Tours, Trails and Day Trips on the Toronto Waterfront and Toronto Island Park

This guide covers the self-guided walks, bike routes, paddling, guided tour and attractions described for the Toronto Waterfront and Toronto Island Park in Ontario, Canada. Ferries run year-round from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal, and only emergency and commercial service vehicles are allowed on the island. On the mainland, Queens Quay and the Martin Goodman Trail run along the harbor. Each section notes what to check before going, including seasonal closures.

Ferry routes and getting around the island

Ferries to Toronto Island run year-round from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal. From mid-April to mid-October, three routes operate: Centre Island, Hanlan's Point and Ward's Island. Confirm schedules before leaving your hotel.

Only emergency and commercial service vehicles are allowed on the island. The islands are connected by multi-use trails and bridges. Centre Island to Ward's Island is 2.9 km, about a 35-minute walk, so a one-way walk between two ferry routes is a simple self-guided plan.

October to April is the island's winter season. The heated Ward's Island waiting shed stays open in winter. Winter ferry timing is something to confirm before going. The City of Toronto says Toronto Island has been a place of healing, ceremony and gathering for the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and other Indigenous communities for thousands of years.

Walking routes: boardwalk, lighthouse and maze

The Toronto Island boardwalk is a 1.5 km year-round walk. It runs between Ward's Island Beach and a point just east of Centre Island Beach. Views include Lake Ontario, Tommy Thompson Park and Ward's Island Beach. Pairing it with the 2.9 km trail link between Centre Island and Ward's Island makes a longer self-guided route.

The Gibraltar Point Lighthouse is more than 200 years old. The City of Toronto describes it as the oldest stone building in Toronto and Canada's oldest standing lighthouse. Visitor access details are something to confirm with the City of Toronto.

The William Meany Maze is planted with 1,200 Black Cedars. It recreates the original island maze built in 1967 for Canada's centennial. Parts of Toronto Island are Environmentally Significant Areas. The sand dunes along the western shore are an uncommon freshwater coastal ecosystem that is home to rare species.

Cycling, paddling and the guided golf-cart tour

Paved and gravel trails cross the islands. Riders can bring a bike on the ferry or rent through Toronto Island Bicycle Rentals or Bike Share Toronto. Bike Share bikes are not allowed on ferries, so plan which side of the water you will ride on before choosing a rental.

The Boat House rents canoes and kayaks for the lagoons between the islands. Paddles and lifejackets are included. It was closed for the season as of the check date, so confirm reopening details directly with The Boat House.

The Toronto Island guided golf-cart tour lasts about 30 to 40 minutes. It starts and ends near the fountain at the foot of the bridge on Centre Island. This tour was also closed for the season as of the check date. Confirm its current status close to your travel dates.

Beaches, Centreville and Far Enough Farm

Four of Toronto's 10 beaches are on Toronto Island: Centre Island (Manitou), Gibraltar Point, Hanlan's Point and Ward's Island. Lifeguards supervise them in summer. Exact supervised dates and hours are something to confirm with the City of Toronto before planning a swim.

Centreville Amusement Park has over 30 rides and attractions and runs May through September. It is not operated by the City. Far Enough Farm is a petting farm that is open in summer. Confirm current opening details for both before going.

A summer day could combine a ferry to Centre Island, a stop at Centre Island (Manitou) beach, and the boardwalk walk toward Ward's Island Beach. Returning from Ward's Island by ferry avoids walking the same route twice. Confirm the route schedules in advance.

Mainland routes: Queens Quay, Martin Goodman Trail and Harbourfront Centre

Queens Quay is the waterfront's main street. It runs more than 3 km from Bathurst Street to Parliament Street. Waterfront Toronto finished rebuilding its 1.7 km central stretch, from Spadina Avenue to Bay Street, in 2015.

On the south side of Queens Quay, a granite pedestrian promenade lined with a double row of trees runs beside the multi-use Martin Goodman Trail. The area is about a 10-minute walk from Union Station. The City of Toronto says the Martin Goodman Trail is part of a waterfront trail of 20+ km from the western to the eastern beaches. That trail sits within a citywide network of over 300 km of trails.

Harbourfront Centre is a registered charitable not-for-profit cultural organization on a 10-acre campus on Toronto's central waterfront. It offers year-round programs. Its programs are worth checking on a day when island attractions are closed.

Key points

• Ferries to Toronto Island run year-round from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal, with three routes from mid-April to mid-October.
• Centre Island to Ward's Island is 2.9 km, about a 35-minute walk on multi-use trails and bridges.
• The 1.5 km boardwalk runs year-round between Ward's Island Beach and just east of Centre Island Beach.
• The Boat House rentals and the guided golf-cart tour were closed for the season as of the check date.
• Queens Quay runs more than 3 km from Bathurst Street to Parliament Street, with a granite promenade beside the Martin Goodman Trail.

Frequently asked questions