Our Favourite Toronto Bike Paths for Families
Keep the car parked, oil up the gears, and get the family gliding outside on one (maybe even all?) of our favourite Toronto bike paths for families. Not quite there yet? Here’s how to teach a kid to ride a bike.
Toronto Bike Paths for Families:
Martin Goodman Trail
From the West to the East (with some interruptions), this is one of the longest Toronto bike paths, and provides bikers, walkers, runners, or even elliptical bikers (it’s the new thing) access to all ends of our city, allowing bike-safe access to High Park, the Beach, and all points in-between.
Toronto Bike Paths for Families:
Taylor Creek Trail
Bring the kids through Sunnybrook and ride onto Taylor Creek for a sunny, smooth ride. The new infrastructure additions to the area are great. Take advantage of the mostly paved 6km path (only 10% is gravel) that follows the Don River.
Family Bike Paths in Toronto:
Humber Bay Park East/West
Take a ride over Palace Pier bridge (that big white bridge you can see as you come into the city from the West) and follow the trail along as it connects you through to Humber Bay Parks, East and West. Great stopping points are the round wading pool where you’ll often see miniature motorized boat enthusiasts racing their rides and the impressive monument that recognizes the victims of the Air India disaster.
Image via tourbytransit.com
Toronto Bike Paths for Families:
Sunnybrook Park
The grounds beside Sunnybrook Hospital offers some of the best biking in the city for kids who like flat (and fast) terrain. Starting near the horse stables, head south along the park where it eventually connects you to the open fields (with a paved bike trail) that takes you along past the Ontario Science Centre and connects to Taylor Creek Park.
Toronto Bike Paths for Families:
Lower Humber River Loop (Etienne Brule/Magwood/Home Smith Parks)
Near the Old Mill in the Kingsway area lies a long, scenic trail with rushing waterways and parks along the way for the kids to stop and play. Either continue on along the Lambton Golf Course or cross over the bridge at Dundas and return on the far side of the river. (Note that kids in your crew will be biking along a quiet roadway, not a trail, after the crossover point.)
Image via urbantoronto.ca
Toronto Bike Paths for Families:
Moore Park Ravine/Brickworks
The Moore Ravine is meant mostly for kids who can handle some beautiful but bumpy trail terrain. Starting on Moore south of the cemetery, the trail runs past the Brickworks (a great place to stop and refuel) and loops all the way around to Mount Pleasant. For an even longer ride that ends in a steep uphill, cross Mount Pleasant and follow the trail up to David Balfour Park.
Image via torontobiketours.wordpress.com
Toronto Bike Paths for Families:
Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
Perhaps not what first comes to mind when thinking about family bike paths in Toronto, but this is a thoroughly lovely and serene bike route. Beware that road traffic is intermittent throughout, so bringing younger kids on trikes could be trying if you’re constantly watching out for, or yelling, ‘car!’
Toronto Bike Paths for Families:
Kay Gardner Beltline Trail
Running alongside the cemetery is the shaded, woody Beltline trail, taking bikers, runners, and walkers from Mt. Pleasant all the way to Allen Road. Note that the path isn’t paved except for a small section, but the ground is firm (if it has not rained) and great for slightly older kids who can handle a bit of uneven road.
Image via brownbeartravels.com
Toronto Bike Paths for Families:
Lower Don Trail
Pottery Road offers points on all sides for bike riding. To the north it heads to Sunnybrook and Taylor Creek, to the east, the Brickworks, and to the south, it takes you along a meandering, foliage filled (in the summer) route down to the Lakeshore, where you can then head east towards the Beach if you have kids who can handle a longer ride.
Toronto Bike Paths for Families:
Cherry Beach Clarke Beach Park
At the bottom of Cherry Street, just past Unwin Avenue, hop on the bike trail that leads you east for a while, past a sailing club and over a reinforced bridge. Note that to connect to Tommy Thompson Park, there is about a kilometre or so of road riding required.
Toronto Bike Paths for Families:
Finch Hydro Corridor Recreational Trail
Running north of Finch Avenue, between Dufferin and Yonge streets, is a newly constructed and improved trail that was added to the existing pathway that ran along the same route. This new, off-road asphalt pathway is seven kilometres in length and goes through G. Ross Lord Park.
Image via dandyhorsemagazine.com
Toronto Bike Paths for Families:
Tommy Thompson Park
Tommy Thompson Park, known as a ‘unique urban wilderness,’ is just a short distance from downtown. Open to the public on weekends only (so be sure to check the hours), the park—also known as the Leslie Street Spit—extends about five kilometres into Lake Ontario and is home to some of the largest wildlife and wildflower habitats in the city, so bring your camera.
Image via luvelobikes.wordpress.com
