Waterfront Trail - Along the Canadian Shores of Lake Ontario

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Profiles:

Toronto - www.toronto.ca

Route

The dynamic and exciting city of Toronto is a major urban gateway on Lake Ontario. It is home to tourist attractions such as the CN Tower, Royal Ontario Museum, the Art Gallery of Ontario and major theatre productions. Still there are many quiet, natural places to enjoy along the waterfront. Toronto's Waterfront Trail can be divided into three sections: Etobicoke (west), Toronto (central) and Scarborough (east) based on municipal boundaries prior to the City's amalgamation.

Toronto Port-Lands
Toronto Port-Lands
  • Etobicoke - Trail surface is largely asphalt, routed along quiet residential streets. One stretch of Trail (2km from Royal York to Park Lawn) follows Lake Shore Blvd. -- a busy road with parking on both sides - cyclists should use caution.

  • Toronto - Asphalt mostly off-road trail, but with many street crossings in central area. In Sunnyside Park area, asphalt path for cyclists and in-line skaters and boardwalk for pedestrians. Between Woodbine Beach and Balmy Beach, asphalt path for cyclists and in-line skaters and boardwalk for pedestrians.

  • Scarborough - Waterfront Trail not in place although many pieces of Trail have been started and there are many beautiful and unique parks. The Scarborough Bluffs make this section of waterfront very hilly. Kingston Rd is a very busy road with no shoulders to accommodate cyclists.

Main Access Points (with parking)

  • Marie Curtis Park - Lakeshore Rd. East, east of Dixie Rd.
  • Col. Samuel Smith Park - Lake Shore Blvd. West, at Kipling Ave.
  • Humber Bay Park - Waterfront Dr., off Lake Shore Blvd. West
  • Sir Casimir Gzowski Park at the Humber Bridge - Lake Shore Blvd. West at Windermere Ave.
  • Sunnyside Park - Lake Shore Blvd. West at Colborne Lodge Dr.
  • High Park - Colborne Lodge Dr.
  • Ontario Place - Lake Shore Blvd. West, west of Strachan Ave.
  • Coronation Park - Lake Shore Blvd. West, east of Strachan Ave.
  • Harbourfront -- Queen's Quay West and York St.
  • Cherry Beach, base of Tommy Thompson Park - foot of Cherry St.
  • Ashbridge's Bay Park - Lake Shore Blvd. East, west of Coxwell Ave.
  • Eastern Beaches area (e.g., Kew Beach, Balmy Beach) - Lake Shore Blvd. East, east of Woodbine Ave.

Resources

Local Maps

Toronto appears on the following Waterfront Trail maps:

Waterfront Trail routes appear on MapArt's Toronto 1:25 000 scale fold map, as well as other MapArt publications. These maps are widely available through local retailers, or online at www.mapart.com

Map of trails on the City of Toronto Website - www.city.toronto.on.ca/parks/maps.htm

Green Tourism publishes a highly regarded map and has launched a new mapping service on its website www.greentourism.on.ca

Tourism Information  
  • Green Tourism Association
    850 Coxwell Ave., 2nd Floor
    Phone: 416-392-1288
    Email: info@greentourism.ca
    www.greentourism.on.ca
  • Ontario Tourism Information Centre
    Atrium on Bay
  • 20 Dundas Street West
    Phone: 416-314-5899
    www.ontariotravel.net

 

 
Public Transit Information:  
  • GO Transit - Train & Bus Station
    1949 Kipling Avenue - Etobicoke
    Phone: 416-869-3200, toll free 1-888-438-6646
    www.gotransit.com
  • VIA Rail Station
    65 Front Street West
    Toronto, ON
    Phone: 1-888-842-7245
    www.viarail.ca
  • GO Transit - Train & Bus Station
    141 Bay Street
    Toronto, ON
    Phone: 416-869-3200, toll free 1-888-438-6646
    www.gotransit.com
  • Greyhound - Toronto Coach Terminal
    610 Bay Street
    Toronto, ON
    Phone: 416-594-1010
    www.greyhound.ca
  • Toronto Transit Commission
    Phone: 416-393-4636
    www.ttc.ca
  • Increased Summer Services:

    172 Cherry St (servicing Cherry Beach) - evening service to Cherry Beach 7 days a week

  • 92 Woodbine South (servicing Lakeshore, access to Eastern Beaches area) - late-evening service 7 days a week, increased service duing early evening on weekends and holidays

    511 Bathurst (servicing access to Western Beaches area) - increased service

    509 Harbourfront (servicing Harbourfront along Queen's Quay) - increased weekday service to every 8 minutes

    510 Spadina (servicing access to Harbourfront from Queen's Quay) - increased service

    29 Dufferin (servicing access to Western Beaches) - buses are equipped with bike racks so you can take the bus with your bike anytime of the day

  • Greyhound - Scarborough Town Centre
    300 Borough Drive - Scarborough
    Phone: 416-296-9301
    www.greyhound.ca
  • GO Transit - Train Station
    3615 St. Clair Avenue East - Scarborough
    Scarborough, ON
    Phone: 416-869-3200, toll free 1-888-438-6646
    www.gotransit.com
  • GO Transit - Bus Station
    Port Union & Kingston Roads - Scarborough
    Phone: 416-869-3200, toll free 1-888-438-6646
    www.gotransit.com



 

