Montreal: St. Lawrence River Cruise & Lachine Rapids Tour

The Rapids That Stopped Explorers — Now You Float Through Them

You board at the Old Port and spend 50 minutes on the St. Lawrence River, passing six major landmarks — the Clock Tower, Jacques-Cartier and Victoria Bridges, La Ronde, the Biosphere, and the Champlain Bridge — before stopping at the Lachine Rapids to watch for herons, cormorants and river birds. The tour ends with a view of Habitat 67 on the return. Life jacket is provided, and the boat is wheelchair accessible.

Step-by-step itinerary

Panorama sightseeing tour of Lachine Rapids

• Arrive 20 minutes early to sign in
• Learn about the Clock Tower history
• Sail under Jacques-Cartier bridge
• View La Ronde and Olympic stadium
• See American pavilion and Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
• Admire Victoria bridge
• Sail between Champlain bridge pillars
• Pause near Lachine Rapids and spot wildlife
• Admire city skyline and Habitat 67

The Experience

Most people see Montreal from the street. You'll see it from the water where it actually began. The 50-minute cruise launches from the Old Port, and within minutes you're under the Jacques-Cartier Bridge, the river opening up in front of you. The city shrinks behind; ahead, the water starts to move differently. That's the Lachine Rapids — one of the largest in North America, the same stretch that made Samuel de Champlain name it Sault Saint-Louis and turn back his canoes. This operator is the only one that brings you close enough to feel the current's pull.

The boat moves through stops that read like Montreal's biography. You pass the Clock Tower, a memorial to sailors from two world wars. La Ronde spins on your right — the amusement park's rides tiny from the water. The Biosphere sits between two islands, a geodesic dome left over from Expo 67, and then the Victoria Bridge appears, all iron and history, built between 1854 and 1859 and still carrying the weight of the city's commerce. The Champlain Bridge comes next, and you sail between its massive pillars, the scale of it impossible to grasp from land. Habitat 67 closes the loop on the way back — a stacked concrete honeycomb that looks like someone's fever dream of the future, except it's been there since 1967.

At the rapids themselves, the water roughens and the air changes. Herons work the shallows. Cormorants dive. Fish species cluster in the fast current, and if you're lucky, a bird of prey hunts overhead. The rapids shaped Montreal long before the city had a name — First Nations traveled them, explorers feared them, engineers eventually built canals around them. You're not going through them; you're pausing at them, close enough to understand why they mattered. Life jacket included. Arrive 20 minutes early to sign in.

What’s included

• Life jacket.
• 50-minute guided cruise on the St. Lawrence River.
• views of the Clock Tower, Jacques-Cartier Bridge, Victoria Bridge, La Ronde amusement park, the Biosphere, and the Champlain Bridge.
• a stop at the Lachine Rapids for wildlife spotting.
• views of Habitat 67 on the return to the Old Port.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Saute-Moutons Jet Boating

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Montreal's landmarks and river history without arranging your own boat or navigating the rapids yourself — the fixed 50-minute schedule and included life jacket mean you show up and the river does the rest.

Traveler reviews

4.86★★★★★★★★★★

7 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

How long is the cruise?

50 minutes total, including all stops and the pause at the Lachine Rapids.

Where does the tour start?

At the Old Port of Montreal. Arrive 20 minutes early to sign in before boarding.

What wildlife can you see?

Herons, cormorants, other seabirds, and birds of prey that hunt along the river. Fish species are also present in the rapids.

Is the boat accessible for wheelchairs?

Yes. All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, and transportation options to the Old Port are also wheelchair accessible.

What's included?

Life jacket. Entry to the boat and all stops along the St. Lawrence River.

Can I bring a stroller or infant seat?

Yes. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are allowed on board.

What is the Lachine Rapids?

One of the largest and most powerful rapids in North America, located on the St. Lawrence River. It was a vital passageway for First Nations and later explored by Samuel de Champlain.