By Tim Rigby, M.A.

Toronto has several of Canada’s best urban parks and trails, and we’re willing to wager you’ve not yet experienced all of them. Although our city is one of North America’s largest by population and commercially, we nonetheless possess a vast array of incredible greenspace in many forms. In fact, despite the stereotypical vision of a “concrete jungle” stretching from Mississauga to Pickering, roughly one-seventh of the City of Toronto’s total area is dedicated to parkland.

Within this green space, you have ample opportunity to break away from the rigours of professional life to take a healthy walk, hike, jog, bicycle, mountain bike, rollerblade, canoe, kayak, paddleboard, SUP board or simply photograph your beautiful surroundings. The following provides an overview of 10 of Toronto’s best parks with hiking trails.

ROUGE NATIONAL URBAN PARK

Located deep in Toronto’s east end in Scarborough, the Rouge National Urban Park is one of a kind – literally. More than 1,700 species of plants, animals and fungi live within the park’s 12,356 acres including wild-tailed dear, bald eagles, black bears, foxes, swans, turkeys, beavers, hawks, coyotes, and 1,006 species of plants. This May 15 represented the seventh anniversary of the official creation of the Rouge National Urban Park, making it Canada’s only national urban park at the time.

Within the Rouge National Urban Park there are numerous choices for beautiful hiking trails of varying length, from 500 meters to 7.5 kilometers (nearly five miles). Explore wetlands, Carolinian ecosystems, forests, remnants of settlements, meadows and grasslands. Be sure not to miss the gorgeous panoramas at the two-level viewing platforms along the Vista Trail.

The complete list of trails within “The Rouge” includes:

• Monarch Trail (7.5 km)
• Sentier Trail (5 km)
• Woodland Trail (4.5 km)
• Cedar Trail and Beare Wetlands Group (1.5 km up to 4.5 km)
• Reesor Way / Tanglewood Trail (3 km)
• Tallgrass Trek (3 km)
• Coyote Trail (3 km)
• Mast Trail (2.5 km)
• Vista Trail (1.5 km)
• 3 other trails of less than one kilometer

Interested in checking out some of the incredible scenes from the Rouge National Urban Park before you visit?  Yes, there’s an app for that.  Students at the University of Toronto collaborated with Parks Canada and developed “The Rouge” app where you can actually take virtual hikes along the many trails, in order to help you decide which to explore in person. You can also learn about the park’s history and other information on this app.

TOMMY THOMPSON PARK

Surrounding the Leslie Street Spit Trail, Tommy Thompson Park is one of Toronto’s most beautiful and popular parks. With a narrow, peninsula-like configuration extending offshore into Lake Ontario, the park features over 10 kilometers of trails for walking, jogging, bicycling and rollerblading. From just about any vantage point within its many nooks and crannies, you’ll be able to see fleets of white sailboats with the Toronto skyline in the background.

Named after Toronto’s first Commissioner of Parks, Tommy Thompson Park lies on land that’s entirely man-made; this is why it’s often labelled “an accidental wilderness”. There are four distinct trails within the park which are either paved, smooth gravel or natural terrain. As one of the best-preserved waterfront greenspaces in Toronto, the park’s top priority is sustaining its unique ecosystem; an example of this wildlife management is the 10 distinct species of owls which live here.

HUMBER BAY (PARK EAST, PARK WEST, PROMENADE PARK, SHORES PARK)

Some of our city’s best walking trails are located at Humber Bay in Etobicoke in the West end. Situated where Mimico Creek meets Lake Ontario, you’ll find a series of beautiful parks in Humber Bay which jut out nearly a kilometer into the lake. The Humber Bay Park East Trail is a 2.6 kilometer jaunt with plenty of opportunities to observe birds and other wildlife, in addition to spectacular views of the lake. This trail leads you into Humber Bay Shores Park where you’ll find a beautiful butterfly garden. The culmination of the trail is the renowned Humber Bay Arch Bridge spanning the Humber River, with scenic lookouts on both sides; this bridge is a favourite viewing landmark for commuters along the Gardiner Expressway and GO Train line.

On the other side of the greenspace at Humber Bay Park West is an easy, looping walking trail of two kilometers which takes you out and back, and has beautiful scenery for its entire length. As each of these parks is in close proximity to city streets, it’s easy for you to take a little walking break for coffee or a meal at any time.

SCARBOROUGH BLUFFS

What do you get when you take the White Cliffs of Dover and pair them with the aquamarine waters of the Caribbean? You get the unique, spectacular Scarborough Bluffs, formed naturally over the course of 12,000 years. From just about anywhere along the waterfront you’re certain to be mesmerized by these natural cliffs, the likes of which are unseen anywhere else on the Canadian side of Lake Ontario. Within the area itself, there are 11 distinct parks including Bluffer’s Park, Grey Abbey Park, Cathedral Bluffs Park and Scarborough Heights Park.

