EastTO the Outdoors

EAST TO Outdoors

One of the great things about living in the Beaches is the access to so many wonderful hiking and biking trails right at your doorstep.

By Matt Olinski

As an avid cyclist and an enthusiastic hiker, I’m always looking for a great place to stretch my legs, and the trails of the East End never disappoint. There are so many options to choose from, and it’s hard to pick favourites, but these are a few of mine.

The Boardwalk and the Waterfront Trail

BEST FOR: Early morning workouts

This popular trail is popular with both locals and tourists. An early morning cycle on the Waterfront Trail with my road bike is one of the best ways I know to start my day. I usually start my ride near the eastern end of the boardwalk (at Silverbirch) and ride west right across the city to the Humber River Bridge. From the Beaches to the Humber and back is a good 40 kilometre ride, perfect for an early morning workout. And if I’m feeling energetic and want to extend it, the Leslie Street Spit (Tommy Thompson Park) makes a great way to add 10 kilometres to my ride.

These are a few of our must-have accessories:

FOR DOGS:

Messy Mutts Silicone Collapsible Bowl The Bone House 946 Queen St E

FOR HIKERS:

Asics Running Backpack Culture Athletics 1175 Queen St E

Doris McCarthy Trail

BEST FOR: The urban hiker

Slightly further afield (but not too far east) is the Doris McCarthy Trail. This is a long pathway that leads from Ravine Drive, off Kingston Road, to Lake Ontario. Once you’re at the bottom (almost a kilometre from top to bottom), there is a seemingly endless trail right along the water’s edge that is perfect for the urban hiker and those who want to cycle with a hybrid or mountain bike. The trail is named after the well-known Calgary-born landscape artist Doris Jean McCarthy who lived in the Scarborough Bluffs area. A sculpture that pays homage is located at the base of the trail — the point where McCarthy trail meets the lakeshore. It’s a gorgeous, quiet, unspoiled part of the city, with Lake Ontario on one side and the Bluffs on the other. You won’t believe you are so close to home — it’s urban hiking at its best!

Lower Don River Trail

BEST FOR: Biking, hiking and walking at all skill levels

Another favourite biking trail of mine is the Lower Don River Recreational Trail. I love this trail because of its beautiful views, art installations and access to parks and green spaces —it’s a great option for getting out of the city without ever having to leave East Toronto. This trail is part of the city’s ravine trails and connects to many other routes — it’s so much fun to discover the ravine network in our city. I like to hop on to the Lower Don at the base of the DVP and ride north towards Brickworks. North of Bloor Street, this trail connects to Taylor Creek Trail where I ride eastbound back into our neighbourhood.

FOR RUNNERS:

On Running Iconic Cloud Culture Athletics 1175 Queen St E

FOR BIKERS:

Giro Fixture MIPS Helmet Gears Bike Shop 500 Front St E