Sunday, April 12, 2026

Best Parks in Toronto

High Park

At 161 hectares, High Park is the big one. It has hiking trails, a free zoo, a dog off-leash area, playgrounds, a lakefront stretch, and the cherry blossoms that take over every Instagram feed each spring. The park remains interesting throughout the seasons, but summer is when it fills up with picnics, casual sports, and people who clearly called in sick to work on a Wednesday.

Two-thirds of the park is kept in a natural state, so you can walk for a surprisingly long time before you remember you're in a city. The off-leash dog area is large and well-used. If you're here during cherry blossom season (usually late April to early May), arrive early or be prepared to be in someone's photo.

Getting there: High Park station, Line 2.

Tommy Thompson Park

This is 500 hectares of man-made wilderness stretching 5 km into Lake Ontario on the Leslie Street Spit. Over 300 bird species have been recorded here, and the skyline views from the trail are some of the best in the city. The catch: it's only open on weekends and holidays, no dogs are allowed.

Most of the trail is paved, and the full perimeter loop is roughly 11 km. Cyclists and runners share the path comfortably. Free parking at the entrance.

Getting there: Line 2 to Donlands Station, then the 83 Jones bus south to Leslie and Commissioners. Walk about 10 minutes south to the entrance.

Riverdale Park East

If you want the downtown skyline view without paying downtown prices for a drink, this is where you go. The hill at Riverdale Park East gives you a wide, unobstructed look at the CN Tower and the city core, and it's one of the better sunset spots in Toronto.

In winter, that same hill becomes a solid tobogganing run. There's also an outdoor rink, a pool at the north end (open in summer), and sports fields. It's 18 hectares and rarely feels overcrowded, even on weekends.

Getting there: Broadview Station, Line 2. Short walk south.

Withrow Park

Withrow is the Riverdale neighbourhood's park. At 8.5 hectares, it fits a playground for kids, a supervised splash pad (summer only), two tennis courts, a ball diamond, a volleyball court, a dog off-leash area, and a wading pool. On Saturdays in summer, the Withrow Farmers' Market sets up here.

In winter, there's an outdoor rink and a small toboggan hill that younger kids seem to love. The whole park sits a short walk from the Danforth, so food options are right there when you're done.

Getting there: Chester station, Line 2. Walk south.

Grange Park

Grange Park is small at 1.8 hectares, but it punches above its weight. Sitting directly behind the Art Gallery of Ontario, it has a newer playground with multiple climbing areas, a splash pad, and a large open lawn. If you're downtown with kids on a hot day, this is a reliable stop.

It does get busy with teenagers in the afternoons, and parking is typical downtown misery. But the washrooms are clean, the splash pad is good, and Queen Street West is right there for anything else you need.

Getting there: St. Patrick station, Line 1. Walk west.

Etienne Brulé Park

This one runs along the Humber River near Old Mill and feels like it shouldn't exist this close to the city. The trail follows the riverbank north toward Baby Point, with benches scattered along the water. In the fall, you can watch salmon migrating upstream, which remains one of the stranger and more impressive things you can see without leaving Toronto.

The park also has a ball diamond, picnic spots, and fire pits. Summer evenings here are genuinely good, the kind of place where people end up staying longer than they planned.

Getting there: Old Mill Station, Line 2. Walk south toward the river.

Dovercourt Park

Dovercourt is a solid neighbourhood park near Dupont and Dufferin. It has a lit ball diamond, two tennis courts, a wading pool, two playgrounds (separated by age group), and street parking around the perimeter. The Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club sits at the northeast corner.

It's not flashy, but it works. On a summer weekend afternoon, you'll find softball games, families spread out on the grass, and the tennis courts in steady rotation. Sometimes the simple parks are the ones you end up at the most.

Getting there: Dufferin Station, Line 2, then the 29 Dufferin bus north. Or walk from Ossington Station.