Boucherville Islands National Park

The Îles-de-Boucherville National Park (French: Parc national des Îles-de-Boucherville) is a national park covering a group of five islands in the St. Lawrence River, in the city of Boucherville in Longueuil, Quebec.

Grande Rivière channel, between Sainte-Marguerite island and Saint-Jean island

This protected territory is managed by the Society of Outdoor Establishments of Quebec (SÉPAQ), which ensures its protection and enhancement. SÉPAQ controls the supply of activities and services. The park offers a program of educational and recreational tourism activities. These islands are also used for agricultural purposes. The flat terrain makes these islands accessible and promotes the practice of outdoor activities for the whole family.

Understand

The park administration

Parc national des Îles-de-Boucherville is located on the St. Lawrence River near the south shore of Montreal. It includes a string of islands once used for agriculture, fishing, hunting and vacationing. The park is recognized for its developed cycling network, kayaking circuits and public golf course. The white-tailed deer, whose population is high on the islands, is easily observed in all seasons, as are the red fox and the grey squirrel.

Each year, the park is visited by 295, 000 visitors on average. It is accessible year-round; however the river shuttles are out of service during the winter season. Only Île Sainte-Marguerite is accessible by road during the winter.

Close to downtown Boucherville, Longueuil and Montreal, these atypical islands are endowed with terrestrial, aquatic and semi-aquatic ecosystems. The agricultural area predominates on these islands, as well as golf on Île à Pinard. The Boisé Grosbois extends over 18 hectares. Marshes, floodplains and swamps are numerous and scattered. The park has 260 plant species, 45 species of fish, seven species of amphibians, six species of reptiles, about 20 species of mammals (white-tailed deer, field vole, beaver, muskrat...) and more than 240 species birds (goldfinch, yellow warbler, mallard, great blue heron, northern flicker, great horned owl). In this territory, deer have no natural predators. These islands are an important stopover on the migratory route of waterfowl in northeastern North America. In addition, these islands are a breeding and nesting area for waterfowl.

History

These islands have a great Indigenous history having been frequented by natives who left there artifacts of their temporary encampments on the river route; and a rich history since French colonization in agriculture, vacationing, boating, hunting, fishing and other aspects of recreational tourism. Part of the archipelago has been incorporated into the Seigneurie de Boucherville.

Underwater archeology work in the channels and shores of the Boucherville Islands has demonstrated the presence of two wrecks:

• the ship Accommodation, owned by John Molson, running on a steam boiler, the wreckage of which was found in the 1980s;
• the steamship Lady-Sherbrooke (formerly a sailboat) built in 1817 for the Molson Line, which crisscrossed the St. Lawrence loaded with passengers and goods, until it was abandoned in the mud of the channel in 1826.

Between 1910 and 1922, Grosbois Island was endowed with King Edward Park, one of the first summer amusement parks in Quebec. This park offered several recreational and tourist facilities to the public: a horse and car racing track, a roller coaster, a promenade-boulevard, a large amphitheater, an airfield, groves reserved for picnics, the railway scenic (the longest and most attractive in Canada, at the time)... In addition, this park presented a variety of entertainment including shows of trained dogs, ponies or monkeys, dancers, bicycle races, marching bands, parades, feats of artists and Canada's first aerial contests in 1910. This amusement park was only accessible by boat. In 1967, the Boucherville islands became accessible by road, following the construction of the Louis-Hippolyte-Lafontaine bridge-tunnel. In 1911, the park was opened after the completion of the work of more than $700,000 at Isle Grosbois.

In 1981, Île Sainte-Marguerite was developed for recreational purposes. In 1984, this territory was dedicated to the Îles-de-Boucherville recreation park. Golf des Îles was developed on Picard Island in 1991. Finally, the status of Îles-de-Boucherville National Park was adopted in 2001.

Get in

• From Montreal (downtown) (18 km (11 mi), 26 min), take Notre-Dame Street (direction East); take the Hyppolite-Lafontaine tunnel (Eastbound); take the Île Charron exit; follow the signs to the park.
• From Quebec City (243 km (151 mi), 2 hours 36 minutes), take Highway 20 (westbound), to Charron Island; follow the signs to the park.

Get around

Bridge spanning a channel in Parc national des Îles-de-Boucherville

Bicycle path bridge spanning the Chenal à Pinard, in Parc national des Îles-de-Boucherville.

Chenal La Passe, between Île de la Commune and Île Grosbois, in Parc national des Îles-de-Boucherville.

In this park, automobile traffic is only possible on Sainte-Marguerite Island. The rest of the territory can be explored by bike or hiking, except for golf carts in the golf course area on Île à Pinard. The islands are separated by channels: Grande Rivière channel, Bras Nord channel, Pinard channel and La Passe channel; Pleasure boating with light boats is possible in these channels to observe the flora and fauna (especially waterfowl).

See

The Boucherville islands are a paradise for observing flora, fauna and river life. A walk in the park proves exciting and educational to discover the wild nature.

