Discover the best parks in Toronto for every activity

With almost three million inhabitants, Toronto can seem more like a concrete jungle than an outdoorsy paradise. Luckily, the city is home to plenty of parks in Toronto downtown and across the city, offering green spaces for relaxation. Toronto’s extensive park system includes over 1,500 parks, with options for everyone—from sprawling natural areas to cozy small neighbourhood parks.

The parks in Toronto feature a variety of facilities like baseball diamonds, tennis courts and bike trails, which are ideal for outdoor recreational activities. Whether you’re looking for Toronto dog parks, picnic spots, or places for outdoor sports, there’s something for everyone. Here are some of my favourite parks in Toronto that make you forget you’re in Canada’s largest city.

Edwards Gardens

During high school, I was a frequent visitor to Edward Gardens. I came here during summer and winter to take pictures for my photography class. With bridges, water features, gardens and flower beds, Edwards Gardens is a pretty spot for photography and outdoor lovers alike. It’s a perfect place to visit all year round.

Located next to the Toronto Botanical Garden, this beautiful space offers garden tours, nature day camps, field trips, and an extensive horticultural library. The organization provides programs, garden tours, nature day camps, field trips and an extensive horticultural library. The park entrance is clearly marked on Leslie Street. Keep in mind that there are some restrictions when entering the park. Pets are not allowed, and neither are bicycles, so keep your four-legged friends at home.

Don Valley Brick Works Park

The Don Valley Brick Works Park is probably one of my favourite parks in Toronto that we visit the most. The park gets its name from a quarry that produced many of the bricks that built Toronto after the fire of 1904. The quarry operated from 1889 to 1989 and has been transformed into a model for urban ecosystem planning.

With extensive adaptive management of the land, wetland re-establishment and re-naturalization, this is one of Toronto’s environmentally significant parks. Here, you can enjoy numerous trails, natural parkland and a pond that makes you feel like you have left the city.

The park surrounds what is today known as the Evergreen Brick Works – a hub for sustainable practices and community space. In 2010, Evergreen, a non-profit organization with a mission to create flourishing cities, transformed deteriorating buildings into a global showcase for green design. Today, the former quarry is open to the public, with special events throughout the year, such as farmers’ markets and outdoor learning.

High Park

As a popular destination for cherry blossom lovers, High Park is one of the largest parks in Toronto, with 161 hectares (400 acres). The park is also home to a wide range of fauna and flora. Here, you’ll find rare plants, greenhouses, picnic areas, and even a small zoo, making it ideal for various recreational activities.

Before High Park became a public park, the land belonged to John George Howard. Howard, a British-born architect, taught at the Upper Canada College before becoming the city’s official surveyor and civil engineer. The park opened to the public in 1876 after Howard donated the land for public use. Today, you can check out the Howard House near the zoo, where he lived with his wife.

High Park features public tennis courts, three baseball diamonds, volleyball courts, and an off-leash dog area for your furry friends. You can enjoy the swimming pool, bike trails and paths in summer or simply relax at one of the many picnic spots. It’s a perfect destination for outdoor lovers all year round.

Humber Bay Park East

Humber Bay Park is a gem among parks in Toronto, offering spectacular lakefront views and wildlife observation. Situated near downtown Toronto, this park includes picnic shelters, bike trails and beautiful gardens. It’s also home to a peaceful off-leash dog area, perfect for letting your pet run free while enjoying views of Lake Ontario.

Port Union Waterfront Park

Stretching along Lake Ontario, Port Union Waterfront Park features a continuous (3.8 km/2.4 miles) waterfront trail. The park lies between Highland Creek and the Rouge River and has incredible lake views, which are ideal for leisurely walks or cycling. From here, you can access the bridge over the Rouge River that connects to the City of Pickering.

This is among the best parks Toronto offers for those seeking quiet walks, cycling, or simply enjoying stunning views of Lake Ontario. There’s plenty of space for recreational activities like running or bird watching. I used to live nearby and had the opportunity to see the park develop over the years. Today, it provides recreational access to the waterfront while protecting the shoreline and supporting important terrestrial and aquatic habitats.

Riverdale Park East

Riverdale Park East is one of the best parks in Toronto for enjoying spectacular views of the city skyline, especially at sunset. Located on Broadview Avenue, this spacious park offers an artificial ice rink in winter and sports facilities like baseball diamonds and tennis courts. It’s also famous for its popular tobogganing hill—perfect for a snowy day in Toronto.

This park also features an off-leash dog area, making it one of the favourite dog parks Toronto locals frequent. Riverdale Park East’s natural state and sloped hills offer a relaxing escape from city noise. It’s easily accessible by transit and listed clearly on Google Maps.

