Lower Don – Park Trail

Length – 8 km (one way)

95 % park path
5 % road crossing, detours

Elevation – flat, follows the river, a few short inclines, one large hill, bridges and tunnels

Terrain – all paved asphalt, some sand due to flooding

Skill – easy

Maps – new signage, maps and milestones

Facilities – no close washrooms or amenities until you get out of the valley onto streets

Highlights – large bridges, sculpture garden, rapids, fall colours

Trail Fee – free

Phone – 311

Website –  Don River Valley Park

Similar Trails – Humber River, Taylor Creek, Thames Valley

Local Clubs – Toronto Bicycle Network, Toronto Bicycle Club

Access –  limited entry and exits, Lakeshore Rd. Queen St. and Riverdale Park bridges, Pottery Rd and Don Mills Rd. Better to use your bike to get there,  limited parking,  some at Pottery Rd. and Taylor Creek.

The Lower Don River Path is one of the main arteries of Toronto’s bike riding trail network.

From the mouth of the Don River north 8 km, the path serves to connect on both ends to many other good bicycle routes. Other exits help you get around to explore the city.

I am pleased to finally add this to the site as the construction upgrades last year are done. Work on replacing two underpasses and some route resurfacing have made this path a safer and a pleasant ride.

New signage with maps enhances the ride to help tourists find other routes to take and amenities.

Running up this large valley, the path is a very popular bike thoroughfare, expect lots of bicycles, joggers and walkers with dogs on weekends, as well as work commuters.

This well-maintained path has grown in nicely yet open to the valley with not a lot of shade. It has a bit of a wild, natural feel to it. In the fall months, the colours are spectacular.

If it were not for the drone of the expressway noise beside you, it could almost seem like you were in the country…and then you spot another high rise building …

As you cycle up this path exit points are limited. With the river on one side or the other, there are fenced in train tracks and the busy Don Valley Parkway (DVP) blocking you.

Riding north up from the lake, this ride is all asphalt and hugs the Don River on the west side.

It starts as a flat, straight route as the river banks have…

Read more of this review in my trail guidebook, plus 64 others. Featuring better maps, parking locations and contour graphs. Available as an eBook or paperback.