Don Valley Trails in Toronto: The Lower Don, Section by Section

A river, a rail line and a skyline walk into a ravine, and the Lower Don Trail is where they sort it out.

The City of Toronto says the trail is open from Corktown Common to E.T. Seton Park, with the staircases from Queen Street, Dundas Street and Riverdale Park Bridge open too. Here is how to walk it in pieces, from the north end to the lake.

How long is the Lower Don Trail?

The City describes it as a 5 km section of multi-use trail for pedestrians and cyclists, running along the Don River from Pottery Road to Corktown Commons. It reopened from Corktown Common to E.T. Seton Park on August 1, 2026, after an improvement project to upgrade accessibility, reduce erosion and flooding, fix drainage and strengthen trail connections.

One planned detail to note. The City plans a temporary closure in fall 2026, after the Thanksgiving long weekend, to finish the sloped pathway to the Riverdale Pedestrian Bridge, with details to be posted onsite and on its project page. Bookmark that page and you will always know which stretch is the open one.

What do you see at the Pottery Road end?

Start at the north end, where the trail meets one of the city’s great reuse stories. Don Valley Brick Works Park is a former quarry that the City calls a flagship natural environment park. From 1889 to 1989 the site made bricks used in buildings such as Casa Loma, Massey Hall and the Ontario Legislature. Its granular trails are affected by the weather and connect to the Belt Line Trail by a paved ramp.

Getting there is easy. Evergreen says its free shuttle bus runs seven days a week, all year, between Broadview Station and Evergreen Brick Works. Cyclists can also come in via Beechwood Drive, the Lower Don Trail and Pottery Road.

A side trail for the curious: Milkman’s Lane is a gravel trail of more than 130 years that links Rosedale to the Don Valley trail network and the Brick Works.

Is Crothers Woods worth a side trip?

Crothers Woods has around 10 km of natural trails, a diverse bird population and spots with skyline views. The City says about 9 km of its multi-use dirt trails include some steep sections and are rated intermediate. For an easier outing, the 1.3 km Sun Valley Trail is a granular-surface beginner trail with one steep 100 m section. Our Crothers Woods guide covers the full tour.

Where does the valley open up beyond the main trail?

Beyond the main trail, the valley opens up. E.T. Seton Park in Thorncliffe has trails connecting to the Lower Don Trail, the West Don Trail, Taylor Creek Trail and the East Don Trail. The City calls the park part of a chain of parks forming a forested hiking corridor along the Don River.

Taylor Creek Park is a linear park running from Don Mills Road in the west to Dawes Road in the east. Charles Sauriol Conservation Area has a paved trail the City says can be used year-round for hiking, biking and walking, plus a walk through the “Rainbow Bridge” you spot from the Don Valley Parkway.

What is the Riverdale Park to Queen Street stretch like?

This is the stretch where the city leans over your shoulder. The City describes the Dundas Street East staircase as including lookouts over the river and bicycle troughs for cyclists. The new Riverdale sloped path is designed with a lookout point, a seating area and railing panels that showcase local bird species.

The City advises that after heavy rain, parts of the trail between the Riverdale footbridge and Dundas Street can be covered by runoff and silt. A dry day is the sweet spot for this section.

How does the Don reach the waterfront?

At the south end, Corktown Common is a 7.3 hectare park at the foot of Lower River Street and Bayview Avenue, with a marsh, lawns, urban prairies and a playground.

From here the Don connects to the lake. The Waterfront Trail’s Toronto page says the Don Valley Trail intersects the Waterfront Trail at the mouth of the Don River. It also lists Cherry Beach, the base of Tommy Thompson Park at the foot of Cherry Street, as a staging area.

Can you walk it in winter?

You can. Charles Sauriol’s paved trail is described as year-round. The City’s Don Valley route sheet notes that its steps and paths are not lighted and not cleared of ice and snow, so winter footwear and daylight are your friends. The Brick Works trails are affected by the weather too.

Want a longer loop?

The City’s Don Valley Hills and Dales Discovery Walk starts at Broadview Subway Station and passes Riverdale Farm, the Prince Edward Viaduct, Chester Springs Marsh and Todmorden Mills. The City’s route sheet puts both loops together at approximately 10 km, and its Discovery Tours page says to allow two hours or longer. That sheet adds that the roughly 2.5 km section south from Pottery Road has level access and a hard-paved surface.

One bit of trail manners from the City: keep to the right and pass on the left.

More ravine ideas live in our guide to Toronto’s ravines, our roundup of the best hikes in Toronto and our Rouge National Urban Park guide. For the neighbourhood around it, see our East York hub.

The Don is back open from Corktown to E.T. Seton Park, and it is a fine season for it.

Send this to the friend you would bring for a long walk by the river.