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Leslie Street Spit Trail
- Hours:
Sat-Sun 9 am - 4:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
18 reviews for Leslie Street Spit Trail
18 reviews in English
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Review from Q H.
North York, ON
11/29/2011
I am pretty sure this park will be great for roller blading, riding bikes, jogging, etc. But no. I only go to this park at night. Well after midnight. With my best friend or my close friends. We walk towards the end of the park. We would dare someone to scream. We would hide in the bush to scare others (my friends who were behind). We would have fun that is not strictly legal. We would talk. Pleasant honest talk. Things about us, our past and life. Sometimes I just go alone to take a walk, to think, to remember. With my trusty iPod and nightvision goggle.
It is eerily calm but you will get used to it. There is some kind of what looks like abandoned trailer/brick house at a junction. It's fun to peak inside. And it's always refreshing to look out the shore to the distant night sky filled with stars.
Haven't been there during snowstorm though. WIll be doing that this winter for sure!
As an added bonus, there is an abandoned factory near the park. There is a fence around it though. But if you like thrills in life, you know what you have to do. -
Review from Thom H.
1/1/2012
I think this would be a great place for some sort of alternative housing, like maybe a car-free, zero emissions co-op or something along that lines. As a park, I actually think it's a complete failure. If you take a canoe to TTP from Cherry Beach, you will not believe the deforestation that cormorants have accomplished. Acres of denuded forest look like something out of a post-apocalyptic video game. It's an eco nightmare that you don't see from the paths.
Even on the paths, you can't help but notice that this is a peninsula made of garbage. Veer off the path by only a few feet and you'll find you are tripping over rebar and tossed kitchen sinks. In the water, things aren't much better. Sure, the years of dumping has created lots of new fish habitat, but the fish that likes it best is the invasive carp.
As a place to cycle, I appreciate the long, uninterrupted path. However, both politically and practically, I really think it sucks. Since it starts at the foot of nowhere and ultimately leads back to where it started, it's not as useful as a similar path might be that follows hydro corridors or train track routes that could also be used for commuting. But this is exactly the place that Rob Ford wants you to cycle - out of way, while accomplishing nothing else but cycling itself, and on his used road garbage heap.
I'm all for conservation and green spaces. I don't think this park qualifies as either. -
Review from Cheri d.
I got on a bike for the first time in 8 or 9 years! (Yay me)
Needless to say i was a bit nervous to be biking down crazy Toronto streets right away, and I'd always wanted to explore the Leslie Street Spit. Off i went on my borrowed foldable bike! It was FANTASTIC! Such a nice wide road with a few fellow bicyclists, a few pedestrians, and very few cars (just 2 if a recall, maybe going to the marina). I could ride and ride at my own pace and enjoy the scenery. Honestly, everybody should come here!
You you live in the Beaches area, it's easy to get here on your bike along the Lakeshore bike trail. If you don't live in the area and have to drive down, there is street parking along the southern most bit of Leslie St.
p.s. no pets! -
Review from Steph L.
6/16/2011 3 photos
One of Toronto's best kept green secrets!
It's hard to believe that you are still in Toronto once you're in Tommy Thompson Park. Fresh air and a fantastic view of the city!
This man-made peninsula is a strange combination of a conservation area and dumping site for rubble.
The trail is great for hikers, cyclists, and runners. It's an easy 5k walk on flat land, perfect for beginners.
TTP is also a great place for bird watching!
Tern, swallows, blackbirds, pesty seagulls, ...
There are a lot of birds that are monitored by the park.
The concrete and rubble sculptures are actually really neat.
Stacks of blocks form sculptures that can be found throughout the trail.
I love TTP for a city break that is still close to the core!
Note: The park has loads of black flies in spring/beginning of summer.
When I say loads, I mean bugs all up in your hair, all over your clothes...everywhere! -
Review from Aviva S.
6/12/2011
Awesome trail. So nice to get away from the city and to enjoy fresh air and views of trees and lake ontario.
Need to mention
- Don't misunderstand like I did that there is an actual park in the middle of the trail. The entire park is Tommy Thompson Park
- Great for bikes, sometimes rough for rollerblading. Great way to get in shape :)
- Check out the only operational lighthouse in Toronto (or Ontario, I forget).
-The shuttle "bus" sucks. Don't waste your time waiting for it. It's a small van that barely fits an entire family. It doesn't run every 15 minutes as the official website claims. More like every 30 with two long breaks in the day.
Lastly, please be careful of the wildlife. Don't litter, touch the plants, and be careful when biking/walking of snakes. Be respectful.
Tiring long path but very rewarding and enjoyable. -
Review from Christine C.
