Hiking Toronto for Dog Lovers

This is a great walk that takes you through three significant green areas near the Don River. As documented, the hike is 7.5 km in length.  Suggested Route After a winding hike through the forest, you'll walk part of the Lower Don Trail. On the way to Evergreen Brickworks, you'll pass some impressive artwork. Once at the Brickworks, you can visit the off-leash dog park and have a snack at Cafe Belong. After visiting the lookout, you'll hike over an abandoned rail line that takes you back to your car. Parking Park at the Loblaws on Redway Road near the Thomas Hauser Memorial Trailhead . Parking is free and plentiful. You could start at Evergreen Brickworks but must pay for parking.  Trailhead For a history of this park, see our earlier blog entry, Crothers Forest Trail . This entry explores a different part of the trail but begins in the same spot. Choose the trail on the left for this hike. You can shorten the hike by taking the middle or right-hand trail, but you'll m...

The Orchard trail is primarily through a mature forest next to the Little Rouge River. Perhaps there are apple or other fruit trees in the woods, but I only saw acorns on the ground.  This hike is 2 km each way, but if you include the walk from the parking area, it's closer to 3 km if you park on Zoo Road.  Suggested Route Park along the road near the main entrance at 1749 Meadowvale Road . Walk east on the gravel road until you see the signs for the trailhead. The Orchard Trail takes you to Twyn Rivers Road, where you can connect with the Vista Trail to return to your car. The hike begins beside a pond. There are side trails to the pond if you want to get close. Mid to late summer the vegetation is pretty thick, so you may wish to delay visiting the pond until another season. The Trail The trail is well marked with white blazes marked on trees. The main path is also pretty wide and well-worn. If you stay on the main trail, you'll hike through a forest, but if you like to visi...

The Mast Trail is a popular hike in the Rouge National Urban Park between the Little Rouge River and Rouge River. Hike a 5 km loop that begins near Kingston Road through the hills to the Twyn Rivers trail head. The Mast Trail is an intermediate-level hiking trail. Some of the hills are steep, and it is pretty easy to get off the official path, so perhaps it can be considered an advanced-level hike. You won't get lost if you leave the official trail, but you may end up walking further than you anticipated.  Read my blog about the Vista Trail , which is likely the easiest trail in Rouge Urban Park.  Parking The Glen Rouge Campground is still closed due to the pandemic, but the parking lot is open for day-hikers.  This is a popular place for people to hike, especially on weekends. If you find a full parking lot, drive to the  Twyn Rivers Drive parking lot and start your hike there.  Suggested Route The official trail is marked by blazes that are painted on trees....