Trek through ravines and nature right in midtown.
Toronto can seem like a concrete jungle, but is home to one of the largest ravine systems in the world, carved out by glaciers that retreated more than 12,000 years ago. There are some great trails within the city if you’re looking for easy hikes and an escape from the traffic. This midtown hike—which is easily accessible by public transit—goes through sections of the Central and Don Valley ravines that make up a few of the city’s Discovery Tours.
Overview
A mix of paved and gravel trails through a forest ecosystem and the city’s ravines, this is an easy hike with a few gentle hills that many locals use to walk their dogs. You’ll be alongside Yellow Creek for part of the hike, surrounded by maple and oak trees and up above, you can spot homes backing onto the ravine.
Distance: 3.5 kilometres (less than an hour at a leisurely pace) from David Balfour Park to The Evergreen Brickworks. You can also do it as a loop for a longer hike, or extend your hike on the Evergreen Brickworks trail system.
Where to start: The hike begins in David Balfour Park, just west of Yonge and St. Clair. From St. Clair Station, walk about 250 metres west to Avoca Ave. Go south on Avoca Ave. (look for Discovery Walk signs) to the entrance to David Balfour Park. (You can also do the walk as a there-and-back, starting at Evergreen Brickworks, where you can park — and charge your EV, if necessary, using one of the three charging stations there).
Where to finish: If you’re ending your walk at Evergreen Brickworks, you can take the free Evergreen Shuttle Bus, which runs every 30-45 minutes, seven days a week, to Broadview Station. Alternatively, you can walk to a few subway stations or catch a TTC bus.
What to Expect
- David Balfour Park to Mount Pleasant Rd.
This densely wooded start to the hike alongside Yellow Creek makes it easy to forget you’re in midtown Toronto.
From Avoca Ave, enter the park and you’ll be on the David Balfour Park Trail. Although the trail is paved at first, it is mostly gravel and offers some shaded areas with the urban forest on either side of you. In about 500 metres, you’ll come to a short wooden bridge on your left – cross this small footbridge that goes over Yellow Creek and as you continue on the trail, you’ll walk under some elevated CP train tracks. The creek goes underground this point and you’ll walk on a trail that leads to Mount Pleasant Rd., and goes by a mowed area with a few trees on it. This is also where you’ll find the first set of waste and recycle bins of this hike. - Park Drive Reservation Lands
Enjoy a more open space and a wider trail in this middle section of your hike — which is often more crowded compared to David Balfour Park.
Cross Mount Pleasant Rd. and join the Park Drive Reservation Trail, where you’ll discover Yellow Creek continues alongside the gravel trail; eventually you’ll cross under Glen Rd. (check out the graffiti on this bridge’s underpass). Once you reach the end of the creek, at the fork in the road stick to the left — follow the sign that says Moore Park Ravine (use the waste and recycling bins at the fork in the road here if you’ve got anything to dispose of). Walk uphill — this is where you’ll hook into the Beltline Trail — and continue alongside Bayview Ave. - Beltline Trail to Evergreen Brick Works
For this last section of the hike, though you’re walking beside some forest, you’re also following Bayview Ave., for a reminder that you’re in Canada’s largest city.
As you continue on the Beltline Trail, on your left you’ll spot a power station; here you can go left on the Beltline Trail or right on the side trail — both lead to Evergreen Brick Works. Take the Beltline Trail if you want to distance yourself from the traffic of Bayview Ave.; take the side trail on the right if you want to reach the Brick Works’ off-leash dog park first. With the Beltline Trail, you’ll soon reach a set of metal stairs that will take you down into Evergreen Brick Works.
Fun things to do at the Brick Works
At Evergreen Brick Works, if you’ve got your dog with you, check out the Don Valley Brick Works Dog Park, which you’ll find by the West Parking Lot. Got kids with you? Evergreen Brickworks has a Children’s Garden, which offers free, year-round, supervised Weekend Nature Play every Saturday and select Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you’re feeling peckish, stop into Picnic Cafe for coffee and baked goods (try the blueberry scone) in Building 14, which is also where you’ll find public restrooms.
What to bring
As with any hike, wear sunscreen and bring water and snacks, along with your wallet so you can make purchases at Evergreen Brick Works. Wear proper hiking footwear as after a rainfall, the conditions can get muddy.
Note: There are signs on this walk that indicate coyotes have been seen in the area so be wary of your surroundings especially if you’ve got your dog with you.
