Hiking Toronto for Dog Lovers

If you're looking for the least used trail along the Don River, this has to be it.  The Don River East flows through the parkland south of Eglinton Ave between the Don Valley Parkway and Bermondsey Road. User-created trails have been used for years, but the city is finally building official trails with bridges and eventually a safe way over the train tracks. Since the trail is still under construction, you may not be able to access it while work is being done. Also, the details in this blog will be out of date once the trail is finished. Charles Sauriol Conservation Area According to a label on Google Maps, the section of the East Don River trail between Taylor Creek and Lawrence Ave is part of Charles Sauriol Park. You may have noticed the monument to Charles Sauriol in the E. T. Seaton parking lot just north of the elevated wetlands. Presumably, there will eventually be a continuous hiking trail along the Don River from forks north to Lawrence Avenue. There are no official hiking...

Enjoy a hike along the northeast section of the Don River that flows between Sheppard Ave and Finch Ave. The park is popular and gives you an opportunity to see wildlife, birds, and wildflowers. The trails along the Don River north of Sheppard Ave are paved and except for the first km, primarily flat. The river through this section is tame and quite shallow in places, especially in the summer.  This blog entry gives directions for a hike along the river from Sheppard Ave and Leslie Street to Finch Ave. The starting point is near the North York General Hospital and is reachable from the Betty Sutherland Trail . Suggested Route The route I suggest is a 7.5 km loop that can be modified in several ways to make it either shorter or longer depending on your situation. For the 7.5 km loop: follow the paved path for 3 km until you reach Finch Ave. Walk west along Finch Ave for 1 km. Turn left onto the trail into the ravine just past the condo building and before you get to Bayview Ave. Fol...