Kayaking at dusk: a whole new world of colors!

Starting in mid-June each year, the Rivière-des-Mille-Îles Park offers a particularly interesting activity: kayaking at dusk. This is a guided 2.5-hour expedition on the river to explore the hidden wildlife from one island to the next. Tourisme Laval part in this activity to give you a closer look.

First, the two guides welcomed the group of about 12 people. Basic rules were explained to those who had never paddled before, and equipment was handed out to everyone. To ensure everyone’s safety, one of the guides led the way while the other followed behind to make sure no one got lost.

The expedition then began. It was fascinating to learn more about the river’s biodiversity and the species that live there. We were invited to observe different types of birds, including the Canada geese following the river’s current and the great blue heron staying closer to the islands. We could also spot bird nests built on the sides of the highway bridges.

As we moved from island to island, we stopped near the beaver dams to watch them in silence. It was impressive to see them emerge from the water and dive back in immediately, making a loud splash to warn their companions of our presence. We also spotted aquatic plants in the river, and were shown how to tell water lilies apart from water hyacinths.

In addition, the guides took care to educate us about the disturbances to natural environments that can harm them. For example, the low walls built to prevent flooding prevent marshes from forming and can thus make the situation worse.

To wrap up this adventure, we had a front-row seat to the sunset in a calm and soothing atmosphere.

In short, we highly recommend this wonderful activity for your summer vacation. To do so, book your spots from Friday to Sunday at dusk.

By participating in an activity at the Rivière-des-Mille-Îles Park, you’ll not only have fun, but you’ll also help protect, conserve, and promote the park. It’s a wonderful way to give back to nature!

View the profile for Rivière-des-Mille-Îles Park to find out about other activities available.