The best dog-friendly hikes and walks around Toronto

The Eastern Ravines & Beaches Discovery Walk links wooded ravines, neighbourhood streets, lakeshore boardwalks, and waterfront parks in the east end. Typically starting at Glen Stewart Ravine, the walk runs down toward Lake Ontario and continues along the Beaches boardwalk through Woodbine Beach and Ashbridge’s Bay Park. The path covers approximately 7 to 9 kilometres and takes about 2.5 to 3 hours to complete. This section follows the wooded Glen Stewart Ravine and its spring-fed creek down toward the Beaches, connecting natural forest footpaths with the more expansive Eastern Ravines & Beaches route.

Ames Creek is a beautiful spring-fed stream that flows through Glen Stewart Ravine and is one of the few remaining natural watercourses in Toronto’s urban landscape. It winds along the forest floor beneath a canopy of red oaks and maples, with raised boardwalks allowing visitors to follow its course while protecting the wetland habitat. The creek continues toward Lake Ontario, where it eventually disappears underground before reaching the waterfront.

Glen Stewart Park is a small urban green space in Toronto’s Beaches neighbourhood, known for its wooded setting and trails that lead into the adjacent Glen Stewart Ravine, offering a natural escape within the city. The park’s paths wind through a forested landscape dominated by native trees and connect with elevated boardwalk sections along Ames Creek. The area supports diverse plant and bird life and is valued both for recreation and its environmentally sensitive ecosystem.

A Midtown green space built around the Vale of Avoca ravine, offering a mix of paved and natural-surface paths, forest cover, and steady access to Yellow Creek. David Arthur Balfour (1889–1956) was Toronto’s Commissioner of Parks and Recreation. He played a major role in expanding and improving the city’s park system, including ravine conservation and recreational access— which is why this ravine corridor now carries his name.

Yellow Creek runs through the Vale of Avoca ravine, cutting a narrow channel between forested slopes and short stone embankments. The creek flows year-round and is visible from several points along the David A. Balfour Park Trail. Expect shallow water, exposed rocks, and small cascades after rain. The surrounding canopy provides steady shade, especially in summer, while fall colours make this area particularly scenic.

A popular midtown Toronto trail running through the Vale of Avoca ravine, connecting St. Clair Avenue to the Beltline system. The route follows a mix of paved and dirt surfaces with mostly level terrain, though some short slopes and stair sections appear along the ravine walls. The trail is well-shaded, lined with mature trees, and parallels a small creek for part of its length.

Sunnybrook Park is one of Toronto’s largest urban green spaces, with over 60 hectares of forest, meadows, and multi-use trails in the heart of the city. Once the site of the Kilgour family’s Sunnybrook Farm, the land was donated to the town in 1928 and now features sports fields, picnic areas, off-leash dog areas, and Sunnybrook Stables. It connects to the Don Valley trail network and nearby Edwards Gardens, and is a favourite spot for walkers, cyclists, and families to enjoy Toronto’s natural corridors.

The Northern Ravines & Gardens Discovery Walk winds roughly 4.8 km through Toronto’s Lawrence Park, Chatsworth, Blythwood and Sherwood Park ravines. The route follows paved and crushed-limestone paths through mixed forest and quiet green spaces, offering a refreshingly easy escape into nature while staying within the city.