Taylor Creek Canada Day Hike

Hi friends,

This is a new, never-been-done hiking route for our group which we'll try for Canada Day. The hike is mostly through lush and shady Taylor Creek Park (by the ravine secluded far from street level). But we plan to pop up for a brief moment to Stan Wadlow park to see the Canada Day celebration there, people can grab a snack or use the restrooms if they wish, before we return to the ravine and continue the walk.

This is the East End of Toronto's (the near-East if you will) longest and most beautiful ravine route, and one of the largest natural areas in the city.

"The trail boasts 182 acres of lush forest, a babbling riverway and incredible natural beauty. The nearly six-kilometre loop of hiking and biking trails that wind through the park stick closely to a trickling river providing lots of beautiful scenery and chances for duck sightings. As a major tributary of the Don River, Taylor-Massey Creek runs through the entire park before pouring into the larger main channel.

A number of both steel and wooden bridges also cross over the creek, providing yet even more optimal river views." (credit: https://www.blogto.com/city/2020/08/taylor-creek-park-trail-toronto/ )

Walking Route: We will begin just outside of Victoria Park TTC station in the east end. We take the cool elevated bridge across the road, and travel through Dentonia Park until reaching the entrance of Taylor Creek park. The trails will take us northwest until the terminus of the trail at Coxwell Ravine Park.

On our way back the way we came, we will take a brief stop at Stan Wadlow park (it is up a set of stairs from the ravine), where the East York Canada Day celebrations take place all day every year. This is one of Toronto's original small-community Canada Day celebrations that has been occurring for decades. East York formerly held the title of "Canada's only Borough," before amalgamation into Toronto in 1998.

East York was the smallest of the six amalgamated municipalities, and still retains for many that "small community" feel on days like this.

Since the EY Canada Day event is sometimes a little busy, people can just briefly take it in, get a snack or use restrooms, before we scoot back down the stairs and continue the walk in the more peaceful ravine.

We will end at the original starting point outside of Victoria Park station.

Membership: if you are not yet a member for 2025, kindly transfer $10 to hsptorontomeetup@gmail.com before the walk. Many thanks for your support of the group!

Some parts of the trail may be compressed dirt or have little roots or rocks, so wear shoes that are comfortable for walking on this terrain.

Look forward to seeing you! :)