Parc Jean-Drapeau

Fête des Neiges! A winter festival, for winter lovers like we! It was a bit G rated, for two hedonistic adults, but we found a lot to be amused by, and wandered for several hours.
Vin Chard — mulled wine in a cute commemorative travel mug
Traineaux du Cheins — dogsledding! All the pups are rescue dogs, and look very happy.
Maple taffy made in snow!
This was a fun wander. Kids doing crafts was hilarious — hacking at snow blocks with screwdrivers and rasps — having a blast. Kids playing hockey, and a general enjoyment of winter.

What came out to be a short visit to the biosphere, turned out to be a memorable and long visit in the parc du jean drapeau. The fêtes des neiges was on going which caught my eye… it was like a winer wonderland full of amazing things that I’ve only seen in movies and tv shows back at home. From ziplining to snow tubing, ferries wheels, Ice sliding, ice skating, concert, ice sculptures and many more. I loved it so much here and there is so much to do here. Not only that, but there’s a variety of food trucks and eateries to choose from throughout the park. I purchased the acropass which I think is the best imaginable deal I’ve encountered in my lifetime!!! $ 16 for 4 weekends and unlimited access to on park amenities, rides, food discounts and free access to the biosphere and the museum in the outskirts if the island. I enjoyed myself so much with the snowtubing (1^st time) took great pictures. The museum which is an old fort was awe inspiring and educational. I came here last Saturday and ended up back the following day :) I wish nyc had awesome festivals like this one. I highly recommend going to this for any visitors of the upcoming weekend. I believe it’s the last one. Also now I have a little buddy hanging by my coats collar as memory… fyi the acropass is a souvenir polar bear. now that’s awesome!

We were here specifically for a music festival, so we didn’t get time to wander the trails, sit on benches, or otherwise meander through the park itself. Still, I feel like we saw enough of it to be duly impressed.
To start, the park is pretty massive. I hadn’t realized, going in, that it would be quite so spread out. We took the metro in to the park’s station, and I saw a lot of kids on board. I thought to myself, «Those are some rad parents, bringing their kids to a festival like this, introducing them to good music!» But a lot of the kids ended up going to the other end of the park upon leaving the metro station, which I found amusing. Sure, there were some kids that were at the festival (more than I had expected), but the ones from our train on the metro walked in the opposite direction from the festival grounds.
And the festival grounds, themselves, were massive as well. The festival had two main stages and two side stages, and they were spread out enough that you didn’t have to worry about a band from one stage overpowering the band on the other stage (side stages, that is; they didn’t have the two main stages going at the same time, of course).
There were a ton of little shaded areas where people could kick back in the shade, and the festival organizers had spiffed those spaces up with hammocks and WiFi hotspots, which was a nice touch.
The paths between the main and side stages were dirt and rock, but that was manageable. It got a bit dusty with all the people walking to and fro, but again, it wasn’t terrible. There were small patches of grass and picnic tables near the main stages, as well, which were nice for those who needed a place to rest during the day.
I know we didn’t experience everything the park has to offer, but we were there for twelve hours that day, and did a lot of walking. We could see the Biodome from our spot near the main stages, and were able to enjoy a nice view of trees and lush surroundings from that vantage point, as well.
I think the thing that impressed me the most is what I touched on at the top of this review: that the park was able to handle a large festival while still keeping part of it open for families and kids to enjoy, without the two being on top of each other, is impressive. I would have liked to have gone back to explore the non-​festival part of the park, but our schedules didn’t allow for that, alas. Maybe next time.

Loved the swimming area, amazing! Terrific lane swim. Fabulous shallow section, really happy I went. Not cheap ($ 7), I would still return yearly, city is lucky to have this. Unique.

So it’s a park– on an island. Wouldn’t know it unless you looked at a map. Very cool. Lots of events going on including electronic music, food festival and a Brazilian theme party made this park the go to place! Getting here by train is easy. It’s a busy weekend, so keep your kiddies close, be patient and have fun. I’m impressed.
Clean bathrooms– bicycle rentals and lots of big trees to rest under.

I’m going to review this island based on the two half-​marathons I’ve done this year. I’ve been to LaRonde in the past and its ok, but lets talk about the island.
For running (in a race or just to run), its super scenic. Theres amazing views of the water, the city, trees and even some trails. I really enjoy it and the races I did there (one in February when it was –33 and one in April when it was 12 outside) were both really good even though the weather was completely different. I recommend coming here for a run for sure!
Its also nice and clean. Theres music festivals that happen here in the summer but theres so many people its insane!

