The Belt Line Trail
	Gear Rating:	2	Distance:	9.6km	Trail:	Gravel bike trail, Some on road through Mt. Pleasant
	Connections:	Don River

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We've come full circle. Look at a map of the 1800's and you'll see road tolls at major intersections. Look at a map today and you'll also see road tolls. Today however, our drive to work is on clogged congested highways. One side effect of the introduction of the automobile is the shift away from mass transit. I wish we could have kept the old radial and steam railway lines that existed in 1890.

Where I live, a bicycle can compete with a local city bus both in travel time and cost. My bus to work runs at an average of 8 to 12 miles per hour. Bike lanes are by far the healthier and cost effective solution to today's congestion.

The Belt line railway was a link to the other rail lines that radiated out from Union Station and made a circle around the suburban communities of the day. The east Belt line ran from Rosedale down and around the Don Valley then up through Mt. Pleasant then west to Grand Trunk line near Kennedy (now CN) then headed back to Toronto Union. The line was not profitable and only lasted about two years. The radial railways were gone by 1940.

The Don River

There are many feeder links onto the Belt line Trail but the main bike link from the Don is either by:

a) Riverdale: Cycling northward up the Don trail, look for stairs on the west (rail track) side of the path to the Riverdale Pedestrian Bridge (left picture is the view looking back from atop of the pedestrian bridge). Walk up the stairs and cross west (left) over the tracks to  Riverdale Farm and proceed onto Carlton up to Parliament St. Head north up Parliament to Bloor. Head east on Bloor and cross over Bloor to Castle Frank subway. Go past the subway on Castle Frank Rd (north) sidewalk ( careful, it's also the end of an exit ramp) and stay on Castle Frank Rd as it curves around and eventually becomes Elm. Go along Elm but take the first north (right) turn onto South Drive (the sign is virtually obscured by trees).  On south Drive, near but just before the Glen Rd intersection you'll see an unmarked access road (Milkmen's Rd.). Drop down this steep road to the bottom where it joins up with the Belt Line trail.

Head eastward (right) and follow the bike trail. It will curve then run beside access ramps and curve again and run beside the Don Brickyard then run past the bike path entrance to the Don Valley Brickyard.  

b) Bayview: On the Don, head up to Pottery Rd, but head west (left) instead of continuing straight through.  Go under the tracks and meet up with Bayview Ave. Head south back the direction you came on Bayview as  it curves and you see the Parking Lot entrance to the Don Valley Brickyard. Cycle through the yard and on your west (left) side you'll see the Belt line bike path. The access to the path is at the north-west corner of the old buildings.

The southern portion of the Belt line is a large loop from Mt Pleasant Cemetery down the west Avoca Ravine branch around the Brick yards and back up to the Cemetery along the east Moore Park Ravine branch. The following description is along the Moore Park Ravine branch up to South East end Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.       

Don Valley Brick Yard

The Brick yard is park dedicated to the days when Ontario was shifting away from cleared wood structures to more permanent and fire resistant brick buildings. Since most of Southern Ontario has a sub layer of shale, the rivers once more supported industry by providing the water required in brick making (Mud Creek channel). The brick yard today has one of the original stacks and other buildings from that era together with a path that encircles the park. There are wildflower meadows, lily ponds, and the north wall remains of the quarry. The exit to the Belt line trail is running along the west side of the park.

Governor's Road - Moore Park Ravine

The path passes the Brick Yard entrance and continues past a steep field that's part of Chorley Park the site of the former lieutenant Governor. The path then curves north west and follows along the old rail bed of the Belt line railway and Mud Creek. The trail heads under the Governor's Rd. bridge, then under the rail way bridge. From there, it runs fairly straight until it heads uphill to Moore Ave. and Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

Mount Pleasant Cemetery

The entrance to Mt. Pleasant is a small walking path and through a trellace. It does not look at all like a bike trail entrance. Once inside the Cemetery, follow the path 'till it meets up with the road and cycle on road through the Cemetery The main cycle trail is painted blue and runs past the main buildings then under Mt. Pleasant Rd. It continues west then curves to the north west end of the park where it exits and crosses over Young St.

Yonge Street to Bathurst

The path crosses over Yonge St. and the subway lines and under the tall apartment buildings. It then continues on it's North west tract running beside neighborhoods, crossing several streets along the way and eventually under Eglinton Ave before curving west at Forest Hill Park and Arena to meet Bathurst St. The trail heads west to end at Allan Rd. It seems (I haven't tried yet) to join up with Cedervale Trail that runs south of - but parallel to the belt line and ends at Roycroft Park near Casa Loma. But that's another trail to explore.