Don North Trail (Wilket Creek)

Following northwest on the trail you will come to a junction which acts as a meeting place, a rest station or terminus to Sunnybrook Park, Wilket Creek or Edwards Gardens.  Wilket Creek park is surrounded by mature oak and maple trees, sloping trails and ravines.  The creek is surrounded by ferns and cattails. A peaceful and beautiful portion of the trail.

Another popular parks for meet ups and family picnics.  The Terry Fox run usually starts at Wilket Creek.  The park itself is accessible from Leslie Street north of Eglinton Avenue.  This portion of parkland will eventually merge into the famous Edwards Gardens.  

Don North Trail (E.T. Seton Park)

Travelling further northwest on the trail and you will ride into E.T. Seton Park. A park which was obtained by the City of Toronto in honour of E.T. Seton in the 1960’s.  Originally it was to be the future site of the Metro Toronto Zoo, but now the established parkland abuts the Ontario Science Centre.  Spacious and abundant with parkland and trees, it is a good site for fundraisers, picnics, BBQ, and the new Lung Cancer Canada Grove.  Kind of a weird name but there is a portion of the park that contains a unique grove of trees.  The ‘healing circle’ is a path leading to the heart of the Grove which is a circle of 8 large limestones, with trees surrounding it. If you purchase a tree, the tree will be transplanted and a bench with a plaque will have your name on it.  The cost of the tree is $1,000. a piece.  


Oh, by the way, there's also plenty of parking if you choose to bring your vehicle to the park!

Don North Trail (Flemington Park)

Don North to Flemingdon Park

Flemingdon Park (the West Don)

There is a terminus, which I mentioned earlier in the blog ("Don River Trail") which indicates that you can either go to Taylor/Massey Creek park, follow the Don River downtown or cross the bridge to Charles Sauriol Conservation Reserve which ends up at Edwards Garden (north). This is a long trek, but a really nice ride going north.  The entire trip is a slight incline but barely noticeable.  


Entering the Conservation area, there is a bridge which overlooks the DVP to the east.  Up and over and down into Flemingdon Park travelling westbound. The land historically was owned by Robert Fleming and sold as public land after his death in 1925.  A multicultural area, post second war highrises developed in 1961 turning into public housing and low income section of Toronto.  The reputation has improved since the new millennium, and since 2000, the addition of new middle upper class homes and developments have increased property values.


History out of the way, just enjoy the pics for now! The goal is Edwards Gardens, so I decided to break up the journey into park parts :)

Crothers' Woods

An awesome find, a relatively untouched area of the Don Valley since 1793, but the area has had it's share of history.  If you're interested you can link up the history section on wikipedia at Crothers' Woods.  

The wooded area is a welcome cool down especially after a heated ride through the valley under the hot sun.  It's much like a trip up north once you enter into the mountain biking terrain.  Lots of maple and oaks around.  I am not an agile enough athlete to handle the bike  through the woods, but working on it.  Prefer the smoother trails by far, but sometimes you run into rough territory to get to the good stuff.  

Here's some pics of some of the surroundings.  I really need a better camera, especially for the film footage.  Summers winding down and perfect timing too as the trails have pretty much been all but covered soon.

Waterfront Trail (Queens Quay access)

Shipped docked at HTO Park

There is a route terminus located at Lakeshore Blvd and the Don Roadway.  Looming overhead is the Don Valley Parkway where it splits off into the Gardiner Expressway.  Heading westbound along Lakeshore (Waterfront Trail West) you will pass Sherbourne Common and the HTO Park.  The HTO park is like an urban beach.  I have never seen it before but heard quite a lot about it.  It opened in 2007 and its located right at the Harbourfront 

HTO Park

Sherbourne Common

Lakeshore and Don Roadway

Centre, on Lake Ontario.  Although it was quite busy, I found it looked a little awkward seeing people sit on beach sand that was obviously scattered over clean cement.  It was very surreal.  Almost like a perfect world made with artificially enhanced green grass and bright yellow umbrellas. It looked much like 'SIMCity", but with real people.  Back on the trail westbound on Queens Quay.  This portion of the path is on-road, so youre sharing with buses, cabs and other cyclists.  The sidewalks are extra wide, but not only is it against the law, but you may find this area of TO a little to busy to manoeuvre around, especially during the summer months, when there is so much happening by the water.  I suggest you stop here and take a look around, take the ferry boat across the water to the Islands or a cool one at many of the outdoor patios along Queens Quay.

CNE / Ontario Place

Pavillion/Rowing Club/tennis/swimming

Continue west of Queens Quay past Spadina Avenue and Bathurst Street and the trail picks up again after the the HMCS York (Canadian Forces naval Reserve) building and curves into Coronation Park and the Yacht Club.  Up next is the gates of the Exhibition Place (CNE) and Fort York.  This will bring you directly through the docks and Ontario Place.  While continuing on the 'Waterfront Trail" on Lakesore past the Argonaut Rowing Club and the Boulevard Club, you'll seeing some tennis courts, and swimming pools.  Continue westbound to Sunnyside Park.  This is a gorgeous spot for picnics, swimming and inline skating.  Once through the park, the trail curves to the Humber River Bridge.  The Humber River Bridge is right next to the Palace Pier.  This is when the trail becomes tricky.  At the western point of the bridge there is a path that leads down onto the Humber trail (see "Humber Trail" Path).

Back on Humber Trail

Humber River Bridge