Lachine Canal Visitor Statistics (2025-26)

At a Glance

• The Lachine Canal National Historic Site welcomed 1.49 million visitors in 2025-26 (the fiscal year ending March 2026), up 3.8% on 2024-25¹.
• That's the highest count in at least seven years, and 60% above the pre-pandemic 933,733².
• It ranked 4th among all Parks Canada places in 2025-26 and 2nd among national historic sites¹.
• Visitation has stayed above 1.2 million every year since 2021-22³.
• The pandemic cut visits by only 6.7% in 2020-21, to 871,047⁴, before a 41.5% jump the following year⁵.
• The grounds and the 13.5 km trail⁶ are free to use. Boaters pay lockage fees to pass through the canal's 5 locks, and a day's parking costs $17.50 CAD⁷.

The Lachine Canal has drawn more than 1.2 million visitors every year for the past five years.³

• In 2025-26 (the fiscal year ending March 2026), the site welcomed 1.49 million visitors, up 3.8% on the year before.¹
• In 2019-20, the last year before the pandemic, it had 933,733 visitors.²
• Visits fell 6.7% to 871,047 in 2020-21.⁴
• They jumped 41.5% to 1.23 million in 2021-22⁵ and held steady in 2022-23.⁸
• Numbers dipped 0.9% to 1.22 million in 2023-24.³
• Then came a 17.6% rise to 1.44 million in 2024-25.⁹

The Lachine Canal was the 4th most visited Parks Canada place in 2025-26, behind Banff National Park (4.56 million), Jasper National Park (2.39 million) and the Fortifications of Québec National Historic Site (2.22 million)¹.

Among national historic sites, it ranked 2nd, ahead of the Halifax Citadel (1.09 million) and the Rideau Canal (888,454)¹.

The Lachine Canal is free to visit, whether you're walking, cycling or picnicking along its banks. You only pay for parking, for launching, mooring or taking a boat through the locks, and for some programs.⁷

• Lockage costs $1.50 CAD per foot for a single lock and return, $2.25 CAD per foot for a one-day complete transit and $11.25 CAD per foot for a seasonal pass.⁷
• A season's launching permit for a non-motorized boat costs $25.00 CAD.⁷
• Overnight mooring costs $1.50 CAD per foot, including day mooring, or $12.25 CAD per foot for the season.⁷
• A day's parking permit costs $17.50 CAD.⁷
• Learn-to Paddle costs $15.00 CAD per paddler, and Learn-to Cross-country Ski costs $14.50 CAD per child.⁷

You can explore the canal on foot, by bike or by boat¹¹. Here's what there is to do:

• Cycling and walking along the canal's path and parks, with bike rentals and repairs, including e-bikes, near Atwater¹².
• Paddling, with kayak, stand-up paddleboard, pedal boat and electric boat rentals¹², plus Lock & Paddle outings in canoes and kayaks¹¹.
• Boating through the canal's 5 locks⁶, with overnight mooring available⁷.
• Dragon boating with the 22Dragons club¹² near the Côte-Saint-Paul lock.
• Fishing, picnicking, in-line skating, bird watching and photography¹¹ along the banks.

• Visits fell to 871,047 in 2020-21⁴, mostly because of COVID-19 restrictions.
• That was 6.7% fewer visitors than the year before².