Walks and Views

Terraced formal gardens tucked into a ravine on Yonge Street just south of Lawrence Avenue, named for Alexander Muir, the author of the song The Maple Leaf Forever. Stone gates, flower beds and lawns lead down into the ravine trails toward Blythwood Ravine and Sherwood Park. Free and open year round.

A winding, tree lined path on the University of Toronto's St. George campus that follows the buried course of Taddle Creek, from the Queen Alexandra Gateway on Bloor Street down past the Royal Ontario Museum, Trinity College and the Faculty of Music. Benches, old lampposts, a small stone amphitheatre and fourteen red oaks planted in memory of the women killed in the 1989 Montreal massacre line the way. Free and open to everyone.

A waterfront park on the east island of Ontario Place, with grassy hills, a rocky shoreline and one of the best views of the Toronto skyline across the water. The William G. Davis Trail winds through the park for walking, running and cycling. Free to visit; Ontario Place says the park stays open during the site's redevelopment as long as it is safe, so check before you go.

A waterfront park along the Etobicoke shoreline, with a lakeside path that is part of the Martin Goodman Trail and wide views of the downtown skyline across Humber Bay. Sheldon Lookout, a stone platform reaching into the lake with big boulders to sit on, is a popular spot at sunset. Free and open year round.

A riverside park along the Humber River just south of the Old Mill, with the Humber trail running past the river, the old stone Old Mill Road bridge and plenty of spots to watch herons and egrets. In early fall, salmon can be seen jumping up the river. It has picnic sites and washrooms; free and open year round.

A wooded valley park along Highland Creek in east Scarborough, where a trail follows the creek through the forest toward Lake Ontario. It has picnic sites, washrooms and a dog off leash area, and it is a quiet spot to watch the leaves change in fall. Free and open year round.

A wooded ravine trail that follows the old course of Mud Creek below the Moore Park and Mount Pleasant neighbourhoods, linking up with the Beltline Trail and the paths down to the Don Valley Brick Works. The wide gravel path runs under tall trees and old bridges and feels far from the city. Free and open year round; the trail can be icy in winter.

A 15 metre steel lookout with a glass railing that juts about 5 metres out from the cliff in the upper bend of Côte de Sillery, 23 metres above the Promenade Samuel-De Champlain. It offers a view of more than 180 degrees over the St. Lawrence and is lit at night. It is a public lookout maintained by the City, free and open any time.

A teaching and research garden at Université Laval with about 600 species and cultivars on landscaped beds, plus a trial area showing new varieties. It is a calm green oasis in the city where you can pick up ideas for your own garden. Entry is free all year according to the garden, and the City notes it is at its best for visits from May to October.

An outdoor history walk along Boulevard René-Lévesque Est, between Avenue Honoré-Mercier and Rue De La Chevrotière, near the Parliament Building. Fourteen interpretation panels tell the story of the premiers who have governed Québec since 1867. It is free and open any time, a nice add on to a stroll around Parliament Hill.

A 15.6 hectare woods at the western tip of the Pointe-de-Sainte-Foy, with marked trails and interpretation panels through maple, red oak, ash and beech stands and a few old white pines. More than 100 bird species have been seen here, about thirty of which nest on site. It is a free green space maintained by the Commission de la capitale nationale and open to walkers all year.

A 1.7 km footpath along the St. Lawrence between Parc de la Plage-Jacques-Cartier and the Pierre-Laporte Bridge, giving access to Plage Gagnon, one of the city's rare natural sand beaches. Interpretation panels explain the tides and the changing landscape, with great views of the river, the cliff and the bridges. Free, open May 1 to November 30 (closed in winter); free parking at Parc de la Plage-Jacques-Cartier and Parc du Domaine-des-Retraités, and leashed dogs are welcome.