Adventure sports in Montréal

First things first: yes, there is surfing in Montréal. You might be wondering, “How can an inland city have a legitimate surf scene?” While the city isn’t located oceanside, it is an island. The surfable wave just happens to be in a river. 

The team of accredited professionals at KSF (Kayak Sans Frontiers) will escort you on a surfing safari in the waves of the St. Lawrence River. Alternatively, enjoy the thrill of SUP (stand up paddleboarding) or learn the basics of whitewater kayaking.  

Operating out of the Lachine Canal, H20 Adventures offers kayaks, SUPs, canoes, and more. The water here is calm, making it an ideal option for beginner paddlers.  

With Espace Navi, you can see night descend upon the city under the stars, enjoy the fireworks from an excellent vantage point or simply glide down the river in tranquility — on a kayak or SUP. Rental points are available from both Verdun and Nun’s Island. They also offer e-bikes and e-fatbikes.) 

Visiting in the winter months? Or simply want a highly controlled surf setting? Unleash your inner Kelly Slater on the artificial wave at Oasis Surf (in Brossard). 

Rafting Montréal offers fast-paced excursions—rafting, jet boating, river boarding, or tandem rafting—on the Lachine waves. A perfect option for a group or a team. 

Prefer to hit the water with engines? Get your blood pumping with a jet-ski tour by Wet Set MTL. Get the gang together for Saute-Moutons Jet Boating. The one-hour excursion will get hearts thumping while showing the sights of the city from a unique vantage. Want even more excitement? Spin Boating is ultra-fast and ultra-furious. We dare you to try it.  

Develop your patience, focus, and precision with Rage Axe Throwing, an engaging activity that’s bound to let you blow off a little steam. 

Experience an incredible adrenaline rush at Action 500, a large indoor entertainment centre featuring electric karting, paintball, Laser Tag, and escape games that will entertain people of all ages, seven days a week.

Defy the laws of gravity at iFly Montréal. This indoor freefall simulator recreates the freefall portion of a skydive. Solo, with your partner, or among buddies, enjoy a unique activity in a safe and supervised environment.  

Fly your own airplane! At AviaSim, anyone can fly an airliner. Offering several different packages, you can enjoy a truly unique and immersive experience in these simulators that perfectly replicates the flight deck and cockpit of major commercial aircrafts. Taking on the role of Captain, choose from among 24,000 destinations, design a specific flight plan, and take off as pilot for the day. 

Or fly a helicopter—for real! Soar high above the city skyline in style with Hélicraft's helicopter tours. Enjoy a bird’s eye view of Montréal’s main attractions: the Olympic Stadium, downtown skyscrapers, Mount Royal, and more. Opt to fly the helicopter yourself during Hélicraft’s supervised pilot experience. With an experienced instructor by your side, you’ll soar 4,200 metres high above Montréal’s skyline at speeds of up to 180 km/hour.  

You’d be mistaken to think that the pirate ship obstacle course in the Old Port of Montréal is just for kids. Voiles en Voiles invites thrill seekers of all ages to attack life-size replicas of two 18th-century sailing vessels all year round. Aerial courses of varying degrees of difficulty, including double black diamond. Consider yourself warned! 

Montréal Zipline— the first urban zipline circuit in Canada—offers a thrilling experience while discovering the city from a bird’s eye view. Transform yourself into a superhero flying over the city.

Horizon Roc offers climbing activities for all. With more than 300 routes, it is one of the largest climbing centres in the world. It is also home to the Acro-Parc, an indoor aerial circuit with a zip line. 

Alternatively, you can join the circus! The Montréal Circus Academy is the city's largest recreational circus centre, offering a variety of classes: flying trapeze, fixed trapeze, sport pole, exotic pole, aerial tissues, lyra/hoop, straps, handstand, flexibility, dance, and much more. Suitable for all levels and ages.  

Escape rooms are all-season options for high-octane adventure. Work together to get out of tricky scenarios at A/Maze Montréal where reality-based tests—from a prison break to an alien maze, plus an interactive game with actors—challenge teams in a white-knuckle countdown. Less tense but just as fun, find your way through the Old Port's SOS Labyrinthe. Good luck!

iSaute invites guests of all ages to defy gravity at their sprawling facilities. Jump, dive, dodge, and flip across a series of interconnected trampolines while also enjoying acrobatics in their foam pit. A special area is reserved for smaller children who want to join in and have fun. Also, a variety of courses are available including ninja warrior, jumping, and dodgeball to name a few.  

And while it might not qualify as an “adventure” sport, pickleball is good fun that gets the heart going. In Montréal, Centre Pickle offers 14 indoor courts that are open year round. You can get coaching, join a tournament, or just nab an espresso and watch the action!   

Now that you’ve had some fun, you might want to chill out. Recuperate at one of these Montréal spas!