• Monarch Butterflies: Every September, Monarch butterflies migrating to Mexico offer a colorful festival. Thousands of butterflies then flutter in this park stopping in the grasses and wildflowers. Common milkweed, a magnificent plant widespread in these islands, is proving suitable for laying the eggs of female Monarchs arriving from Mexico.
• winged fauna: many species of birds nest in the park: on the ground (e.g., song sparrows, ducks, teal, barnacles), or in the hollow of a tree (e.g., goldeneye golden eye and wood duck). Several birds turn out to be predators of other species: gulls, blue gaye, grackles, American crow... In spring and fall, the park's environment is a stopover for migrating birds.
• terrestrial fauna: in particular American mink, raccoon, gray squirrel, coyote, red fox, striped skunk, white-tailed deer...
• river life: the environment of the river changes from hour to hour: passage of pleasure boats or large boats, sunrise or sunset, waves revealing the mood of the weather, the evolution of atmospheric phenomena (e.g.: clouds, storms), and passage of flocks of birds according to the seasons.
• agricultural life: depending on the season, agricultural workers are active in the field areas on these islands for seed, haymaking (eg fodder such as hay), fall harvests (eg corn) and plowing. By respecting the hiking trails, visitors can see farm buildings, agricultural machinery, grazing animals, and cultivated fields.
• Île Sainte-Marguerite reception and interpretation centre: this center provides information on park activities and services, or use the sunny terrace near the river. Ten architectural recognition prizes were awarded for this atypical building. Services available at this centre: reception and information, Boutique Nature, toilets, dairy bar and ready-to-eat meals (summer).

Do

View of the canal and the bridge between Île Ste-Marguerite and Île à Pinard, from the shore of Vieux-Boucherville

Trail on the Ile aux Raisins

In summer

• Water sports (Jeux d'eau). Free. (updated Oct 2022)
• Canoe or sea kayak (Canot ou kayak de mer). This park offers an 8-km marked river trail through channels and marshes. Kayaks or canoes are available for rental on site; otherwise, users can bring their own pleasure craft. Four stops are set up along the route for a picnic. Free. (updated Oct 2022)
• Golf of the Islands (Golf des Îles). Field of 18 holes with a length of 5,720 yd (5,230 m) and an average difficulty of 70. Free. (updated Oct 2022)
• Hiking (Randonnée pédestre). This park offers a 21-km network of multifunctional trails, including 15 km of rustic trails. Free. (updated Oct 2022)
• Bike (Vélo). Free. (updated Oct 2022)
• Beach volleyball (Volleyball de plage). Free. (updated Oct 2022)
• Fishing (Pêche). For fishing enthusiasts, a turnkey fishing package is offered. Free. (updated Oct 2022)
• Paddle surfing (Surf à pagaie). Free. (updated Oct 2022)
• Picnic (Pique-nique). Free. (updated Oct 2022)
• Games and sports facilities (Jeux et plateaux sportifs). Free. (updated Oct 2022)
• Wildlife viewing (Observation de la faune). Free. (updated Oct 2022)

In winter

• Hiking on snow (Randonnée pédestre sur neige). Free. (updated Oct 2022)
• Snowshoe (Raquette). Free. (updated Oct 2022)
• Crosscountry Skying (Ski nordique). Free. (updated Oct 2022)
• Snow scooter (Trottinette des neiges). Free. (updated Oct 2022)
• Fat Bike and Ski-Vel (Vélo à pneus surdimensionnés et Ski-Vel). Free. (updated Oct 2022)* Slide (Glissade). Free. (updated Oct 2022)

Sleep

Camping

• Campsite Grosbois (Camping Grosbois) (Campsite not accessible by car; it is required to get there on foot or by bicycle covering 3 km (1.9 mi); trolleys are available for transporting luggage). Includes 25 tents Huttopia and 50 unserviced camping sites. (updated Oct 2022)
• RV space (Molson sector) (Espace VR (secteur Molson)). The park offers 15 sites that can accommodate trailers and recreational vehicles of all sizes, in the Molson sector. (updated Oct 2022)

Go next

• 1 Montreal Montreal is the economic, commercial and financial heart of Quebec. It is a large, diverse city, with many festivals, museums, and lively neighbourhoods that attract visitors.
• 2 Longueuil Longueuil has a network of 168 km of cycle paths. This city has various recreational parks with several hiking trails: Michel-Chartrand and de la Cité parks. Longueuil offers a host of recreational and tourist activities: hiking, biking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and municipal parks.
• 3 Sainte-Julie, Quebec Sainte-Julie offers a pedestrian heritage circuit to discover the Old Village under the historical aspect with 26 information panels; a mobile, self-guided version is available on the city's website. This city provides access to several recreational and tourist activities (hiking, cycling, library, eight municipal parks with various leisure facilities, and activities for young people).
• 4 Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville A city surrounded by nature with the Mont Saint-Bruno national park, its urban forest, its parks and its recreational tourism infrastructure. In all seasons, Saint-Bruno offers a variety of recreational tourism activities, including: hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, downhill skiing.
• 5 Varennes Pré-Vert Park is a place of celebration and outdoor activities in the heart of the city. The new Polydôme houses a covered ice rink with open walls in winter; it offers a sheltered community area in summer. The Parc de la Commune provides good access to the river. Varennes displays an ancestral and modern component, as well as a variety of recreational and tourist activities (hiking, golf, cycling, and nautical activities on the river). Sugar shack enthusiasts are well served on the Chemin des Sucreries.
• 6 Mont-Saint-Bruno National Park It offers a Boutique Nature (comprising a discovery and services center for young people and outdoor items), an equipment rental service, a cross-country ski school, food services, a transportation service common (RTL summer shuttles and RTL SkiBus shuttle). The park includes many trails, playground, picnic tables, the Jean-Guy Gaudette relay, an orchard, a Le Vieux-Moulin tearoom, and a boat rental service.