12 of the Best and Easy Hiking Trails in the Greater Toronto Area

So everyone talks about epic hikes outside of Toronto but what about within the GTA itself?  There’s no shortage of green and easy trails to escape the hustle-and-bustle of Toronto.  Find the perfect scenic hike for you no matter which corner of the city.  So whether you’re looking to get a breath of fresh air after work on a weekday or planning a weekend hike with the family or with friends, you’ll have no trouble finding somewhere that is minutes from where you live.

12 easy hiking trails in Toronto

GTA is a big space so what I’ve done here is concentrate my selections of trails in the City of Toronto.  This way, most of these are easily accessible for anyone living in the city.

Here are 12 of my favourite easy hikes that will make you feel like you’re a world away without having to venture too far.

As a companion piece to this, make sure to check out the best parks in Vaughan, Markham, and Richmond Hill for more ideas in and out of the GTA.

Don River Valley Park

This trail is one that you drive by all the time and think to yourself that it’d be fun to do one day.  Well procrastinate no more because this is truly a unique park system that is one of the best in the city.  Spanning 200-hectares, the park covers a massive area from Pottery Road all the way down to Corktown Common.  Following the Don River, this is the kind of park that connects neighbourhoods together through greenspace.  Beyond the hiking trails, the city also recently introduced a curated series of art that makes this park even more fascinating to explore.

Evergreen Brickworks

One of the connecting trails to Don River Valley Park is the Evergreen Brick Works and the adjoining Don Valley Brick Works Park.  Transformed from a brick factory that also included a quarry, the reclaimed land and heritage buildings were turned into a remarkable hub of eco-friendly activities, farmers and gardens market, children’s activities, learning centres, Cafe Belong, and of course excellent hiking trails.  Stretching to the size of the quarry that once stood there, it’s really interesting to walk around and see the remnants of the old and the growth of the new.

East Don Parkland

For those living in North York, there is an amazing trail system that is a hidden secret that only the locals in the neighbourhood know about.  The East Don Parkland is a consecutive chain of parks that follow the East Don River as it makes its way down to the Don Valley.  As it snakes through ravines, dense forests, valleys, and green spaces, there’s a very well maintained pavement trail that will take you from Sheppard all the way up to Steeles as it loosely follows north along Leslie.

Hiking With The Right Gear

When coming out for a hike in the city, you still want to make sure you’ve got the right selection of gear to make sure you’re ready for all weather conditions.  Featured here is my newest favourites for hiking – Columbia’s Outdry Ex Caldorado Shell Jacket in Compass Blue and the Jackson Creek Half Zip Fleece in Azul Heather.

That bright blue jacket you see me wearing is one of the lightest waterproof shells in the market and it’s no surprise that Columbia calls it “OutDry Extreme”.  I love it because not only do I get protection from the rain, it’s also highly breathable thanks to the material and the vents that are built in.  I use this when at home and when I’m travelling because it packs to a ridiculously small size, and weighs like nothing.

Inside is soft and comfy zip-up layer that keeps me warm while hiking.  I love the orange accents on this long-sleeve fleece that nicely accents the overall look.  The chest pocket is also a great place to stash my keys or phone.

Check Out Columbia’s Gear

Scarborough Bluffs Park

 

A post shared by Sam Kim (@samexplores_) on Aug 8, 2018 at 1:57pm PDT

The East end doesn’t get left out here with the collection of eleven parks that link up to form 14 kilmetres of Lake Ontario’s shore and rises 55 metres above water.  The dramatic change of scenery is what makes this a favourite as you get the calm and tranquility of the lake but also the imposing rock faces of the cliffs.  There are many walking trails that lead in and through this area.  The primary entrance to the park is at Bluffer’s Park and it’s her where you’ll find a big parking lot, the marina, sandy beach, picnic areas, and lookouts.  The view of Lake Ontario from here is sublime!

High Park

As Toronto’s largest park, the numerous trails including High Park’s West Ravine and Spring Creek trails take you through a tranquil sanctuary of escape even though you’re not that far off from the downtown core.  Expect to see lots of wildlife, native vegetation and a forest of trees.  Beyond the nature trails, this is a local favourite especially during cherry blossom season, there’s a small zoo which is great for kids, and there’s also the famous Grenadier Pond that faces out onto the waterfront.

