Jean-Drapeau Park | Skates, skis, snowshoes and hot chocolate

There was a good snowfall. It is cold. It’s now or never to spend time in the islands. The islands of Sainte-Hélène and Notre-Dame, of course.

Mary Tison
The Press

Parc Jean-Drapeau, in Montreal, offers an array of winter activities. It would be difficult to do it all in one day, but one can certainly hope to make the most of it.

The rental counter is only open on weekends and spring break, so bring all the necessary equipment if planning a visit during the week.

The first challenge is therefore to take the metro with skis, snowshoes and skates. It is managed with specialized bags for transporting skis and snowshoes, and a large backpack for the skates, the snack and, very important, the thermos of hot chocolate, with a small collection of mini marshmallows.

First, the Skaters’ Trail

Now you have to decide where to start. The Sentier des patineurs is a good choice: when it opens at 10 a.m., its ice is brand new and sparkling. Hop, the music starts. The first steps on the skates allow you to approach the monumental sculpture by Alexander Calder which stands out against a brilliant blue sky, then to admire the buildings of the city center, on the other side of the river. The waters of this one carry an impressive quantity of pieces of ice which parade at full speed.

The trail leaves the river and climbs slightly into the woods. Obviously, the previous skaters worked hard to climb this very small hill: they had to skate hard which left streaks still noticeable despite the regular maintenance of the surface. There is a reward: a very slight downward slope to return to the starting point.

The Sentier des patineurs is a very small loop. Fortunately, a small rectangular rink was added to allow skaters to take up a little more space.

After a few laps, it’s time to stop, have a first cup of hot chocolate (with mini marshmallows) and swap the skates for cross-country ski boots.

Slopes for all tastes

There are three trails: a 300m trail to test your equipment, an 800m trail to practice and a nice 5km trail to go all out. If the first two are located near the Sentier des patineurs, on Île Sainte-Hélène, you have to go to Île Notre-Dame for the long trail.

Don’t expect a big drop. The beginning of the loop is also quite uniform: we walk a little on the Gilles-Villeneuve circuit, we follow the very long Olympic basin. It’s at the very end that it starts to be interesting: a hyperactive fox has left lots of tracks in the fresh snow. The culprit remains invisible.

The path bypasses Jean-Doré beach (strange, there are no swimmers). Then, it crosses the Floralies site, turning here and there, crossing small bridges. The tracks of animals are more numerous: rabbits? Squirrels ? But also tiny traces of very light small mammals that barely mark the snow.

In the trees, no less than three cardinals let themselves be admired. There is a picnic table there, the perfect place for a snack. But a black-capped chickadee shows off cheekily by flying dangerously close to the skiers’ faces.

Around the snowshoes

Then it’s back to Île Sainte-Hélène, to change the skis for snowshoes. And for another cup of hot chocolate (not to mention the mini marshmallows).

The snowshoe course is less defined. Basically, we take the direction of the small hill that forms the heart of Île Sainte-Hélène, Mont Boullé.

This is definitely the time to observe the tracks of the critters: there are tracks of a fox here, then a big hole, then tracks which move away from it. Did the fox dig up and bite into a small animal?

Further on, on the edge of a path, a sign recommends to watch out for poison ivy. This is at least one danger which does not threaten us.

At the top of the hill, a belvedere offers a view of the city. Or offered. In 1967, the panorama must have been impressive, but the trees have grown a lot since then and you can see the buildings of the city center much less through the branches.

You have to go down and head towards the path that runs along the river to have a clearer view. This 2 km trail allows you to follow the dance of the ice and see some big ducks that sail between the ice cubes to feed under the surface of the icy water. We are cold just looking at them.

Then, a nice surprise: on the slightly firmer ice along the shore, you can see the track of an otter that walked-slipped-on-the-belly-market-slipped-on-the – belly.

It’s time to celebrate with one last cup of hot chocolate (and the rest of the mini marshmallows).

You will have to return to the park for other activities, such as winter biking and sliding. Winter is not over.