This gorgeous park is beautifully landscaped. I was visiting for F1 but found myself wandering through the park enjoying the shade and the fountains and the flowers! Several very romantic spots to hideaway and have a picnic. From the signs it also seems like there is a significant boat rental area as well. I think I need to come back during a non-​race weekend!

Beautiful winter scenery! When we were there, there was nothing to do inside the park except to just enjoy the winter scenery.

Oh yes, this place brings back memories. Parc Jean-​Drapeau is located on a beautiful little island on the St Lawrence River. You can get here using the metro or over the bridge.
The thing I like most about Parc Jean-​Drapeau is that it’s one of the best running routes I’ve ever went on (and I’ve been to a few). The run there and back (to the city) is around a good 15 km, but you get to see the beautiful river, the park, and all the industrial stuff on the south side too. I’ve been on this run several dozen times and I have just touched the surface of its beauty.
Right next to the park is a race track. I haven’t been there for any racing events, but I heard it get pretty crazy when there’s a race.
This is also where they host PikNik Electronic (during the summer). Never been there myself, but I heard it’s pretty rad.

Lovely, scenic park that transformed nicely into a music festival venue. It was great to be out in nature, among dense trees and water, listening to musicians play their hearts out. Great, sprawling space.

The park itself is really nice has a great vibe. If you’re trying to get to the beach, the signs don’t point your way. If you know you’re heading to Notre Dame island, then you’ve got a leg up, since there are no specific directions how to get to the beach, only the island.
If you’re staying in the parc, then everything is fine. But not so much if you want to go somewhere specific

MEGA OUTDOOR DANCE PARTY!!! =) came for PikNik Electronica ($ 12 admission)
Okay, not JUST for that, but it’s the perfect spot.
It overlooks the river and out to old Montréal and is home to the Biosphere and botanical garden.
When not for a major party, this park is superb for its quaint walkways, water paths, and great views. How do you spot this beauty? You’ll see a funky structure that looks like an elongated alien spaceship landing on the «harbor». =P
Really easy to get here. just get off at the Jean — Drapeau on the yellow line.
If you need a bike. BIXI rentals are just outside the train station! Wish Cali had a park like this!

I came here for the Grand Prix and had a fantastic time. Another off season joy is that PJD is a wonderful place to come on the weekend when you want some solace and a quiet place to relax (just make sure no racing is scheduled). It’s very accessible from the metro and easy to get in and out.

This is a beautiful and serene location. It’s a park on an island in the middle of the St. Lawrence River. And, from this smaller, though not small, island (Ile Sainte-​Helene), one looks across at the much bigger island that is the Ile de Montréal.
The whole layout is interesting. First, it is accessed by car from ramps from the Pont Jacques-​Cartier, as the bridge changes form from a cantilevered structure to a simple bridge structure on the other side of this island as it connects with the south shore. Then, the Metro also services this park. As it crosses the river from Montréal to the south shore, it makes one intermediate stop on the island and the station is called Jean-​Drapeau.
I have only seen it during autumn colors, and it is mostly quiet, but it is a must-​see attraction in Montréal. There are views at its perimeter, ponds, ducks, squirrels, water features, grassy knolls, forested areas, and some structures such as an aquatic complex, the Biosphere, and an expensive restaurant called Helene de Champlain. Also, from the Jean-​Drapeau metro stop on the island, one can easily walk to the Casino de Montréal, on adjacent Ile de Notre-​Dame, or take a hop on a city bus line which continuously shuttles between this metro stop and the casino. (That 3 day STM pass works for all of these treks).
Calling this island Parc Jean-​Drapeau is interesting and maybe slightly amusing. It is a commemoration of Montréal’s late spendthrift mayor who brought Expo 67, the Metro, and the Olympics to the city. Jean-Drapeau’s mark is everywhere. He even had a sense of humor. When questioned about Toronto’s upstaging Montréal as the economic engine of Canada, he said: «Let Toronto become Milan, we will always be Rome.» That made for a good belly laugh.

Ahh que c’est beau au Parc Jean Drapeau! Site historique de Montréal, ce «parc’ est plutôt une grosse île sur laquelle on y trouve La Ronde, la biosphère et le site de plusieurs événements populaires comme le Picnik Électronik, Osheaga et Formule 1 (je pense — je né m’y connais pas en course d’auto.) C’est aussi un bon endroit où aller pour prendre une belle marche et s’éloigner du trafic de la ville. En fait, sur le chemin de sortie (pour les voitures stationnées au P8), vous y verrez une des plus belles vues de Montréal. Seul petit bémol de cet endroit c’est le coût du stationnement et le temps de tortue que ça prend pour s’y rend. Prenez plutôt le métro pour moins de frustration et gardez vos sous pour de la barbe à papa entre deux tours de manèges!

