Toronto East -
Martin Goodman/Waterfront Trail
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| Gear Rating: | 3
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Distance: | 10.5km
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Trail: | Paved cycle path, some on road cycle lanes. | ||
| Connections: | Toronto West, Toronto Islands, Leslie spit, Don River, Pickering and Rouge Hill | ||||||
This is one of the main Toronto trails and the description takes you from Harbourfront to the beaches.
Harbourfront - Yonge St
The
trail begins on Bay and Queens Quay and runs eastward amongst buses taxis and
tourist pedestrians on a reserved cycle lane and heads past Redpath Sugar, until
you reach the train tracks where you can ride the cycle path to continue
along to the end of street. There you'll curve southward beside lakeshore and
Gardner expressway. Cross over the first (Keating) bridge then switch over to
the other side of the road and continue to the second bridge. Cross over
the bridge and continue along the path to the foot of the Cherry street where
the path curves east through the Clarke Beach Park.
Just after the first bridge, you can also short cut across to Leslie St via Commissioners St. and bypass Clarke Beach and the spit.
Connections: Don River, Lakeshore Carlaw-Clarke Beach bypass
Clarke Beach Park
At
the foot of Cherry street, and where the path curves eastward there is a
refreshment stand on the west side of cherry street although I didn't stop and I
don't know when it is open. The cycle path goes along the back of the park
behind the parking lot and passes out the of park and winds back and forth,
beside the water rats sailing club and crosses regatta street, and continues
winding along until you come back up to the Unwin just before the bridge. The
bridge has a pedestrian walkway but is too narrow for a bike and the roadway is
one lane only. Stop and wait for car traffic and cross as a car would taking
turns with oncoming traffic. Continue along Unwin where it curves northward on
the reserved bike lane and turn east until you reach Leslie St.
Connections: Tommy Thompson Park-Leslie Street Spit
Leslie St Lakeshore Blvd
Cycle
north on Leslie St, past Commissioners, until you reach Lakeshore where the path
turns eastward and follows straight along the south side of Lakeshore
Blvd, past the water tower, until it crosses Ashbridge Bay. The trail then heads
south toward the lake following along the side of the bay until is curves and
crosses the park car entrance and cuts across through the park towards Kew
Beach.
Connections: At the intersection of Leslie St and Lakeshore Blvd., across Lakeshore is the connection back to the Don (and Queens Quay) at one end and Ashbridge's Bay Park at the other.
The Beaches
The
path cuts through Ashbridge's Bay Park and you join up with the beach at the bay
between Woodbine Beach and Kew Beach, cycle behind the beach and the boardwalk.
This is a very busy path shared by pedestrians as well as joggers, bikers and
roller bladers so be careful especially of the children darting across the path.
The path crosses between the swimming pool and the beach where there are
washrooms then curves back behind the beach until the next refreshment stand. It
curves once again behind the trees behind the boardwalk until you finally
reach it's end where it piddles up to the road behind another restaurant (and
bar). Here you can stop and rest on the boardwalk and watch the beach ball games
that are also all along the beach before heading back.
To Rouge Hill and beyond
From the end of the Beaches, you can head up to the road (where the path goes behind the restaurant and into a parking lot) and head north to Queen St. Head east on Queen to it's end and go north again up Fallingbrook to meet Kingston Rd. Continue East along Kingston Rd until it crosses Lawrence Ave. Go East along Lawrence Ave to it's end where it passes Rouge Hill GO and enters Rouge Park. This is a long, boring ride in heavy traffic.
You can cheat, and head west on Kingston Rd and pickup the Danforth GO train North on Main St. Bikes are allowed on the Train and have bike locations near each car door. You can't take the GO at rush hour, unless you are heading in the opposite direction and against the rush hour flow (Union Station is out in either direction during rush hours). There is no extra charge for bikes.
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 is copyright 2004,2005 |