Things to Do

    
Attractions (Cultural, Heritage and Special Attractions)
  • Ontario Place
    955 Lake Shore Boulevard West
    Phone: 416-314-9900
    Admission Charge: Yes
    www.ontarioplace.com
  • Skydome (Rogers Centre)
    1 Blue Jays Way
    Phone: 416-341-3663
    Admission Charge: Yes
    www.rogerscentre.com
  • Harbourfront Centre
    235 Queen's Quay West
    Phone: 416-973-4000
    Admission Charge: for some events, see event calendar
    www.harbourfrontcentre.com
  • York Quay Gallery at Harbourfront Centre
    235 Queen's Quay West
    Phone: 416-973-4000
    Admission Charge: No
    www.harbourfront.on.ca
  • CN Tower
    301 Front Street West
    Phone: 416-868-6937
    Admission Charge: Yes
    www.cntower.ca
  • Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Museum
    250 Front Street West
    Phone: 416-205-5574
    Admission Charge: No
    www.cbc.ca/museum
  • The Powerplant Contemporary Art Gallery
    231 Queen's Quay West
    Phone: 416-973-4949
    Admission Charge: no (summer 2006)
    www.thepowerplant.org
  • Hockey Hall of Fame
    30 Yonge Street
    Phone: 416-360-7765
    Admission Charge: Yes
    www.hhof.com
  • Hummingbird Centre (Performing Arts)
    1 Front Street East
    Phone: 416-393-7469
    Admission Charge: Yes
    www.hummingbirdcentre.com
  • The Docks Entertainment Complex
    11 Polson Street
    Phone: 416-469-5655
    Admission Charge: Yes
    www.thedocks.com


Annual Festivals on the Waterfront  
 
 
Trail Connections  
  • Martin Goodman Trail - Waterfront Trail runs along this trail in Downtown Toronto
  • Etobicoke River Trail (www.toronto.ca/parks) intersects with the Waterfront Trail at Marie Curtis Park
  • Tommy Thompson Trail (www.toronto.ca/parks) intersects with the Waterfront Trail in South Humber Park

 

   

Where to Stay



     

Cycling Shops

  • Beaches Cycle
    1882 Queen Street East
    Phone: 416-669-1461


Marinas

  • Lakeshore Yacht Club
    2605 Lake Shore Boulevard West - Etobicoke Phone: 416-255-3701
    Transient Docks: No
    www.lsyc.com/
  • Etobicoke Yacht Club
    300 Humber Bay Park Road West - Etobicoke Phone: 416-259-1159
    Transient Docks: No
    http://eyc.ca
  • Mimico Cruising Club
    200 Humber Bay Park Road West - Etobicoke Phone: 416-252-7737
    Transient Docks: No
    www.mimicocruisingclub.com
  • Humber College Sailing Centre
    205 Humber College Boulevard - Etobicoke Phone: 416-252-7291
    Transient Docks: No
    www.sailing.humberc.on.ca
  • The Boulevard Yacht Club
    1491 Lake Shore Blvd. West
    Phone: 416-532-3341
    Transient Docks: No
  • Toronto Sailing and Canoe Club
    1391 Lake Shore Blvd West
    Phone: 416-533-5907
    Transient Docks: No
    www.tscc.net
  • Ontario Place Marina
    955 Lake Shore Blvd. West
    Phone: 416-314-9858
    Transient Docks: Yes
    www.ontarioplace.com
  • Canadian Forces Toronto Sailing Club
    659 Lake Shore Blvd. West
    Transient Docks: No
    www.cfsa-toronto.ca
  • National Yacht Club
    Muggs Island
    1 Stadium Rd.
    Phone: 416-260-8686
    Transient Docks: No
    www.thenyc.com
  • Alexandra Yacht Club
    2 Stadium Rd.
    Phone: 416-260-8690
    Transient Docks: No
    www.ayc.on.ca
  • Island Yacht Club
    410 Queen's Quay West
    Phone:416-203-0492
    Transient Docks: No
    www.iyc.on.ca
  • Marina 4 (at Harbour Front Centre)
    235 Queen's Quay West
    Phone: 416-203-2620
    Transient Docks: Yes
    www.harbourfront.on.ca
  • St. James Town Sailing Club
    Regatta Rd.
    Phone: 416-466-3421
    Transient Docks: No
    Website: www.sailtoronto.com
  • Outer Harbour Marina
    475 Unwin Ave.
    Phone: 416-778-6245
    Transient Docks: Yes
    www.torontoport.com
  • Westwood Sailing Club
    12 Regatta Rd.
    Phone: 416-461-2870
    Transient Docks: No
    www.westwood.on.ca
  • Mooredale Sailing Club
    Foot of Leslie Street
    Phone: 416-461-3660
    Transient Docks: No
    www.mooredale.com
  • Toronto Hydroplane and Sailing Club
    20 Ashbridge's Bay Park Rd.
    Phone: 416-694-6918
    Transient Docks: No
    www.thsc.ca
  • Aquatic Park Sailing Club
    Foot of Leslie Street
    Phone: 416-631-3940
    Transient Docks: No
  • Ashbridge's Bay Yacht Club
    30 Ashbridges Bay Park Rd.
    Phone: 416-698-4498
    Transient Docks: No
    www.abyc.on.ca
  • Bluffers Park Marina
    7 Brimley Road South - Scarborough
    Phone: 416-266-4556
    Transient Docks: Yes
    www.bluffsparkmarina.com
  • Bluffer's Park Yacht Club
    Foot of Brimley Road - Scarborough
    Phone: 416-261-6993
    Transient Docks: Yes
    www.bpyc.on.ca
  • Cathedral Bluffs Yacht Club
    Foot of Brimley Road - Scarborough
    Phone: 416-261-0537
    Transient Docks: No
    www.cbyc.ca/hp/index.aspx

 

Community Waterfront Volunteer Opportunities

 

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