Urban Walk: Warden Woods–Taylor Creek–Don River

Hosting Club: Toronto
Category: Urban Walk
Location (Google Maps): Kennedy Rd. and St. Clair Ave. E.

Hike Leader(s): Felix Wan; Tom Swales Click here to contact Hike Leader(s)

Pace: Moderate (3-4 km/hr)
Terrain: Hilly, Level 2 (Intermediate - some hills and uneven surfaces, rocks and roots underfoot)
Distance (km): 12.5

Description

Join us on a walk through scenic Warden Woods Park and Taylor Creek Park. We will never be far from water as we walk alongside Taylor-Massey Creek and the Don River. We will see wetlands, woodlands, and many species of plants and birds.

Route map: https://onthegomap.com/s/lcjp9dir

The terrain features a mixture of paved paths, dirt trails, and road walking. There are a couple of descents, and a couple of uphill climbs. Depending on weather conditions, parts of the trail may be muddy or wet. Bring a good pair of hiking/walking shoes, as well as a lunch/snacks and at least 2L of drinking water.

Travel to the trailhead:

• By TTC: Meet Felix and Tom at Kennedy subway station by 9:25 a.m. to take the route 113 Danforth bus departing at 9:38 a.m., and arriving at Kennedy Rd. and St. Clair Ave. E. at 9:46 a.m.
• By GO: Take the Lakeshore East Line train departing Union station at 9:20 a.m. and arriving at Scarborough station at 9:38 a.m. Walk across St. Clair Ave. E. to the north side, to catch the route 102 Markham TTC bus departing Linden Ave. westbound at 9:44 a.m., arriving at Kennedy Rd. (two stops later) at 9:45 a.m. The TTC transfer will be free if you tap with your PRESTO card. Cross to the northwest corner of the intersection to meet the group.
• By car:
  1. Free parking is available at the Thomas Hauser Memorial Trailhead (the end point of the hike) at 35 Redway Rd. (https://maps.app.goo.gl/9QtAgAdmnXB8C8zw6). Note that you will still need to find your way to the trailhead to meet the group, given that this is a linear hike.
  2. Free parking is available at Scarborough GO station. To reach the trailhead, see "By GO" instructions above. Note that you will need to find your way back to Scarborough station at the end of the hike, given that this is a linear hike.

Washrooms:

Washrooms are available at Kennedy station (east end of the level above the Line 2 subway, as well as just across the west staircase from/to the Line 5 LRT boarding platform), or on the GO train/at Scarborough GO station, before the start of the hike. During the hike, we will stop at public washrooms at km 5.7. Washrooms are also available at the end of the hike at Loblaws.

Après-hike:

There will be an optional après-hike stop at Corks Beer & Wine Bar at Leaside Village (93 Laird Dr.), a 20-minute walk from the end point of the hike.