Hiking Toronto for Dog Lovers

Start at a beautiful dog park and then take a pleasant 5 km hike for chances to see salmon migrating, deer, blue heron, blue jays, and some of the best autumn vista views. Suggested Route After visiting Botany Hill Park, hike along the Highland Creek River using the newest trails in Morningside Park. Once you get to the western parking lot, hike over the steep hill for views and then hike back along the river to your starting point. New Trails The city is building new trails with bridges and paved paths in the section of Morningside Park below the Botany Hill Park. The trails are closed when active construction occurs, but the trails are safe to explore on weekends and evenings.  Parking There are several parking lots in Morningside Park, but for this blog entry, I start the trail from Botany Hill Dog Park on  Orton Park Road , where there is street parking. Botany Hill Dog Park The Botany Hill Dog in Scarborough has all the best features for an off-leash dog playgro...

Discovering this trail was one of the highlights of my summer. Lucy loved playing in the river and I had many opportunities to photograph wildlife. I met friendly people on every visit. I plan to visit more often and highly recommend it to anyone wanting to explore nature within the city. Suggested Route This hike is really straight forward. You can park at either end of the trail: The Colonel Danforth Dog Park  (on the west end) or the Colonel Danforth Park  (on the east end). My map shows the route starting at the dog park. The distance is 2.5 km each way. Parking After parking at the Colonel Danforth Dog Park, cross Old Kingston Road and turn left to cross the bridge. The trail head begins immediately after crossing the bridge. The Trail A paved path follows the river and attracts cyclists and joggers.  I walk on the unpaved trail beside the river, which allows me to see more wildlife and hidden treasure. It also allows me to leave Lucy off-leash for most of the walk....

Take a 2 km hike along the Highland Creek River from the Colonel Danforth Park to Lake Ontario. This river attracts many birds and wildlife. The reward at the end of the hike is a beach on the lake.  I wasn't able to make a loop of this hike, but I encourage you to visit some of the side trails that I point out in the blog. Suggested Route Starting at the southernmost parking lot in the Colonel Danforth Park, walk on the paved path for 2 km. You can either turn straight back to make the hike 4 km, but I suggest you walk for a kilometer on the beach to make the hike 5 km in total. Parking Park at the Colonel Danforth Park . The parking lot is large and has a public washroom and many picnic tables. Bike Share Toronto has a rack of bicycles available for a fee. The River It's called Highland Creek, but it's actually a river. It's very shallow and rocky. I suggest you take every opportunity to use a side trail to visit the river with your dog and/or a camera.  The Trail The...

Highland Creek runs through Colonel Danforth Park, and there are many trails to explore where you may see a variety of birds, and perhaps some wildlife. Off-Leash Dog Park This post documents a short trail that starts at the Colonel Danforth Off-Leash Dog Park . There is a parking lot beside the fenced-in dog park. Although the area is large, the ground is covered in pea-gravel, which is hard for a person to walk through, and the dogs seemed unimpressed.  The beauty of the park lies outside of the fenced-in area. Mature trees and a shallow creek attract birds and wildlife.  Short Route You'll see a lot during this 2 km hike. We did this hike during a heatwave with the threat of a thunderstorm, so it was the perfect length for us. After visiting the dog park, follow the paved trail next to the covered picnic area. Use a side trail to visit the riverbank. The water is shallow, and there is a rocky beach to walk on. Feel a cool breeze and give your dog a chance to take a drink. T...