of trees within an enchanted forest.

There is ample parking and there is even a little snack bar and toilet facilities. You can check out the above link for fees, trails, and all other pertinent information.

Please note that if you intend to cross country ski often during the winter months, it would be wise to become a "friend" of the arboretum as this entitles you to have access to the trails at all times. Furthermore, if you are a Canadian, your donation is tax deductible.

Another excellent site is Parc-nature du Bois-de-Liesse situated on Gouin Blvd West near autoroute 13. This nature park is divided into 3 sections and truly is a fantastic venue to appreciate the surrounding ecology.

There are two welcome centres and reaching the park via the métro is fairly easy. Métro Henri Bourassa will take you to bus 69 going west until the terminus, then bus number 68 will take you to the entrance.

If you are traveling by car you would take autoroute 13 and get off at Gouin. It is approximately 100 metres to the west of the autoroute.

If you wish to cross country ski on the eastern end of the Island of Montreal, you may want to try out the 3 trails located at the Botanical Gardens This is located at 4101 rue Sherbrooke Est and you may even want to visit the gardens after you have worn yourself out. This would be a great reminder as to what to look forward to come Spring time. All of the necessary information pertaining to the Botanical Gardens can be found at the above link.

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