I can’t help but describe this as the Canadian twin to New York’s own Flushing Meadows — Corona Park. and I mean that in a good way!
both were developed for a World’s Fair (Expo 67, just 3 years after NYC’s), are a short walk from a subway line, are fairly well-​maintained, and host to all sorts of events and activities that go above and beyond their original purpose.
are you a history buff? go to the Stewart Museum.
want to burn some calories off your fat ass after eating too much poutine? go swimming, hiking, biking, and more.
like environmental sciences? visit the Biosphere.
music fan? see a concert here. in fact, they were setting up for the Heavy MTL festival when we walked past (kinda wish I had gotten tickets but they were sold out by then) the outdoor concert field. Iron Maiden and Metallica have both played here –FUC yeah!
into amusement parks? La Ronde (owned by Six Flags) is right there.
this is a great park with something for everyone and kinda makes you forget you are in the hustle and bustle of a city!

Not only is this park pretty awesome but they also have the F1 race over here. It’s a pretty large park with lots to do but honestly I’ve been here mostly for F1!!!
I don’t think there’s anything more cooler than walking the track after the race. Someday I’ll have to enjoy the rest of the park but when wandering the park for F1 it’s massive and there’s all kinds of things around it.

Had a great time here for F1!
The grounds are great, and it’s really easy to get to by Metro or Bixi (in the Summer).
While I spent most of my time at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve watching cars go really really (really!) fast, walking around the park was nice, and I will definitely be back.

Ah, Parc Jean Drapeau, the memories…
When just dating my hubby, we’d spend an hour everyday after work walking and talking, getting to know each other at this park.
The beautiful trails, the vast places to sit and relax and all the events that occur there it’s just a great Montréal landmark and for good reason.
When you want to have a nice day outdoors and not leave the island just head out there and enjoy.

Have visited the last 2 years for Heavy MTL… amazing place for a slew of great Metal Bands… his festival is a must go to at the park. A gathering of 20 or so amazing metal music. There are a ton of food vendors on site but with the amount of people expect long lines at them. The atmosphere is awesome with a gathering of many differnt types of metal fans. Great place.

Cold… Snow… Ice…
Everywhere is frozen at Parc Jean-​Drapeau when I visit. but this is winter… a Canadian Winter…
Slippery walkways… please be prepare and wear the right shoes or just hold on to your love ones and fall together.
If you are in winter sports, there are a couple of trails for cross country skiing or snow shoeing. Snow Village also set up inside the park.
Or if you are like me that are not good in any winter activities, come back when all these snow melt…

Le parc se répartit entre l’île Sainte-​Hélèné et l’île Notre Dame. C’est sur la première que le métro vous déposera. Vous y trouverez des aires de piqué-​niques, un complexe aquatique (voir la revue), des aires de jeux pour les enfants, le fameux parc d’attraction de la Ronde, la Biosphère et bien sûr des kilomètres de balade au vert.
Juste à côté, l’île Notre Dame, est plutôt orientée sport. Ainsi donc vous pourrez y faire du roller ou du vélo sur le célèbre circuit Gilles-​Villeneuve, aller ramer dans le bassin olympique ou encore profiter de la plage et de ses installations nautiques. A moins que vous soyez d’humeur nocturne, auquel cas vous serez plutôt attirés par le Casino…
Le parc accueille et organise aussi de nombreux évènements tels que le Nascar, la fête des neiges, Osheaga, les Piknic Électronik et bien d’autres encore.
Enfin, si comme moi, vous avez plutôt l’âme à roulettes, le parc offre un parcours cyclable de toute beauté. Deux façons d’y accéder: soit par le pont Victoria si vous êtes un sportif de niveau Warrior+ (la pente est très raide!), soit par la piste du canal Lachine qui commence pas loin du vieux port (suivre les indications pour la Cité du Havre, puis pour l’île Notre-​Dame). Quelque soit le parcours que vous choisirez vous pouvez être sûr d’avoir une balade très agréable avec en prime un très beau point de vue sur la ville de Montréal.
Attention cependant: les stationnements sur les deux îles sont très onéreux. Prenez plutôt le métro.