Best Days Walks outside Toronto?

April 24, 2009 12:48 AM

Off to Toronto this weekend, and looking for some nice (baby friendly) day walks or trails? Had meant to head up to the Algonquin Park but time no longer permits. Suggestions MeFites?
posted by steve3001 to Travel & Transportation around Toronto, ON (8 answers total)

Well, not in Toronto itself, but over near Milton (a 30-40 min drive depending on where you are in Toronto) the Halton Regional Conservation Authority has awesome trails along the Bruce Trail (a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, if you are collecting them). Beautiful scenery of the Niagara Escarpment. The parks themselves are cheap to get into and if you pay for one you get into all the others the same day with your receipt. The one I would most recommend for you is Crawford Lake. Their is a reconstructed First Nations Village, a rare lake that has a boardwalk all the way around it and a scenic lookout. All of this is stroller friendly (even an umbrella stroller). Nearby is Mountsberg (you just missed their sugar shack unfortunately) with birds of prey, buffalo, froggy marshes and stroller paths in the woods. Hilton Falls is close too and much less busy. There is a lovely waterfall and caves along with various paths in the woods. The first part of the path at Hilton Falls is steep for pushing the pram but it levels off very quickly. You picked a great weekend to get out in the woods, the trilliums are just beginning to appear.
posted by saucysault at 1:36 AM on April 24, 2009 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: SaucySault. Awesome reply. Thanks ... was disappointed not to get to the Algonquin but now considerably cheered up.
posted by steve3001 at 2:01 AM on April 24, 2009

The Kortright Conservation Area is quite nice, and apparently it's stroller-friendly. Plus, you can see some big birds at the Canadian Peregrine Foundation's Raptor Centre (not sure if they're allowing visitors just yet, but they have a bunch of outdoor pens that visible from a trail).
posted by greatgefilte at 5:11 AM on April 24, 2009 [1 favorite]

Check out Toronto Island Park! Quick ferry right from downtown Toronto.
posted by smitt at 7:30 AM on April 24, 2009

Are you going to be in toronto itself for the weekend or just heading in the direction of Toronto?

There are some discovery walks in the city. Might be a bit urban in parts, but interesting for sure.
posted by Frasermoo at 7:34 AM on April 24, 2009

Oh yeah, if you decide to stay clsoe to Toronto the islands are really interesting. Just bundle up because they are cold and exposed in parts.
posted by saucysault at 8:55 AM on April 24, 2009

I'll second Mountsberg, Hilton Falls and Crawford Lake, I have a pass for Halton and my kids love hiking there. Another suggestion near the Hamilton/Burlington area would be the Royal Botanical Gardens. There are some nice trails at the Arboretum around Cootes Paradise, or along Grindstone Creek. This area is also near the Bruce Trail and is about 40 minutes outside of Toronto.
posted by phirleh at 9:31 AM on April 24, 2009

It's supposed to be almost 30C tomorrow in Toronto so don't worry so much about bundling up. It'll be breezy on the Island but not cold.
posted by urbanette at 1:01 PM on April 24, 2009