Every neighbourhood in the city of Toronto has unique traits and offers something a little different to locals and visitors. If you're an avid runner and are looking for fabulous trails right at your doorstep, these areas should definitely make your shortlist.
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Queen West
There's so much to see in the Queen West neighbourhood of Toronto that you'll probably forget you're even running at all. Rather than confining your run solely to this super trendy area, make it your starting point, then head through Liberty Village, King West Village, and the Entertainment District.
From there, you can loop back to Queen West and enjoy any number of treats available at all the unique eateries and cafes following run.
Ashbridges Bay
Out of all the runner's trails in the great city of Toronto, perhaps the Martin Goodman Trail in Ashbridges Bay is the most popular, and for good reason. But it's no easy feat if you plan to cover every inch of the trail, as it's a good 56km and covers the entire lakefront from one end of Toronto to the other.
If you're up for it, start at Exhibition Place and go all the way until you hit the Humber River. Otherwise, you can always do the best part of the trail by Ashbridges Bay for a decent 6km while enjoying glorious views of the water and some beach vibes.
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High Park
With more than 400 acres of lush greenery and beautiful gardens in High Park, this is a great place to spend the day running. You'll certainly never run out of ground to cover!
High Park extends from Bloor St. West to The Queensway and offers fabulous trails for all levels of runners. Keep things easy on flat grounds and stick to the roadways, or ramp up your heart rate and take to the steep hills for a more advanced run. Or else, make High Park your starting point along the Lakeshore for even better views.
Yonge St.
You could literally start and end your run anywhere along Yonge St., all the way from Eglinton to the north down to the Queen's Quay to the south. Otherwise, pick and choose any spot along this stretch for a great run. No matter where you end up stopping, there will likely be some fabulous spot to grab a beverage and healthy snack to rejuvenate your body after all that activity.
Leaside
Leaside is one of those neighbourhoods that has a vast trail network, offering something for everyone when it comes to getting out and being active. You can take to the trails starting either at Sunnybrook Park, Serena Gundy Park, or Wilket Creek Park, then meander through the trails and check out the glorious greenery and animal life along the way.
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Toronto Islands
If you've got the time to take a quick ferry ride over to the Island, you'll be in for a real treat. The Toronto Islands are a 15-minute ride from the downtown core and offer scenic routes for the avid runner. Not only will you be trekking along beaches, a golf course, gardens, and even a lighthouse, but you'll also have the distinct advantage of marvelling at the spectacular Toronto city skyline along your run.
The perfect route would start at Centre Island Pier, then meander along the Avenue of the Island to Lakeshore, all the way to the end of the island and back for a 7km run. To extend your run, head to Ward’s Island Beach, to Hanlan’s Point Beach, through Hanlan’s Point Ferry, and back to Centre Island Pier.
Sunnyside
For more views of the lake while getting in your run, head over to the popular Sunnyside area of Toronto, where you'll no doubt be met with other active individuals taking advantage of the path along Lake Ontario. Start your run at Humber Bay Bridge and do a 4km run until you hit the Martin Goodman Trail.