Kortright Centre

Situated in the northern part of the city by Major Mackenzie, this 325 hectares of woodlands provides hikers with a wonderland of hiking trails to explore.  Spend time here making your way through lush forest, open boardwalks, and marsh trails.  With how scenic it is here, it is no surprise that it is a venue of choice for weddings.

Moccasin Trail Park

You know that rainbow painted that you stare at every time you’re driving up the Don Valley Parkway going northbound?  The Moccasin Trail Park is what takes you through this ravine forest and under the highway that cuts overtop.  Extend your hike by connecting with the rest of the East Don Trail that runs along the banks of the river.

Albion Hills Conservation Area

To the north west of the GTA in the region of Caledon, Albion Hills Conservation Area is an adventurer’s dream come true.  With over 40 kilometres of trail that’s open in the summer and the winter, hike through extremely well-marked trails or take your mountain bike and dart through the woods.  By the riverside are also camp grounds so  that means you don’t have to drive that far away from the city to get your fix of s’mores along the riverside.

Humber Bay Park

Connected to the rest of the waterfront in Toronto, I like calling this park out specifically because of how awesome the views of the skyline are from here.  The park itself is broken into two parts – Humber Bay Park West and Humber Bay Park East.

East side of the park is a narrow park that juts out into Lake Ontario.  It’s here that you get those brilliant views of the downtown core.  There are plenty of park benches to use and lots of space for dogs in the off-leash area.  There’s also an ecological restoration project here for butterflies.  Complete your loop by heading over to Humber Bay Park West which ends off in a loop around a viewing area of Etobicoke.

Staying Dry Without Being Weighed Down

One of the things I’ve always struggled with when it comes to hiking is finding the right outerwear that checks the boxes for style, comfort, protection, weight, versatility, and compactability.   Those are quite the list of requirements and it’s no surprise that there aren’t many brands that can hit them all.

As a Columbia Sportswear ambassador, their OutDry Extreme has been one of the most impressive advances in waterproof technology.   Over the years I’ve been able to test a number of different waterproof jackets but one thing always remained constant – the more I wore it, the less waterproof it became and it essentially would “wet out”.  It was almost the material couldn’t repel anymore water and it would just fail.

What Columbia has done with this new type of material is to leverage abrasion-resistant membrane on the outside which is designed so that the water repellant layer doesn’t wear out.  On the inside is a next-to-skin membrane that has microscopic perforations to allow for airflow and moisture to escape.

On top of that, the material is weighs and packs to nothing.  The look of the jackets that have this material look waterproof but are also quite stylish in a sporty way.  And on top of that, the material weighs barely anything and packs to nothing.  You can wear it as regular outerwear as a layer while still being able to handle whatever Mother Nature throws at you.

Explore The OutDry Collection

Boyd Conservation Area

A hidden gem located in Vaughan that follows the scenic Humber River Valley.  Winding through the river and circling around the conservation area, it’s another great way to enjoy nature in the city.  Tall trees and quiet trails provide the perfect cover and refuge for those wanting to enjoy the outdoors.

Sunnybrook Park

Originally a privately owned farm, all 154 hectares were passed along to the city in 1928 for the creation of this large park.  Today it’s home to a number of hiking trails, bike trails, dog parks, stables, and large fields used for sports and recreation.  If you’re here, you’re going to want to continue exploring the area so make sure you make your way up Wilket Creek Park before ending up at Edwards Gardens.

Edwards Gardens is the most beautiful botanical garden in the city in how meticulously well-maintained it is and also in its picturesque setting.  Explore the greenhouses, historic barns, a quaint cafe, sprawling garden spaces, photogenic bridges, forested trails, and people friendly wildlife as part of your tour around.  There are numerous trails that lead in many directions from here but none are difficult.

Port Union Waterfront Park

Further east from the Scarborough Bluffs is this fun trail that’s always a delight to do.  It features a 3.8 kilometres of continuous waterfront and views of Lake Ontario all the way through.  It’s an easy hike that features a new pedestrian bridge over Highland Creek, additional trail connections north if you’re looking to extend your hike, and beaches.

Map of all 12 Toronto hikes