Toronto Hike Schedule

Urban Walk - Toronto Urban Badge Hike - 1 of 7

Hosting Club: Toronto
Category: Urban Walk
Location (Google Maps): Humber Recreational Trail

Hike Leader(s): Brian Rideout Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Moderate (3-4 km/hr)
Terrain: Flat
Distance: 11 km

Description

Please join me at the south west corner of Finch and Weston by 10 AM.  We will hike south on the Humber Recreational Trail to Scarlet and Eglinton (km 30.2 to km 19.2).  Here is an online map with km markings of our route for all 7 hikes for the Toronto Urban Badge: https://onthegomap.com/s/c2c1hf3n

Please make sure you bring at least 2 liters of water, a lunch, bug spray and sunscreen.

Birding Hike: Colonel Sam Smith Park to the Arsenal Lands

Hosting Club: Toronto
Category: Urban Walk
Location (Google Maps): Power House Recreation Centre, Colonel Samuel Smith Park Dr. Coming by transit you can take TTC bus# 44 from Kipling Station at 9:21 (scheduled every 9 minutes) to the end. Look for the tall Powerhouse Smokestack. It is about 50 metres from the stop. Coming by car follow Kipling Avenue to Lake Shore Blvd and keep straight. Kipling Avenue becomes Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive. Follow to the end parking lot which has free parking. On the way you will pass the Powerhouse smokestack on the left. After parking your car walk back to the Powerhouse meetup spot. Please arrive 15 minutes early.

Hike Leader(s): Andrew Proczek Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Leisurely (2-3 km/hr), Moderate (3-4 km/hr)
Terrain: Flat
Distance: 10-11 km

Description

Please join me and foremost local birder, Peter Sproule, for our second annual birding hike through Colonel Sam Smith Park and westward to Marie Curtis Park and the former Arsenal Lands. As promised last year this event is taking place two weeks earlier so that we can get better views of the birds in the yet undeveloped foliage. Peter won’t know exactly what birds are arriving or migrating through until the day before, but we can expect Warblers, Swallows and a variety of shore birds. You can see the birds with the naked eye but a pair of binoculars will certainly enhance your experience.

In case you cannot do a lot of walking and you will have your car, you can chose to return to your car when we will be leaving Colonel Sam Smith Park with the option of dropping out or meeting the group at Marie Curtis Park. There is one small park in between but most of the birding will take place at Sam Smith and Marie Curtis Parks including the former Arsenal Lands.

Public washrooms: Ken Cox Community Centre (open from 9 am) opposite the #44 Bus Loop stop; The Powerhouse Recreation Centre will likely be open and there is also a Porta Potty in front; Marie Curtis Park by the boardwalk.

Car Hike: Spring Birding Silver Creek

Hosting Club: Toronto
Category: Car Hike
Location (Google Maps): Silver Creek

Hike Leader(s): Janet Patterson Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Leisurely (2-3 km/hr)
Terrain: Variable
Distance: approx 3 – 4 km

Description

Join BTC ecologist Mara McHaffie and members of the Toronto Bruce Trail Club’s Biodiversity Team on a hike to learn about birds along the Bruce Trail. This will be a leisurely walk with plenty of stops to observe and listen to the birds we find. This hike will be geared towards beginner birders (no experience necessary) but all are welcome. The BTC’s Silver Creek property boasts a variety of habitats, including meadows, forests, ponds and streams, so we expect to see a good diversity of birds. Some will be just passing through during migration, while others will be staying for the breeding season.

During the hike, we will discuss how you can use apps like iNaturalist, Merlin Bird ID and eBird to enhance your birding experience. If you’d like to try them out for yourself, please download them ahead of time, as cell service can be spotty at this location.

Besides water and snacks, bring binoculars if you have them, and please dress for the weather. Note that due to the slow pace and frequent stops, you may want to dress more warmly than you would for a faster-paced hike.