Toronto, ON
11/8/2011
Love, love, love this Leslie Street Spit trail for cycling. In the summer, it feels like a PEI scenic vacation, without leaving the city! Pack a lunch and ride your 6k to the lighthouse. On the weekends, there are no cars so you can really enjoy the ride on the paved road. The last k to the lighthouse is loose gravel. You will see wild flowers, lots of big black birds (cormorants), skeletal trees that have been fossilized by the cormorant population, huge boulders, an old gas station, a steel bridge, and the city from a different perspective. This is one of the most fun ways to spend a summer day on a bicycle without really leaving the city. (This and perhaps going on the Ferry to the Toronto Islands.)
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Review from Teena D.
8/20/2010
Gord and I have been wanting to explore Tommy Thompson Park (aka Leslie Street Spit) ... a couple weeks ago we did.
We had tried in June but discovered when we got there that it's only open on weekends and holidays (we'd gone on a Tuesday).
The Leslie Street Spit is North America's most remarkable public urban wilderness. It is a 5-kilometre long peninsula, built by lakefilling, that juts into Lake Ontario close to downtown Toronto. Started 40 years ago, it was intended to be a breakwater for harbour expansion, which was not needed due to a decrease in lake shipping. Now, the Spit - as it is lovingly called by the people of Toronto - has been transformed by nature into an extraordinary wildlife reserve, where humans can find a car-free refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy a quiet time amid unmanicured vegetation.
We walked the loop, starting with the east trail and came back along the west trail.
There is an automated lighthouse at Vicki Keith Point, is one of three lighthouses in Toronto and the only active one in the city.
We had brought a picnic lunch (chicken, salads and wine) and had it sitting on a log by the water.
What a great afternoon!
We were there for over four hours and walked about 12.5km.
It's definitely a place I'll go back to. -
Review from Kat F.
What the deuce? How had I never been here before today, considering the proximity to my home? Mind-boggling. The Leslie Spit and Tommy Thompson Park are wonderfully hidden landmarks at the foot of (duh) Leslie Street just south of the Canadian Tire/Loblaws complex at Lakeshore. Get here easily by the Queen streetcar and then walk south...it's about 5km each way and perfect for cycling, running, leisurely walks or hangouts by the water. Come here for uncrowded views of the city - unlike Ashbridges or Centre Island you won't have to fight hordes of people here. There's a lovely community garden as well as an art project made entirely of copper pipes and bricks - slightly voodoo-esque but pretty nonetheless.
Beware the gnat swarms (http://www.youtube.com...).Listed in: The Best Outdoor Spaces in…
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Review from Jen K.
Toronto, ON
4/19/2010
Oh the blisters! After walking the entire length of the Leslie Street Spit (10k in total) in an old pair of flip flops one beautiful summer day, I wanted to trade in my worn, tired feet for a refurbished pair.
The blazing hot sun beat down on my forehead and for a moment, as I looked at Toronto's skyline in plain view before me, I felt an instant sense of tranquility. This is one of the most beautiful places from which to view the city.
The Leslie Street Spit was initially constructed by the Toronto Harbour Commissioners as a way to prevent a harbour expansion in the 1950s. It has been used as somewhat of a landfill site for the city and now operates as a popular visiting spot for Torontonians and tourists alike.
When you walk the spit, a peninsula that juts out toward the lake, you are surrounded by water on all sides and you can turn your back to face the city.
Whether you walk it, blade it or bike it, it will not disappoint. I promise.
What a wonderful refuge from the urban sprawl, just minutes away from Toronto's east end.
I can't wait for summer! -
Review from Jennifer M.
Toronto, ON
8/16/2010 2 Check-ins Here
This is one of my favorite places in Toronto.
Also known as Tommy Thompson Park. I cannot believe I lived in the city for so many years without knowing this place existed. My partner and I get on our bicycles and visit at least once a week. Whenever I have guests come from out of town, I suggest they bring their bicycles. you can walk/run it, but personally, I find it best to bike.
It is beautiful, and if you time it right very quiet. From the lighthouse, there is a terrific view. Sunset overlooking the city is not to be missed.
Lots of wildlife, friendly Torontonians and fresh air. -
Review from Mike S.
Toronto, ON
This path is stellar.
- There is a wide berth for many speeds of riders. There are a lot of pro cyclists around as well as overweight slow types, in-liners, and roller skiers.
- The whole distance of the spit is a good 3 or 4km but there's some semblance of a circuit so it's easy to rack up some distance here after a couple of laps.
- The road quality has improved greatly in 2010. Newly paved with 8 bar of pressure will make you fly on one 2km stretch.
- Beware of the winds at some sections. I always seem to have a significant head or cross wind on the open southern lane.
- There's an area with like a million seagulls.
- The view of the city is fantastic.
The only knock against this place is that it's only officially open on the weekends. I'd love to get out here on a weeknight to avoid the beach and commuter crowds that I'd find elsewhere. -
Review from David M.
