Hiking Toronto for Dog Lovers

Connect with nature in Morningside Park This is another fabulous find in Toronto for nature lovers. The large parking lot is open and attracts early risers to take advantage of all the park has to offer.  Birdwatching  As soon as we got out of our car, we could hear the Blue Jays in the forest. Birdseed and oranges are put out by local bird lovers, which successfully attracts Cardinals and Jays.   Orioles are in the park too, but so far, no photos. Suggested route Morningside is nearly 600 acres and is Toronto's largest park, so there is much to explore. In this post, I'll give you a route that follows the paved path along the river. The distance from the Morningside parking lot to Greenville Park and back is 8 km. This turned out to be too much for my dog Lucy. Several times on our way back to the car, she attempted to take a nap. Deer We saw a mother deer and her fawn during our visit. They were enjoying the greenery th...

Flat trail with a river, marsh, and forest The park connects many neighbourhoods and parks. During the Covid-19 Lockdown, the Taylor-Creek Trail parking lots were closed, essentially making it a park for locals only. I heard from frequent walkers that the trails got quite busy at times, but the park is so large that social distancing is still achievable.  Parking Lots Closed Our last visit was May 27, 2020, and we were surprised to see that the parking lots were still closed. Many in the city are already open, but not here. The entry from Don Mills is also closed, but due to construction, not the pandemic. Donora Ravine We parked on a nearby street and walked into the Taylor Creek Park through the Donora Park .  Toronto Children's Theatre This alternate route allowed us to discover the Children's Peace Theatre . According to their website, they are:  a place where people come in, connect and interact and learn, cross pollinate their knowledge to scatter in many places, wh...

Off-leash playground As mentioned in my blog, The Beaches , I consider the dog parks on the beaches to be the happiest places for both humans and dogs. Especially in those places where dogs can run off-leash. Social Distancing The City of Toronto has posted creative signs throughout the beach area to remind us of our duty during the pandemic.  Kew Gardens Dog Park This off-leash playground for dogs is near Woodbine beach and is perhaps the best off-leash park in the city of Toronto.  The fenced-in area provides full access to a large section of prime waterfront dedicated for dogs to run and swim.  Heatwaves in Toronto Heat is a big problem for many dogs. Especially those who haven't had a chance to visit a groomer as a result of the Covid-19 shutdown. The best place for your dog to get exercise and remain cool is on the beach. The temperature on the shores of Lake Ontario is notably cooler than elsewhere in the city. The waters of Lake Ontario are even cooler, allowing an...