Top 19 Lakes around Laval

Laval is primarily bordered by significant waterways. To the west, you'll find the vast Lac des Deux Montagnes, and to the south, the wide Rivière des Prairies, both offering extensive water-based recreation. Within the city, the Centre de la Nature features an artificial lake for urban water activities.

You can enjoy a variety of activities including swimming, wildlife observation, fishing, and various watercraft activities on the Lac des Deux Montagnes. The Rivière des Prairies offers extensive trails for walking, hiking, and cycling along its banks. The Centre de la Nature provides rentals for kayaks, canoes, and rabaskas on its pond, alongside trails and playgrounds.

Yes, the Lac des Deux Montagnes is known for its natural beauty and 62 islands. The Rivière des Prairies offers scenic views from its riverbanks, especially in parks like Parc des Prairies. For stunning mountain lake views, visitors appreciate Lake Crozet, perched at 1,974 meters, and the area around Refuge des 7 Laux, which is nestled among several mountain lakes.

Absolutely. The Centre de la Nature is an excellent urban park for families, offering watercraft rentals on its pond, trails, playgrounds, and picnic areas. Oka National Park, located on the shores of Lac des Deux Montagnes, provides fine sandy beaches for swimming and relaxation. Lake Crozet is also noted as family-friendly.

The Parc des Prairies along the Rivière des Prairies offers extensive trails for walking and hiking. For more challenging mountain hikes with lake views, you can explore routes like the 8.2 km moderate hike to Lake Crop, or longer, more difficult trails such as the 12.2 km Le Habert d'Aiguebelle Refuge – Cime de la Jasse loop. You can find more hiking options in the Hiking around Laval guide.

Yes, the riverbanks along the Rivière des Prairies, particularly in Parc des Prairies, provide excellent cycling opportunities. For gravel biking, routes like the 29.2 km 'Alte Kapelle – Gravel Isere loop' are available. You can discover more cycling routes in the Cycling around Laval guide and Gravel biking around Laval guide.

The Lac des Deux Montagnes features 62 islands, many untouched, contributing to a rich ecosystem with forests and marshes. The Rivière des Prairies is an important wildlife habitat, providing spawning areas for fish and hosting the Mitan archipelago, a crucial reserve for various plant and animal species, including the threatened green dragon.

The area of Laval-sur-le-Lac, on the western side of Laval, developed along the Lac des Deux Montagnes and has historical significance as a peaceful residential environment. You can learn more about its history on Wikipedia.

Visitors frequently praise the natural beauty and recreational opportunities. The Lac des Deux Montagnes is appreciated for its good water quality and diverse activities. The Rivière des Prairies is loved for its scenic views and tranquil parks. The Centre de la Nature is a favorite for its urban oasis feel and family-friendly atmosphere. Specific highlights like Lake Crop are celebrated for their exceptional turquoise waters and stunning contrasts.

Swimming is a popular activity in the Lac des Deux Montagnes, especially at Oka National Park's beaches, due to its excellent water quality. While the Rivière des Prairies is used by boaters, strong currents and rapids in certain areas mean swimming is generally not recommended. The artificial lake at the Centre de la Nature offers watercraft activities but is not typically for swimming.

The warmer months, from late spring to early autumn, are ideal for enjoying swimming, watercraft, hiking, and cycling. During winter, areas like Parc des Prairies along the Rivière des Prairies transform into a winter wonderland, offering snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and tobogganing.

Yes, Lake Crop is particularly renowned for its different shades of turquoise blue, which vary depending on humidity and light, making it a visually stunning spot for swimming and cooling off.