Get out and explore Toronto’s trails

Toronto has some great trails and outdoor spaces. And since I can’t always get to a trail outside the city for a walk, I spend a lot of time walking the different trails, parks, and even city streets throughout the year. I’m starting a monthly series where I post about my favourite city trails/walks in more depth but I wanted to give you a quick heads up of a few to explore as winter starts to wane. Sorry for the lack of pretty photos, it’s winter right now, but I promise, they all look even better once spring arrives and there are leaves on the trees!

I can’t wait for the days to get longer so I can spend more time walking the trails – I tend to stick more to city streets when the trails are icy or when it’s dark so, as always, I’m waiting not so patiently for spring to arrive. After a long winter it’s always nice to get outside when the weather starts warming up and there’s more sunlight. Not that it’s not nice to get out in the winter, but I’m not a fan of icy trails and many of them aren’t cleared in the winter. But the days are slowly getting longer, and warmer, so I’m getting out to explore more.

Luckily, Toronto not only has a variety of parks but also some great trails for walking (and biking) so you can enjoy spring, as well as summer and fall too, outdoors while still being in the city. There are many scattered across the city, some are short paths, others are trails that connect to other parks or trails, and a few that are quite the hike all on their own. Some are paved, some are dirt or gravel, and some are boardwalks. No matter what kind of trail you’re looking for, Toronto has a few for you to check out.

Here are a few trails that I particularly enjoy walking.

Beltline Trail

This trail, which is broken into three sections, is built along an old railway line so it’s quite wide for the most part, and easy to follow. It connects with several parks along the way, including the Don Valley Brick Works Park, another great place to explore.

Crothers Woods

One of my personal favourites, there are both wide, easy gravel paths and several smaller trails that wind through the woods, often on the sides of hills, for those who want a bit more of a challenge. The trails are great for both walking and mountain biking.

David A. Balfour Park

Located close to St. Clair subway station, this park has several trails running through the ravine. It’s a fabulous place to walk and enjoy the nature around you.

Lower Don River Trail

This trail runs along the Don River, and while you can often hear the traffic from the Don Valley Parkway (DVP), it’s one of the longer trails, and perfect for either walking or biking. Easily accessible from several neighbourhoods in Toronto.

Nordheimer Ravine

One of the shorter trails, it’s nonetheless a lovely place to walk and enjoy nature. Plus you can easily combine a walk through the ravine with a visit to Casa Loma or Spadina Museum. The north end is close to St. Clair West subway station.

Toronto’s Waterfront

If you’re looking for a longer route along the water, Toronto has a walking and cycling path that pretty much goes from park to park along the edge of Lake Ontario. There are many ways of getting to this path and it’s easily accessible by transit so you can start (or stop) at several places. It also passes by beaches, Ontario Place and other fun places.

Final Thoughts

While the parks and trails may seem a bit barren at the moment, that won’t last long as nature will soon start to wake up from her winter dormancy. In no time the leaves will be out and everything will grow more green and vibrant. So what are you waiting for? Get outside and explore nature in the city.

I’ll be back each month with a more in depth look at these trails and more. I can’t wait to share my favourite Toronto trails with you. What’s your favourite trail in Toronto to walk?