Paddle Sports
Chambly Canal National Historic Site
From mid-May to mid-October, enjoy a ride in a canoe, kayak or a paddleboard and surrender yourselves to the enchantment of yesteryear while navigating the Cambly Canal. See the bascule bridges and the locks fitted with cranking devices. Watch as the bridge begins to rotate!
You can bring your own non-motorized watercraft, or rent one from one of Chambly's outfitters.
Surfing - Sailboarding - Diving For health and safety reasons, “primary contact” activities, such as surfing, sailboarding and underwater diving are prohibited.
Your own non-motorized watercraft
During the summer season, it's possible to bring your own non-motorized watercraft to enjoy water activities on the Chambly Canal. It's important to know that you must have a valid season pass in order to navigate your non-motorized watercraft. In addition, a lockage permit is required to pass through the locks.
Your watercraft must be in compliance with Transport Canada’s requirements, and be equipped with all the mandatory safety equipment. Refer to the Safe Boating Guide to learn more about boat safety.
Paddle board
Paddleboarding (SUP) is permitted between bridges Nos. 9 and 10 of the Chambly Canal. See our "Paddleboarding Safety" web page, and make sure you have the right equipment to have fun safely. Paddleboards are prohibited in the locks.
Launching your watercraft
The natural banks of the Chambly Canal make it easy to launch canoes, kayaks and paddleboards. It is also possible to use the launching ramps along the Chambly Canal.
Seasonal Permit
Non-motorized watercraft permit
To navigate on the Chambly Canal, you must obtain a seasonal permit. It is available at locks Nos 1 and 9, during hours of operation. For non-motorized watercraft permit fees, please see our Fees page (lockage fees not included).
One permit per user, regardless of the number of non-motorized watercraft owned (canoe, kayak, SUP). The permit is valid at the Chambly and Lachine canals for the entire season.
Seasonal lockage permit for canoe and kayak
It is possible to obtain your seasonal lockage permit for canoes or kayaks online. Locking is not allowed for paddle boards. You must portage your paddlebord between reaches.
For more information
Contact lock operators at 450-658-4381.
Watercraft rental service
Would you like to try pleasure boating for a day? Watercraft rental services are available in the vicinity of the canal entrance. Located near the Chambly basin, the Centre nautique Gervais-Désourdy offers non-motorized watercraft rentals and many other services. Visit the Centre nautique Gervais-Désourdy website for more information (french only).
Users are advised that the water quality of the Chambly Canal is not regularly tested. It is the responsibility of each user to use good judgment when going out on the water, and to avoid venturing out after a heavy rainfall because of possible higher concentrations of contaminants in the water from stormwater outfalls.
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