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Professor's Lake Trail

The description of the Professor's Lake trail begins in the south at the Victoria Park Arena and ends near Bovaird Drive at Professor's Lake. Unlike the Etobicoke trail, the professor's Lake trail is very much a neighborhood trail. The trail has too many street crossings to be considered a main bike trail, but if you live nearby or want to take the family out for a ride, this trail - with it's reward of the Professor's Lake's beach and multiuse trail or the activities at Chinguacousy Park -- may just be right for you.

Victoria Park Arena

At the Victoria Park Arena, both the Chinguacousy trail and the Professor's Lake trail begin within a few yards of each other in the arena parking lot. I took the Professor's Lake and exited the arena and through the parking lot then headed west on road on Avondale Blvd. until it came up to the corner of Bramalea. Avondale becomes Dearbourne at Bramalea. Cross over Bramalea at the intersection, then cross again to the north east corner of Bramalea where the path heads north running along side Bramalea.

The path continues north until it comes up to the townhouses where just before the houses it heads east through the northern part of Durham Park to cross Doncaster, and enter Dorset Park where the trail curves and runs between the houses a short distance to cross at the corner of Dorchester and Doncaster.

The trail through Dorset park is old bumpy and breaking away, so ride carefully. Cross at the corner of Dorchester and Doncaster and pick up the path where it enters Dunblain Park. The path again runs between the backyards of houses a short distance where it comes up to Balmoral Drive.

Earnscliffe Recreation Center

Cross over Balmoral where the path continues on road down Eringate Rd (one block) to Epsom Downs Dr. Turn east on Epsom where you'll see the path at the foot of Epsom entering Earnscliffe Park and Recreation center. Follow the path as it head to then west around and behind the Baseball diamonds. It then heads behind the portable classrooms of Earnscliffe Senior and runs beside Mimico Creek (the pedestrian bridges just branch into surrounding neighborhoods). Follow along the trail beside the creek where it crosses over Clark Blvd to run along the sidewalk a short distance east to enter Fallingdale Park.

At Fallingdale, the path is newly paved and widened. North of Clark, portions of the path are undergoing much needed upgrade. Cycle north through Fallingdale where it crosses over from the east to the west side of the park and exits just beside a fast food restaurant at the corner of Queen and Bramalea.

Queen St

Walk the bike across Queen but before heading east (right) on Queen, take a side trip into Chinguacousy Park .Cross Bramalea instead to the north west corner where there is a trail entrance in then up into the recreational Park. I didn't explore too much, but from the south end of the park the Chinguacousy bike trail heads north past the track and field and by the winter ski lift. Across the fields you'll also see the bright red barn of the animal farm. A lot to do in this park!

Back to the Professor's Lake trail though, head eastward on the north sidewalk of Queen where the trail runs back of the concrete sound barriers. This section was under construction, and I was wondering if a separate bike was going to be here instead of riding on the sidewalk. A short distance along Queen you'll cross Glenvale Blvd and continue east on sidewalk. The bike trail picks up again where there is a break in the barriers to head further north.

The path heads north a short run where it crosses Greenmount and continues on the other side of the street. It continues past the children's playground and past the school portables to cross Central Park Drive.

The trail enters the Arena parking lot and starts up again at the north west corner to enter Greenbriar Park. Head north across the park where it runs between the houses and up to Greenbriar Rd. Over Greenbriar the path continues north a short distance where it meets up with Williams Parkway. The parkway is a multilane boulevard so instead of crossing here, you cycle along the bike path beside the sidewalk eastward to the nearest lights at Torbram. Cross Williams Pkwy here at Torbram and head back west the way you came now along the north sidewalk.

About the same distance back along Williams Pkwy, the trail continues at Jayfield Park where it curves away from the sidewalk and heads north running close to back yards of neihgbouring houses. Cross Jayfield past the playground and Cross Jordan Blvd to enter Jefferson Park where the trail eventually meets up with North Park Drive.

Cycle eastward along North Park running along side the sidewalk about a half a block where the trail crosses North Park and continues eastward on the north sidewalk path. Here the sidewalk trail crosses three streets before before coming to the entrance to Professor's Lake recreation center.

Professor's Lake

Enter the parking lot and cycle to the up to the recreation center at the south end of the lake. Here the path heads east and west, but does not completely encircle the lake. stop for a rest, enter the recreation center and grab a hotdog or use the facilities before heading back.

Professor's Lake was created from an old Quary in 1983. Hans Abromeit bought the Quary in 1973 and Hans, with a Doctorate Degree was sometimes call 'The Professor'. It was spring fed and 42 feet at its deepest point. Click the Quary picture on the left to see a large (2.5 MB) version.

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Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Trail descriptions are provided as public information only. The author assumes no responsibility for damages or injuries that may occur to person or property as a result of biking or otherwise using the trails described herein. The author also assumes no responsibility for any damages or injuries to person or property caused by any person biking or otherwise using the trails described herein. Ride at your own risk. Pictures and web site copyright 2004,2005