Name: Beltline - Rail Trail
Rating: 3.6 (1 reviews)

Length – 9 km

75% rail trail path
25% cemetery roads, road crossings

Elevation – level and flat, gradual long decent after cemetry to bottom of Don Valley on east side

Terrain – very wide path with crushed stone, gravel, asphalt, dirt path

Skill – easy , moderate hill from valley bottom, (alternate route at times not well made, Balfour Park, you might opt to walk)

Traffic – bicycles, joggers, dogs, kids, a few cars in cemetery

Facilities – stores nearby at Yonge, WR at Brickworks

Maps – maps and signage at key points

Highlights – subway stock yards at Yonge St., historic cemetery, Brick Works gardens, ravines

Phone – 311

Website – none

Similar Trails – Caledon, Uxbridge to Lindsay

Local Clubs – Toronto Bicycle Network

Access – many entry points. parking on side streets only large lot is at Brick Works (expensive)

ALTERNATE LOOP (orange line on map) – On your return, one can take an alternate 3.5 km loop down through Mount Pleasant cemetery again. This time there is an entrance to a ravine that follows the Yellow Creek past Balfour Park. It takes you down across Mount Pleasant Rd. to Bayview on a variety of trail surfaces.

This may be worth doing but…the last time I rode it this summer, it was “under construction” as there have been a lot of washouts from all the rain we had this spring. One day this route will be a great alternative path but for now you may need to walk around some parts on the north end of the ravine.

The Kay Gardner Beltline + York Beltline was once a rail loop that circled the city of Toronto in the1890’s.

Now it sits in the middle of the city and you can ride this very popular outing along the back of homes, ravines and through a cemetery.

Busy on weekends, it is a favourite for many bike cruisers looking for a bit of solitude and fewer cars. Most of the trail is well treed, shady and a fun, flat cycle path.

From the east side, this rail trail starts behind the Brick Works at the bottom of the Don Valley. (You can take a side trail here and explore the ponds in the pit dug out to make bricks for the city.)

You need to follow the old rail bed that the trains took to get out of the valley. As with any grade for a train, it is very gradual and anyone in good health will make it up this treed wide route.

Once out of the valley, cross the road and travel through Mount Pleasant Cemetery. Here you can find a few famous people buried. Head to the north end of the cemetery, going west cross over Yonge St. on the old train bridge. (Note the subway passes under.)

Here is the main and busiest section full of bike riders, joggers, dog walkers and busy street crossing. Use the crossing lights to be safer.

After a few kilometres you get to…

Read the rest of this review in my trail guidebook with better maps, parking suggestions & train history, when you buy the eBook or paperback.

Beltline – Rail Trail