Toronto, ON
4/24/2010
This is an amazing place, aptly described by others, but I'm adding this because of the limited hours, and didn't want anyone to be disappointed. This is a "construction site", and CLOSED to the public during the week, so closely observe the hours below.
From the link above;
The Spit is open year-round every weekend (except Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year's day) between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. from April - October and 9:00 - 4:30 p.m. from November to March. Park on Unwin or Leslie; or if in parking lot, be sure to exit by closing line, as lot is barricaded after hours.
Located about seven kilometres east of Harbourfront, the Spit is easily accessible by bicycle, on roller blades and even on foot (for enthusiastic hikers) via the Goodman Trail (recently renamed Waterfront Trail).
The closest public transit access is by the 501 Queen St. Streetcar (get off at Berkshire St. and go south on Leslie St.). It is about 1.5 km to the gate. Cars are not allowed onto the Spit. Parking available at the gate (see map below). To get to the Spit by car, take Lakeshore Boulevard to Leslie Street, turn south and continue to the gate.
Wheelchair accessibility; Flat smooth road for the first 3 km.
IMPORTANT: Dogs are not allowed anywhere on the Spit. Their presence is very disturbing to wildlife and they create a hazard on the road which is used by walkers, cyclists and 'bladers.Listed in: 5-star Reviews
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Review from Melanie C.
Oakville, ON
7/22/2010
I recently enjoyed my very first visit to the Leslie Spit. So peaceful and beautiful, you forget you're in Toronto. Much closer than I thought - I was participating in a run that started in the distillery district and it didn't take too long to get there.
I learned that this area is growing, as it is man made. By man made I mean made by man's waste - not human waste (ew!) but dirt from construction sites. It would be cool to see its growth and changes in shape over the years. -
Review from Cameron O.
Toronto, ON
8/2/2010
I've used this park as part of my training for years now, so I'm not going to be very useful for commenting on the flora and fauna that are slowly reclaiming this pile of reclaimed land (read condo excavation dumping) and turning it back into a wetland and almost a natural environment.
I'm very much enjoying the recent new tarmac that has been added, but the part leading up to the new stuff is in a state of horrible disrepair with humongous potholes.
The weekends are busy unless you're out early. Weekday evenings it's "closed" so hint hint... you know what I mean... say no more, say no more! During the times it's "closed" you'll find mostly the fast folks who appreciate the lack of traffic.
During my last outing I was surprised at seeing some of the wildlife that isn't really all that wild and is extremely out of place in a downtown setting. The animals spotted included rabbits, a beaver, and even a mink! The most recent sighting included a great heron flying overhead so I might just come back with my camera at some point and try to get some stock images.
The only downside of this place: the potholes in the road. Well, I suppose you can include the other park users who are too selfish to even contemplate that there are other people who want to use the park too and it's not ok for them to sprawl out all over the road. But I suppose that's just a gripe against jerks and not the park! -
Review from Carmen M.
5/24/2010
What a beautiful spot in the city! So tranquil! So gorgeous! So close to my house! I can't believe I've never been before today.
When you go, be prepared to walk. A lot. If you have a bike, that would be ideal. Fact: everyone in the city of Toronto had a bike at the Spit but me. During the summer, they have a shuttle that takes you down to the lighthouse and back, which is great if you don't have a bike/blades.
Do not miss the Leslie Street Spit! -
Review from Emily T.
Toronto, ON
12/28/2008 2 photos
As a biker I wasn't sure how accessible good biking trails would be in this city. I assumed Toronto was nothing but an urban jungle, but after years of exploring and serendipitous discovery, I have found a lot of great places to ride. Marked bike lanes aside, a great, easy ride is the Leslie Street Spit.
The Spit is located a few kilometres east of the Toronto Beaches and is about a 5 km extension of Leslie street, jutting out of the coast of Lake Ontario. It's a generally flat trail, with a few curves, and has a nice big hill at the end of it that's a great place to have a picnic on and rest. The view is spectacular and on a sunny day you can see the city to the west and the Scarborough bluffs to the east.
Many people go to the Spit to bike, jog or simply stroll around, taking in the scenery and wildlife (ok, bushes and some trees, but it's a nice trail, nonetheless). I never knew it existed until I happened to bike a little further past the Beaches a few summers ago. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a fun bike ride or a place to walk and get away from the busy-ness of the city. -
Review from Jay C.
Toronto, ON
2/6/2011
I,ve been going there for 20 plus years now always a good time. a bike is the only way to do it if you want to go to the light house.
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Review from Shawn B.
Oshawa, ON
7/28/2010
This man-made land mass is comprised of construction waste and natural materials, allowing native plant and animal species to thrive unthreatened. Pack a lunch, bring lots of water and spend an entire afternoon revelling in the magic. Wander the trails (there's a main drag as well as hundreds of little footpaths) all day, and still feel like you need more time to see the entire area.
