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Ed's Sk8toronto Website MAPS OF SKATING ROUTES There is a great map of Toronto bike paths available from the City of Toronto. For an online version check out http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/parks/brochures/parks_trails_1.pdf and http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/parks/brochures/parks_trails_2.pdf . To look at this map you need an Adobe Reader. A hard copy of this City of Toronto map is available for free at city offices, community centers and by phoning 416-392-8186 -pressing 5 and leaving your name and address. Ask for a "Toronto Parks and Trails Map". MapArt maps also show most of the trails in the area. Apparently the trail info on this map is a few years out of date. Nevertheless, it gives the reader a good idea where to look. For routes along the shore of Lake Ontario there are great maps available at the website for the Waterfront Trail. The main site for the Waterfront Trail is: http://www.waterfronttrail.org/ . Follow the links to the map you want. To look at these maps you need an Adobe Reader (Version 5). This map gives a general picture of where the routes in Toronto are: In red I have drawn in the routes that I have reviewed. Clearly, most of the good skating is confined to the two major river valleys and the lakeshore. Each route is described in the appropriate section. Some notes on the DISASTER ZONES: 1) The link between the Waterfront Trail in New Toronto and the Martin Goodman Trail (West) is shown to be a bike route but it is actually just a part of Lake Shore Blvd. It is no fun to skate and should be avoided unless you are out for a really long skate. 2) There is no connection between the Main Humber River Valley and the two Humber Valley Routes to the north. The only way to link up the two routes is to skate out of the river valley and along Weston Road. It is a real shame that there is no connection here. 3) On the Martin Goodman Trail (West) there is a patch of tremendously rough pavement at the south end of the long pedestrian bridge which crosses over the Gardiner and Lake Shore Blvd. Note: this section was repaired in Jun/05!! 4) At the very bottom end of the Don Valley route there is a particularly nasty underpass that takes the trail under the railway tracks. This is a really difficult spot for skaters because the approaches are really steep, there are no good handrails and there are speed control gates at the bottom of the grades just at the point where the steel grate decking begins. This is as bad as it gets. (This site will soon be under construction as part of a major redevelopment project. The railway bridge is going to get an additional span and the pathway will be substantially improved). For the record, there is another mini disaster zone further to the north where the pathway goes through a culvert under some railway tracks. Here it is visibility, tight turns (and a skaters difficulty in stopping quickly) that are the problems. 5) The link between the Don Valley (and Taylor Creek Park) to Sunnybrook Park is a nightmare! The problem is the bridge over the railway tracks (and under Don Mills Road at the same time). It's a narrow wooden (slippery when wet) walkway with periodic wooden speed bumps and a wood railing that is anything but suitable for skaters needing assistance. 6) There is a section of the MGT(east) that hugs the side of Unwin Ave. It couldn't be much worse for skaters. 7) Highland Creek has two great sections of skating separated by a rough and narrow path in the vicinity of Morningside Ave. It’s a real disgrace. Last Update: April/06 |
In yellow is the 401, DVP and the QEW -Gardiner. The City of Toronto is shown in white. That's Steeles Ave at the top and Lake Ontario down below.