Plage urbaine de Verdun / Verdun City Beach Open Water Swimming

Verdun City Beach delivers direct access to the St. Lawrence River from behind the Auditorium de Verdun at 4110 boulevard Lasalle, just steps from the De L’Eglise metro station on Montreal’s green line. This accessible urban beach features a protected swimming area delineated by buoys and shielded by a rock breakwater, creating calm water conditions within the powerful river. The site includes sandy areas, slides, a climbing wall, hammocks, concrete pathways with ramp access for swimmers with mobility needs, and terraced grassy sections for picnicking. Lifeguards supervise the swimming area during operating hours from mid-June through August, with the beach opening daily at 10 AM.

There’s no charge for access to the beach. Nearby paid parking is available. Facilities include changing rooms and portable restrooms located close to the beach. The beach prohibits swimming outside supervised hours and after 11 PM.

Connect with Montreal Open Water / Eau Libre Quebec to find fellow swimmers throughout the Montreal region and learn about open water swimming opportunities along the St. Lawrence and other local waterways. This active Facebook community serves as a hub for swimmers seeking training partners, sharing information about water conditions, and discussing open water swimming techniques. The beach has gained attention from cold water swimming enthusiasts, including the Montreal Polar Bear Club, who advocate for year-round access though winter swimming remains officially prohibited.

Water quality concerns occasionally necessitate temporary closures, particularly following heavy rainfall that can overwhelm the city’s sewer system and cause contamination events. Swimmers should call 514-280-0789 before visiting to confirm the beach is open and swimming is permitted. Swimming bans typically last 24 to 72 hours following storm events or detected water quality issues.Water quality monitoring is conducted by the Montreal public health agency and Quebec’s Ministere de l’Environnement. Weekly testing occurs throughout summer, with results available online. Daniel Green of the Societe pour Vaincre la Pollution conducts additional monitoring during rainfall events, noting that water quality can deteriorate rapidly from swimmable to heavily contaminated within hours of storms.

The surrounding Verdun neighborhood offers numerous restaurants and cafes within walking distance.