My Favourite Trails In and Around Toronto
Long walks and hikes have become my saving grace during the pandemic. This practice helped me to explore new surroundings, move my body in a way that feels good and consistently be in nature which has just been so helpful to keep me feeling grounded. Fresh air really does wonders, ya know! My husband and I are passionate travelers so these weekend adventures have become a non-negotiable for us, luckily we are spoiled with an expansive list of places to explore and adventure safely within the city.
We have access to a vehicle and can get out a bit farther than the city but don’t worry! I have some hidden gems located within the city limits that you can explore safely by walking, bike or public transit.
A Few Benefits of Hiking
Improves Cognition: Hiking or walking outdoors is really an embodied practice. It requires you to be aware and be able to adjust to your surroundings Whether it’s Slippery dirt, overhanging branches and hidden obstacles, trail markers, and wild animals crossing your path—all of the things you might encounter on a trail require micro- and macro-adjustments to your route, which is good for your brain. Hiking exercises various parts of your brain like the retrosplenial cortex and the hippocampus, which aids in memory, problem solving and cognition.
Lowers Stress: We all know how exercise is so helpful for reducing stress and those benefits grow exponentially when we move our bodies in green space. Studies have found that, compared to walking in a cityscape or along a road, walking in green spaces helps us recover from “attention overload” or mental fatigue we often get from being in front of a screen. I notice this when I make adventuring out to these spaces a priority.
Inexpensive: For most folks, gym memberships and classes can get quite expensive, especially when you have a large family or limited income. For the most part, most outdoor hiking spaces are free to take advantage of. Some parks do have fees but they are usually under $10 per car or group. We are so fortunate to have several preserved green spaces in our city as a great way to offer affordable, educational outdoor resources.
Social Distanced: Most of the areas we visit are not overcrowded. There is ample opportunity for safe social distancing while hiking. I would still suggest regular hand washing, sanitization and mask wearing when possible and especially if you do come in contact with other hikers. When the coast is clear, it’s so nice to remove your mask take a big whiff of fresh air (safely!).
My Favourite Trails Within Toronto
This expansive trail cuts through quite a large session of central downtown. It’s full of beautiful greenery and lots of fresh water. It is quite strange to be at some points and feel like you’re in lush greenery and hear the highway not too far in the distance.
My favourite place to visit is in and around the Evergreen Brickworks. You can visit the incredible community center and greenspace and enjoy the farmers market on Saturday’s.
I love this trail in Midtown! It weaves in and out of neighborhoods and takes you under several overpasses. This trial is bustling with friendly neighborhood walkers and their dogs, luckily the trails themselves are quite wide and easy to accommodate.
High Park is a great option in the west end. It offers several paved trails and road ways for cars, cyclists and walking alike. There is an off leash dog area and several trails hidden in the brush, it’s easy to get lost in here and feels so far removed from the city. Lots of local plants and wildlife call this place home too. In the spring and summer watch out for poison ivy and stinging nettle, it can get particularly bad in there.
This beautiful, expansive urban park is full of glorious views and trails. Located just outside of the Toronto Zoo, this hidden gem is so beautiful to witness right now. With is fields of goldenrod, rouge river and elevated views of the changing leaves it’s so picturesque and offer several hike options for every skill level.
at Belfountain Conservation Area
My Favourite Trails Outside of the City
The Belfountain Conservation Area, located just northwest of Caledon, is the ideal place for an easy stroll through nature with the beautiful rush of the West Credit River following alongside. While this is less than 1 hour outside of the city, it feels like a total escape. During your visit make sure to pop into the quaint town along the way for a warm drink and check out the Cheltenham Badlands on your way home.
*Both of these trails require reservations before your visit so make sure to book in advanced.
The vast Mono Cliffs Provincial Park includes a section of the Bruce Trail and is home to stunning lookout points, marshland, caves, cliffs, and horseback riding trails. This moderately difficult trail can be quite busy in the summer months, but offers a variety of well-marked trail options for an hour or a full-day hike.
Located just outside of Hamilton in Waterdown, this trail features a glorious rushing waterfall at it’s entrance. Following along the rushing creek you are able to explore a segment of the Bruce Trail and check out various rock formations along the way. If you are feeling brave, you can have lunch on a rockface beside the stream of fresh water or hop and skip to each side of the trail. Due to the nature of this trail, it is on a steep incline with lots of steps so be warned.
This place is so fun, Located just outside of Toronto in Halton Hills. Get ready for lots of climbing, this area features some fascinating rock fissures that get you up close and personal with the rocks. You are allowed to walk in between and climb up and down the huge formations. There are ladders situated around the site to help make the trek less terrifying.
I hope these suggestions encourage and inspire you to explore this beautiful time of year and reap the benefits of being outdoors. With the uncertainty of the pandemic looming, it’s been good to know there are spaces for folks to safely adventure and enjoy while so much of our old life is inaccessible. Find me on instagram and let me know your favourite trails. I’m always looking for new ones and there are still so many I have yet to discover!