Rouge National Urban Park

Rouge National Urban Park was designated Canada’s first National Urban Park in 2015. This slice of outdoor lovers’ paradise is a mix of wetlands, bluffs, forests and meadows. It is also home to the Carolinian forest ecosystem with hundreds of birds, mammals, reptiles and plants. The Rouge National Urban Park is rich in biodiversity and home to Canada’s oldest known Indigenous sites.

The park overlaps Toronto and the neighbouring cities of Markham and Pickering. It is 16 times larger than Vancouver’s Stanley Park, 19 times bigger than New York’s Central Park and 41 times larger than Toronto’s High Park. It stretches from Lake Ontario in the south to the post-glacial Oak Ridges Moraine in the north.

Whether you’re into canoeing, hiking, biking or want to walk around and enjoy nature, this is the place for you. With extensive trails, scenic viewpoints and historical sites, the Rouge National Urban Park will make you feel like you’re far away from the city. There is also a handy app that makes exploring this park a breeze.

Scarborough Bluffs Park

Scarborough Bluffs Park is the most unique of all the parks in Toronto. The jagged cliffs overlooking picturesque water are a product of the Great Ice Age. They were formed by the accumulation of sedimentary and wind and water erosion from Lake Ontario. In the layers of sand and clay hide the fossils of plants and animals dating to 70,000 years ago. 

Today, the bluffs stretch about 15km (9 miles) along Lake Ontario. Several parks are part of the bluff, and I recommend going to Buffer’s Park first. The large parking lot and washroom facilities make it a great place to start exploring. This is also the only park with access to the beach.

Scarborough Bluffs Park is popular for visitors looking for greenery and outdoor fun. Here, you can explore the waterfront, dip in the water and admire the stunning views of the cliffs that rise 65 metres (213 feet) above the water. There are also picnic areas, a boat launch and a marina.

Tommy Thompson Park (Leslie Street Spit)

Tommy Thompson Park, also called Leslie Street Spit, is one of the best natural parks in Toronto. It’s a haven for nature enthusiasts and home to over 400 species of plants and wildlife. It’s on an artificial peninsula stretching 5 km (3 miles) into Lake Ontario.

This park is particularly great for spotting wildlife, offering trails that lead to scenic viewpoints of the city skyline. It’s also ideal for birdwatching and enjoying a peaceful escape from city life. It’s also an excellent place for hiking, cycling, rollerblading and fishing. The park is a popular spot for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. It is also a fantastic spot for amazing views of the Toronto skyline.

Toronto Island Park

Unlike other Toronto parks,  Toronto Island Park (also known as the Toronto Islands) is a group of 15 interconnected islands. You can travel between the islands using numerous pathways and bridges.

The islands offer plenty of options for everyone. It’s a great place to explore on foot or by bike. With bike, kayak and boat rentals, gardens, playgrounds, amusement parks, and a lighthouse, the islands are a great escape from the city. There are also several beaches to choose from, including the clothing-optional beach on Hanlan’s Point.

Centreville Amusement Park, located on Centre Island, is perfect for families. Enjoy rides, attractions, picnic shelters, and various events throughout the season. To get to the Toronto Islands, you can take a ferry from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal at the foot of Bay Street and Queen’s Quay. The ferries run to Centre Island, Hanlan’s Point and Ward’s Island. For tickets and ferry schedules, check out the official site.

Wilket Creek Park

The Wilket Creek Park is a wilderness valley with undisturbed woodlands that are home to many uncommon bird species and rare plants. With pedestrian and bicycle trails, it’s a great place for outdoor lovers. Here, you’ll find mature coniferous and deciduous forests nestled between the ravines and creeks.

Over the years, the park has undergone several rehabilitation undertakings, including wildflower plantings and natural regeneration projects. With about 4 km (about 2.5 miles) in size, Wilket Creek Park is smaller than the other Toronto parks mentioned here. However, it does feel like you are away from the city and offers a quick escape from the hustle and bustle surrounding it. The main entrance to the park is on Leslie Street, just north of Eglington Avenue East. You can also access the park from Edwards Gardens or Sunnybrook Park.

Final thoughts on best parks in Toronto

With over 1,500 parks in Toronto, you’ll find a wide range of recreational options. Whether you’re seeking a peaceful green space, the best Toronto dog parks, or parks with sports facilities like tennis courts and baseball diamonds, there’s something for everyone. When you visit any of the parks in Toronto, you can enjoy cherry blossoms, rivers, creeks and fall foliage while you unwind and take a breather.

The city’s park system has everything from historic High Park to the peaceful Riverdale Park East. Many parks in Toronto also host various events and markets throughout the summer, adding to Toronto’s vibrant community feel. So, pack your picnic basket, leash up your dog, or hop on your bike and explore the best parks Toronto has to offer.