High Park Trail

Difficulty
This reflects the 10Adventures difficulty rating for each route. We aim to keep ratings consistent across regions.
Easy
Duration
This reflects the estimated time the majority of users will take on this trail. If you are slower, add time to the top-end figure. If you are fast, then you may complete this route faster than this time range.
1-1.5h
Distance
This reflects the return distance of this route as measured by the GPS file.
5.1 km
Elevation
This reflects the total elevation gained throughout this route as measured by the GPS file. This includes all ascents and descents, and is higher than what is quoted in most route guides, which simply measure the distance between the starting-point and high-point of the route.
56 m
User Ratings
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Directions to Trailhead
High Park Trail

Hiking the High Park Trail is a wonderful experience in the west end of Toronto that will expose you to a vast area of woodland terrain that serves as a retreat for many people to escape the hectic environment of the city. While out walking the trail, you will make your way through mature forests, experience views across serene bodies of water, and pass by a number of well-maintained gardens and recreation spaces. Although this trail is certainly accessible year-round, the best time to visit High Park is during the April to May window, when the Japanese cherry trees in the park reveal their picturesque pink blossoms.

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Route Description for High Park Trail

As the second largest municipal park in Toronto, High Park offers a wide variety of woodland trails and recreation areas that are just waiting to be explored. Within the park, you will find beautiful public gardens, a zoo, the Grenadier Restaurant, off-leash dog parks, educational facilities, and well-maintained public areas that are perfect for sitting out on the grass to enjoy a nice picnic. In terms of the trails themselves, they are largely well-maintained and feature small amounts of elevation gain throughout the hilly landscape of the park, which makes for a fun day of adventuring, no matter the season. As previously mentioned, visiting the park in April/May will produce some stunning views of cherry blossoms; however, this time will see the park filled with countless tourists.

Setting out from the parking area near the entrance to High Park, follow the trail to the west and make your way downhill through the tree cover to reach the edge of Wendigo Pond. From here, you will turn to the south and follow along the edge of the water, eventually receiving some beautiful views across the much larger expanse of Grenadier Pond. Shortly after passing some well-manicured gardens on your left, the trail will bend to the east to cut across the southern portion of the park and cross over Spring Creek. After working past the Lower and Upper Duck Ponds, you will climb uphill and pass by the Grenadier Restaurant, which is a great place to sit out on the patio for a nice lunch. From here, you will loop around the forested northeast corner of the park and pass by Ridout Pond before arriving back at the starting point of your hike.

Getting to the High Park Trail Trailhead

To reach the parking area for the High Park Trail from the Royal Ontario Museum, head west along Bloor Street W for 6km and turn left to enter High Park. Here, you will find a number of parking areas throughout the park. Alternatively, you can utilize street parking along High Park Avenue if there is no parking available.

Route Information

  • When to do

    Year-Round

  • Backcountry Campsites

    No

  • Pets allowed

    Yes - On Leash

  • Family friendly

    Yes

  • Route Signage

    Average

  • Crowd Levels

    High

  • Route Type

    Circuit

High Park Trail Elevation Graph

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