Tags: Hiking Trails, Toronto, GTA
The good weather has arrived and it looks like it’s finally here to stay – minus a few inevitable rainy weekends. To help you #getoutside this season we have put together a list of some of the best hiking trails in and around Toronto. You may be surprised to learn just how many great options there are so close to home. And if you are able to drive within an hour radius of the city you will be rewarded with some truly epic hikes and trails for you to enjoy.
Put on those shorts, fill up a water bottle, spread that sunscreen, and go and enjoy some of these hidden gems that your community has to offer. Try one, try them all, but our guess is that if you try one you will want to come back for more!
Rattlesnake Point
7200 Appleby Line, Milton, ON L9E 0M9
Rattlesnake Point is an eco-tourism area located in Milton. It spans roughly one-hundred square kilometres across the Niagara Escarpment. There are several entry points to about 12km of trails for you to explore. From the peak, you can see all the way to Lake Ontario.
Cedar Trail
1749 Meadowvale Rd, Scarborough, ON
Cedar Trail is a 14.0-kilometre loop trail located in Scarborough just east of the Toronto Zoo. The trail is mostly used for hiking, walking, and trail running but dogs are also welcome as long as they are kept on-leash. There is an observation deck that overlooks Little Rouge Creek and the vast forestry that surrounds the trail.
Dundas Peak
Harvest Rd, Dundas, ON L9H 5K7
The trails around Dundas Peak give the public access to some of Hamilton’s most stunning waterfalls. Waterfalls in Hamilton? That’s right, there are a stunning number of them which may surprise many who have not ventured out that way. Highlights include Webster and Tews Falls, both of which are some of the highest in the area. In addition to the waterfalls, there are awe-inspiring views of the gorge below.
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Mono Cliffs Provincial Park
795122 3rd line, Orangeville, ON
About 100km North-East of downtown Toronto is Mono Cliffs, Provincial Park. With kilometres of trails to hike, ziplining, and some amazing views it is without a doubt worth the trip from the city to enjoy this gem. The trails are built-up with boardwalks installed in some of the more treacherous areas to help with the terrain.
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Bruce Trail
5234 Kelso Rd, Milton, ON L9E 0C6
Perhaps the largest trail system on our list, the Bruce Trail system stretches over 800km along the Niagara Escarpment and all the way North to Tobermory. Its closest access point to Toronto is located just outside of Milton near the Kelso Conservation Area (which is the address we have listed above). This system has so much to offer to its visitors including rocky gorges, a number of gorgeous lakes, and forest as far as the eye can see.
Elora Gorge
7400 Wellington County Rd 21, Elora, ON N0B 1S0
Located just outside of Guelph, the Elora Gorge Conservation area is home to a 10km trail where you can encounter waterfalls, sweeping views of the gorge, and ample opportunities to explore the beautiful Grand River. This conservation area is a wonderful place to spend an entire day – just be sure to pack a lunch and bring your swim trunks so that you can take a dip in the picturesque river to cool off.
Final Thoughts
There are so many fantastic trails in and around the Greater Toronto Area. We truly have some of the most beautiful landscape in the Province within a short drive from the city. Pack up your car, grab some friends and/or family and get out to enjoy this great Province and its natural beauty.
