Toronto Islands – Park Trail

Length – 15 km (5.5 km from end to end)

30% park path
70% road

Elevation – Flat, like the prairies.

Terrain – Wide asphalt roads with a few local service vehicles, as well as patches of gravel and sand.

Skill – Easy

Traffic – Busy in the peak season; watch for park vehicles and wandering tourists.

Maps – A few signposts and maps along the trail.

Facilities – Public washrooms, restaurants, patios, as well as a bike rental, picnic areas, and opportunities for swimming.

Highlights – Take in the city skyline, a small amusement park, the lighthouse, old cottages, yacht clubs, and four beaches, including Hanlan’s Beach (an optional nude beach).

Trail Fee – Free; $4.00+ for the ferry, depending on ticket type.

Phones – Toronto 311

Website – City of Toronto

Similar Trails – Harbourfront, Ajax, Hamilton Beach

Local Clubs – Toronto Bicycle Network (TBN)

Access – Ride in from any of the three island ferry docks.

Bringing a bike on the ferry is allowed, but on busy and long weekends it will be tricky with the crowds to get it there. If you can, it is better to go on a weekday in the summer.

With an enjoyable ferry ride to the Toronto Islands, there is 15 km of trail to discover, with plenty of fresh air and open spaces. It’s a bit of the country in the city, spanning a flat trail network.

This popular cycling destination is a joy to ride and a great day trip. Traffic is light, with only a few service vehicles and us cyclists, walkers, and seagulls.

Most of the Park trail is paved asphalt, but there are many side trails that take you onto crushed-stone paths and wooden boardwalks. A direct line from one end of the island to the other is about 5.5 km; triple that distance by wandering down the different paths.

The Toronto Islands consist of (I counted) fifteen small islands, some of which are private sail clubs or animal sanctuaries.

There are three ferry routes to the island, and taking any one of them will be a great start to your island adventure. But note they are different.

If wanting to only cycle half the islands, I recommend the ferry to Ward Island on the eastern half to see the quaint, old cottage homes. (Sadly, there was once three times as many.)

The west side of the islands has a few marinas, some parkland, and the airport. It is perhaps a bit less appealing, but more tranquil for a picnic lunch. On this end, you will find the longest beach…

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.