Oshawa Creek – Park Trail

Length – 7 km (one way)

90% park path
10% roads, crossings, detours

Elevation – Enjoy a gentle incline along the Oshawa Creek to Lake Ontario.

Terrain – A wide path marked with a centre with line, it is mainly asphalt with a few wooden bridges.

Skill – Easy

Traffic – Busier on weekends in the summer, expect bicyclists, walkers with dogs, and joggers.

Maps – There is a map at the trailhead, as well as signs along the trail.

Highlights – Botanical Gardens, the Lake Ontario shoreline, and many bridges and underpasses.

Trail Fee – Free

Facilities – Parking and washrooms are at either end of the route, as well as local services and places to eat.

Phone – 905 436 3311

Website – City of Oshawa

Similar Trails – Highland Creek, Humber River, Upper Etobicoke

Local Clubs – Oshawa Cycling Club

Access – Park at the north end at the Botanical Gardens, or in the south end at Lakeview Park.

I was happy to discover this short but excellent Park trail in the centre of Oshawa. Although not too long at 7 km (one way), the Oshawa Creek (Joseph Kolodzie) Bike Trail has such varied scenery that it deserves mention.

What makes this trek so interesting are the endless bridges and tunnels as it works its way along the creek and down to Lake Ontario.

The bike path is well-treed and shady; you could forget at times you’re still riding through the city.

Having ridden many Park trails, this one is definitely not boring. It flows well and weaves under roads and through tunnels and over bridges, from one side of the creek to the other.

An easy, paved trail, it is well–marked; simply follow the yellow centre line. There are some narrow stretches and tight corners, so gauge each for yourself.

From the top, this path starts at the lovely Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens and crosses a few roads, including Bond St. and King St. It then travels behind an ugly mall, where another bridge brings you back to nature.

Once you cross, not only does the scenery improve, but the trail avoids roads until it ends at a large park on the lakefront. After a quick crossing over Valley Drive, it then splits two ways at Lakeview Park Ave.

I recommend heading down to…

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