10 Unique Fall Walks in Parks in Toronto with Stunning Views

Explore the city and discover exemplary fall leaf viewing in these Toronto parks and green spaces.

Toronto in the fall serves up just-perfect walking temperatures, and the city’s extensive park network and tree canopy make it a top-notch destination to take in vibrant autumn foliage. 

These 10 unique fall walks will let you experience the natural wonder of strolling, wheeling or hiking trails and parks in Toronto.

High Park

There’s an epic fall leaf walk for every ability at High Park (as well as kid-pleasing playgrounds and a small zoo featuring bison and capybara). Paved with sidewalks through the main arteries, if elevation gains are a concern—it’s steep in some parts—try weekdays when you can park in lots scattered along different paths (the park is closed to vehicles on weekends and holidays).

Plenty of narrow footpaths wind through forested areas for a hiking-in-the-woods vibe, and there’s also a sedate walk along the Indigenous historic trail on the eastern side of Grenadier Pond. (High Park lies just southeast of the circa-1600s Haudenosaunee village of Teiaiagon, and First Nations people have inhabited the High Park area as early as 7,000 BC.)

Bluffer’s Park

Tranquil views of Lake Ontario and the spires of the tall Scarborough Bluffs (the geographical term for a rounded cliff) are the rewards for walking this easy loop. The surface is paved and flat with an adjacent public parking lot, making it accessible for wheelchairs and scooters. 

Right next to it is a sandy beach, plenty of picnic tables scattered around the park, and accessible lookouts to get an even better view of the waves and Ice Age cliffs.

Also see: Scarborough Bluffs: Pick the Best Park for Your Interests
 

Guild Park

From its elevated position at the top of Scarborough Bluffs, 88-acre Guild Park offers not only a dazzling cliff-top view of the lake but also Pride & Prejudice vibes courtesy of its sweeping manicured lawns and marble elements in the form of over 70 historic architectural facades, salvage and classical statues. 

The park proper is primarily grassy and partially paved, relatively flat and dotted with benches. It also forks into forested nature trails that draw both birders and photographers.

Prefer a winter adventure in Guild Park? Go on a photo safari to take in the artful history of this Scarborough park that is rich in relics and views.
 

Rouge National Urban Park

Canada’s only urban national park, this rugged east-end gem is crisscrossed by trails (including some historically used by Indigenous Peoples). When peak fall colours hit, you’re guaranteed a blazing show. 

For a short wetland jaunt, try Rouge Park’s 500 m (1640 ft) Rouge Marsh Trail, which features a flat boardwalk and accommodates wheelchairs. For a medium-length walk, try Reesor Way/Tanglewood Trail, a 3.3 km loop featuring mature forests and river views. 

Or go long on the 7.6 km Monarch Trail that includes a rare cedar savannah and a restored stand of white pines. Trails surfaces and elevations are detailed on the park’s accessibility page.

Philosopher’s Walk

Just off of bustling Bloor Street West, you can amble down this leafy, paverstone pedestrian path tucked between the Royal Ontario Museum and University of Toronto campus. 

Located in what was once a ravine for Taddle Creek (a waterway since buried underground), it’s a little steep in parts but lovely in its quiet splendour of autumn leaves. Architecture buffs will enjoy the mix of Brutalist buildings mixed with Romanesque and Gothic Revival architecture that the U of T campus is known for.
 

Tommy Thompson Park

Also known as Leslie Street Spit, this top spot for birdwatching has over 300 species on record. (Toronto is along a major migratory flight path.) Tommy Thompson is a flat, car-free zone jutting into Lake Ontario, with a paved surface and 5 km of trails. 

Open on weekends, holidays and weekday evenings after 6 p.m., visitors can rent quadcycles (bikes with benches and four wheels, only one rider has to pedal), as well as fishing rods and tackle.

Toronto Islands

Once collectively known as Aiionwatha or Hiawatha’s Islands, Toronto Islands are traditionally a place for healing and ceremony, having spiritual significance for the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. 

Even today, you can feel your shoulders relax as soon as the public ferry docks at this car-free, tree-dotted park with sandy beaches, a petting zoo and a hidden 1.5 km boardwalk. 

There are sidewalks throughout, and it’s flat except for a few pedestrian bridges. Wheelchairs are available for loan at Centre Island's First Aid/Lost Children building near the ferry dock.
 

Cedarvale Ravine and Park

Hop off at St. Clair West subway station’s Heath Street exit and walk past the outdoor fitness equipment to the trailhead of Cedarvale Ravine. You’ll be rewarded with a quiet 2 km nature walk that winds through a marshland, surrounded by birdsong and mature trees with splendid blazing fall colours. 

It’s steep at the entrance, so for a flat, accessibility-friendly walk, head to the north end of Cedarvale Park instead, which features an asphalted footpath and even more stunning treetop views.