A Guide to Toronto’s Beaches

by Chris Riddell

As the summer heats up in the city, you’ll want to hit the beach to take a refreshing plunge in the lake to cool off, frolic on the sand or sunbathe and relax. Thankfully, Toronto has many beaches you can visit for free!

Parking can be impossible to find at city beaches, so the TTC is often the best way to get there. Toronto Island also has a few beaches well worth the ferry ride from Jack Layton Ferry Terminal on Queens Quay. If you’re thinking of having a beach party this summer, call up your family and friends and get together at one of these beautiful Toronto beaches!

Please note: in 2017, Toronto has experienced higher than normal rainfall, which has affected several beaches. Please comply with all instructions available on site and stay well behind any safety barriers. Due to flood conditions on the Toronto Islands, ferry service has been suspended and access is restricted to residents only.

Sunnyside Beach has been a part of Toronto’s history for more than 100 years, and it’s no less popular today than it’s ever been. It is home to the Olympic-sized Sunnyside Pool which is right next to the shoreline, and the Waterfront Trail runs along the entire length of the lakeside park and beyond. Sunnyside is great place to watch sailboats drifting on the waves because there are several marinas close by which are all very active in the summertime. There’s also the Boulevard Tennis Club, an upper crust establishment established in 1905. The Palais Royale, one of the city’s most well known dancehall venues, also resides on the water.

Cherry Beach is a little out of the way compared to some of the other beaches on this list, but it is well worth a day trip. To get there, you’ll need to catch the 121 bus from Union Station or the 72B from Pape Station. Here you’ll find shaded pathways for walking and biking that give you a view of some of Toronto’s oldest industrial buildings, and you’ll find several sandy beaches and grassy fields to relax in. If you have a dog, you’ll be in good company here. The fenced-in leash free zone buzzes with other canine companions.  If you go on Sunday you can catch Promise Cherry Beach, a weekly electronic music event that goes from 3 pm to 9 pm.

Unlike the other beaches on this list, you can’t go into the water at Sugar Beach – a fence and retaining wall prevent access to the water for safety reasons. Even still, it’s a popular place in the revitalized downtown Waterfront area. It earned its name because it lies next to the Redpath sugar refinery, a Toronto landmark and symbol of its industrial past. Dig your toes into the sand as you recline in one of the many Muskoka chairs beneath the pink beach umbrellas. If you rneed to cool off, you can always run through the fountain jets that shoot from the ground nearby.

It’s impossible to talk about beaches in Toronto without mentioning Ashbridges Bay. Located at the foot of Woodbine Avenue, Ashbridges Bay is Toronto’s largest beach. In fact, it’s several beaches (Kew Beach, Balmy Beach) connected together by a long boardwalk that ends at the historical Arthur C. Harris Water Treatment Plant (which you should definitely see if you’ve never been there). Ashbridges Bay is Toronto’s top destination for beach volleyball as the huge sandy expanse contains several volleyball nets, as well as loads of space for beachgoers to lay down their towels in the sun. It’s also a hotspot for cyclists and runners as there are many great paths around this beautiful waterfront destination.

Toronto Island is a series of islands, and right in the middle you’ll find Centre Island. It’s where you’ll find the Centre Island Beach, and Centreville Amusement Park; a place which every kid growing up in Toronto has to go to at least once. Be sure to grab a Beaver Tail while you’re there. Biking is a great way to explore the islands, and you can rent them on the cheap from a company located near the beach. The Centre Island beachfront is on the south-facing side of the island, so if you look to the horizon all you see is the endless blue of Lake Ontario.

Hanlan’s Point, located on the western side of Toronto Island, has the distinction of being Toronto’s only public nude beach. Visitors don’t have to shed their clothes if they don’t want to, of course, but be prepared to see more skin than you normally would. Hanlan’s Point gives you a great view the Toronto skyline in a place where you can feel both close to the city and very far away at the same time. It’s especially beautiful at sundown. There are washroom facilities close by, but there isn’t anywhere to get a bite to eat unless you go back to Centre Island.

Head all the way to the opposite side of the island and you’ll eventually arrive at Ward’s Island Beach. It’s a quiet place tucked away, so if you’re looking for some peace and quiet it’s a great choice. A forest buffers it from the main pathway leading to the ferry docks, so you can kick back and relax undisturbed. If you’re feeling adventurous, rent a SUP (a stand-up paddleboard) from the little shack on the beach and master the waves. You should also take a stroll through the nearby community and see how people live on Toronto Island year-round. It’s as close to Cottage Country as you can get without leaving the city.

Bluffers Beach used to have some of the worst swimming waters in Toronto, but now it’s one of the best beaches to go to if you’re normally put off by outdoor swimming. It’s man-made, and when you set foot in the water you’ll be stepping on sand, not rock. Situated at the foot of the Scarborough Bluffs in the city’s east end Bluffer’s Beach is arguably one of Toronto’s most beautiful beaches. The 20-storey high white cliffs against the gleaming blue of Lake Ontario makes a stunning contrast. The one caveat is that can be a little tough to get too. Whether you drive or take the TTC, you’ll end your commute at Brimley Road and then walk the rest of the way. It’s all downhill, which means you’ll be climbing uphill on the way back, so save some energy for the return trip.

Please note: the Scarborough Bluffs and Bluffer's Park have been severely affected by the recent weather conditions and access to the shoreline is restricted due to possible landslides. Please follow any and all signage on site, and stay behind any safety barriers. You can access more information about the current state of the Scarborough Bluffs and accessibility information here.