While there is no regular public parking at this location, we will have the gate open to allow parking on site. Parking is available just inside the farm gate off Highway 7, just west of where Trafalgar side trail enters the property (just west of the intersection of Highway 7 and Trafalgar Rd). A sign will be placed at the entrance and PLEASE NOTE that due to the divided road, you can only turn right into the property while travelling southwest on Highway 7 (no left turn). Refer to the map for more details: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-GvFUz_TAnTi9iqKkJSyRwYNxZM3xxX3/view?usp=drive_link

Urban Walk: Toronto Islands Evening Walk

Hosting Club: Toronto

Location (Google Maps):

Jack Layton Ferry Terminal, near the gates to Wards Island Ferry. Arrive 20 minutes prior to departure to check in with hike leader.

From Union Station take the LRT and get off at the stop Ferry Docks.Walk up to the Ferry Docks on Queens Quay West, street level. at the foot of Bay Street.

Hike Leader(s): Miriam Stevens Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Leisurely (2-3 km/hr)
Terrain: Flat
Distance: 6-9 km

Description

After a day’s work come and “cool off” on the Toronto Islands free of fumes and traffic. Enjoy the view of the city skyline and Toronto’s beautiful island parkland.
Pack a dinner for a sit down picnic. Food is not available for purchase on the Islands early in the season. Also bring a warm jacket and flashlight.
Return fare ticket for the ferry is $9.11 adults and $5.86 seniors.
Hikes will take place rain or shine.
Toronto Island evening hikes will take place every Thursday in May and June 2025.
Same time and same meeting place. No preregistration is required – just show up at the ferry docks at 5:40 PM and sign in with the hike leader.

School Bus Hike: Niagara E2E #3 of 6

Trip Information
Departure Time: 08:30
Return to City Time: 18:00
Departure Point: Kipling Departure Point

Optional Items

Hosting Club: Toronto
Category: Bus Hike
Location (Google Maps): Niagara Section Kms 29.9 to 46.3

Hike Leader(s): Tim Wainwright, Felix Wan Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Moderate (3-4 km/hr)
Terrain: Variable
Distance: 16.4 km

Description

Join us for a lovely hike through Short Hills Provincial Park outside of St. Catharines. We begin at the DeCew House Heritage Park, and then follow the shore of Lake Moodie, and cross Twelve Mile Creek on the way to Short Hills Provincial Park.  In the park we’ll pass a couple of waterfalls, before ending at Rockway Falls in the Rockway Conservation Area. There will be a refreshment stop on the way back to Toronto.

Bring a packed lunch, two litres of water and sun/rain/bug protection as needed. Be prepared for some muddy ground along the way.

Drop-out point at 7 kms.

See Map 3 in the Bruce Trail Guide.

The remaining hikes in the Niagara E2E are:

1. May 17
2. May 24
3. June 7

Car Hike: Rouge National Park Trails 16 KM

Hosting Club: Toronto
Category: Car Hike
Location (Google Maps): Rouge National Urban Park, 16th Ave Parking Lot

Hike Leader(s): Alina Lin

Pace: Brisk (4-5 km/hr)
Terrain: Flat, Level 2 (Intermediate – some hills and uneven surfaces, rocks and roots underfoot)
Distance: 16 KM

Description

Meet at the parking lot Northeast of the Ninth Line @ 19th Ave, GPS ( 43.952621, -79.246167) .

Please arrive before 8:45 am to get yourself ready.

We will leave the parking lot at 9:00am, hike along Rouge National Park Trails up to the Elgin Mills Road , and then return. Here is the planned route FYI:  https://onthegomap.com/s/12v2do4v . Depending on the trail condition, we may have to adjust the route or distance.

Notes for your attention:

• Wear clothing in layers for the weather.
• Bring water, snacks or light lunch. We will have a short break for lunch after reaching turning point.
• No dogs/pets.

Urban Walk: Toronto Urban Badge Hike - 3 of 7

Hosting Club: Toronto
Category: Urban Walk
Location (Google Maps): Toronto Waterfront Trail

Hike Leader(s): Brian Rideout Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Moderate (3-4 km/hr)
Terrain: Flat
Distance: 10.4 km

Description

Please join me at the south west corner of Lakeshore Blvd West and Ellis by 10 AM.  We will hike east along the Waterfront Trail to the Distillery District (km 8.3 to km 71.4).  Here is an online map with km markings of our route for all 7 hikes for the Toronto Urban Badge.

Please make sure you bring at least 2 liters of water, a lunch, bug spray and sunscreen.