Hiking Toronto for Dog Lovers

Rebooting our hikes Trails explored during the lockdown My last blog entry,  Hiking Toronto in the Time of Covid-19 , published on April 3 at the beginning of the lockdown in Toronto due to the pandemic. Parks and some amenities will open on Tuesday, May 19. Let's hope our efforts to "flatten the curve" were successful, and we can resume more of our favourite activities.  Lucy and I continued to hike daily in the past two months, but only in parks we could get to without driving. Luckily we are walking distance to fabulous trails.  Donalda Golf Course Usually only open to non-members during the winter, the club relaxed their rules until they were closer to an opening day. A groundskeeper said they typically open in mid-April, around Earth Day. We took advantage of this extension and visited often. Golf courses are beautiful in the spring.  .  .  We saw birds, flowers, and the Don River. We spoke to many regular visitors and chatted with members and groundsk...

Also known as the Don Mills Leaside Spur Trail The trail is built on an abandoned train track that used to be called the Don Mills Leaside Spur. Hence the two names. This trail runs between Don Mills Road and Leslie Street from York Mills in the north and nearly to Eglinton in the south. Roughly parallel to Leslie, it is 3 km in length. You could consider this a boring trail because it is so straight with no forest or body of water along the trail. Instead of a straight walk from one end to the other and back, I suggest several visits that include loops in neighbouring parks. North to York Mills The first hike is along the newest part of the trail. My suggested loop is roughly 3 km in length. The traffic in this section is pretty light, so if you have control over your dog, this is the only section of the trail where I'd suggest letting your dog off-leash. This stretch runs parallel to Scarsdale Road, where there are industrial buildings, after-school programs, an...

A Winter Wonderland Did you know that golf courses allow local residents onto the property during the winter? Many golf courses prefer that you come only when the ground is frozen and covered in snow to minimize damage to the property. This is a dog lovers' dream. Wide-open spaces next to forests and rivers are the ideal setting for a good hike with your best friend. You'll meet many local dogs and their parents. I've met people on the course who are walking their dogs while they are waiting for their kids to finish tennis lessons. Map of Donalda  I live near the Donalda Golf Course, so I can walk from my home via Laurentide Drive and Barnwood Court as shown in the map. Parking  I've shown several other entry points depending on where you're coming from. If you are driving, you can find parking in the Donalda Parking lot by the Club House (12 Bushbury Dr, North York, ON M3A 2Z7). There is also parking at the Church of Our Saviour and Thr...

Dog-friendly hiking trails in Don Mills This trail was named after Betty Sutherland in 1988. She was a North York City Council member dedicated to the development of regional park systems.  I don't know if she's related to the famous Canadian actors Donald and Keifer Sutherland, but I often think of these two when walking on the trail. Map of 5 km Loop The trail goes along the Don River from Graydon Hall to the North York General Hospital at Sheppard Ave and Leslie Street. There isn't much parking at any of the entry points unless you can find street parking. The two schools near Graydon Hall Park might be your best bet on weekends: George S. Henry Academy or Rene Gordon Health and Wellness Academy. Graydon Hall Manor is a beautiful old mansion that is now used for wedding receptions and conferences. Surrounding the manor is a large park that is primarily hilly green space, but there is also a children's playground and tennis courts.  Mos...