At the base of the bluffs, you’ll find one of Toronto’s best walking paths which runs nearly seven kilometers along the water. The Scarborough Bluffs Trail is considered an easy hike over multiple surfaces, generally taking one-and-a-half hours to complete at a moderate pace. You’re likely to encounter many people not only hiking but also bird watching and fishing.

DON VALLEY BRICK WORKS PARK

Situated in East York and very close to downtown, the Don Valley Brick Works Park is a 40-acre park established on a former quarry site at Bayview Avenue, making for interesting trail views of both nature and industry. There are many wooded trails located here, and it’s not unusual to encounter a wide array of wildlife. Although the main hiking trail is relatively short at 2.4 kilometers, any creative hiker can easily extend it at many points including the Beltline Trail (at either the north or south end) or the Lower Don River Trail.

The park is saturated with four quaint ponds which are testament to the intricate landscape restoration and wetland re-establishment. The Don Valley Brick Works Park is in fact a City of Toronto flagship natural environment park; as such, it implements adaptive management to promote re-naturalization. Within the park, there are no less than 15 paths for bicyclists.

MOORE PARK RAVINE TRAIL LOOP

Often considered mid-town’s “most beautiful” nature trail, the Moore Park Ravine Trail Loop is both easy to hike and versatile. As it’s open year-round and popular in any season, you’re just as likely to see hikers and mountain bikers in summer as you are cross-country skiers in winter. With its wooded trails situated next to Yellow Creek and Mud Creek (and adjacent to Chorley Park), the loop is generally simple but does have the challenge of a few short, steep inclines.

Initially the gravel trail is wide and flat making it easy for all modes of motion, but as it crosses Mount Pleasant Avenue into David Balfour Park, it becomes a narrow dirt path. If you’re on two wheels, you should opt for a mountain bike since there are a lot of tree roots transversing the trail making for difficult road biking. One of the greatest advantages of the trail loop is the myriad of enormous trees providing much-needed shade from the scorching sun. Be sure to bring your camera to snap the vast assortment of lovely nature.

TORONTO ISLANDS

Although not considered a forested area, there are many lengthy hiking paths set on the Toronto Islands; these are considered relatively easy hikes owing to the flatness. And what about those breathtaking, unique views of the skyline which include spectacular sunsets? To get to the islands, simply board the ferry at the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal at 9 Queens Quay West. You’ll enjoy a pleasant 13-minute shuttle out to Centre Island, after which you’ll have easy access to a network of trails spanning a combined 14 kilometers, from Hanlan’s Point in the West to Ward’s Island on the East side.

It’s easy to spend a full day on the islands, as you can not only hike the flat trails but also visit the many beaches on all of the islands, along with the Gibraltar Point Lighthouse. You won’t go hungry as there are an abundance of restaurants, cafes and markets available on the islands. If you enjoy group settings, you can also participate in sightseeing tours and walking tours.

TAYLOR CREEK PARK AND TRAIL

Up in East York, you’ll find one of the largest naturally preserved areas within the city. Taylor Creek Park and Trail, whose east entrance stretches from Victoria Park to Don Mills, is a citywide favourite spanning 182 acres of deep woods, a “creekway”, and an abundance of natural beauty. You’ll find plenty of options for movement as there’s a main paved path with little in the way of inclines for an easy stroll or bicycling. Like offshoots from a stem, there are several dirt trails which extend off the main path and make for fun hiking.

The combined trail distance is over six kilometers and is entirely within close proximity to a babbling stream providing glorious photo-opportunities and scenes for artists to draw. You’re almost certain to witness fellow hikers in the form of families of ducks meandering close to the water.

GLEN STEWART RAVINE

If you’re looking for a way to escape from the rigours of city life without actually leaving the city, the Glen Stewart Park Trail is calling. Located over in the Beaches neighbourhood, the relatively short local trail (1.3 kilometers) is surrounded by lush forestry to make you forget all about where you are on the planet. The trail is divided into segments including a dirt path and an expansive elevated boardwalk “bridge” from which you’ll view lush, verdant trees as far as the eye can see.

For those dendrophiles among us, the lush green trees which surround you on this trail are accented by majestic red oak and red maple trees forming a virtual canopy above you. From any location on the shaded boardwalk, you’ll enjoy lovely views of the Glen Stewart gorge and stream.

CROTHERS WOODS

Another popular and beautiful location for hiking in East York (specifically, the Lower Don River Valley) is Crothers Woods. Set amid heavily wooded areas of beech, maple and oak trees, this area is known as a “climax” forest, meaning that the development of the local vegetation has achieved a historical peak. By contrast, you’re only a stone’s throw from the Don Valley Expressway, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to see both the beauty of nature and the majesty of the Toronto skyline. Spanning 130 acres in size, Crothers Woods is home not only to woodland but also pristine meadows and wetlands.

The network of trails here stretches over 10 kilometers in length and is very popular for bird watchers. Owing to the plethora of steep gullies and inclines within the valley, the area is also popular among mountain bikers and those who enjoy hiking off the beaten path.