Parc régional des Rapides

Parc régional des Rapides is a riverside park in LaSalle that sits along the Lachine Rapids, where the Saint Lawrence River flows and churns around natural islands and rock formations. The park includes pathways through wooded areas, open shorelines, and elevated platforms where visitors can view the rushing water and the landscape.

The site once held a hydroelectric station that captured the power of the Lachine Rapids to supply electricity during Montreal's early industrial era. The facility is no longer operational, but the location recalls the time when the river's force powered the city's growth.

Locals come here to experience nature within the city and observe wildlife up close along the water. The site serves as a gathering place where people connect with the river and its living creatures.

The park can be entered from multiple points throughout LaSalle, giving visitors flexibility in how they explore. Wear comfortable walking shoes as the paths vary in surface and some areas near the water may be damp or muddy.

The park holds Quebec's largest heron colony and welcomes approximately 225 bird species that pass through during migration seasons. The flowing water and islands within the river create the right conditions for this concentration of wildlife.