Snowshoeing and Cross Country Skiing in Toronto: Where to Go

The best Toronto snow days are the quiet ones, when a fresh layer muffles the traffic and your own tracks are the loudest thing around.

The City of Toronto’s advice is simple. When there is a big snowfall, hit the trails on snowshoes or cross-country skis for a low-impact way to enjoy winter right here in the city. This guide pulls together the places the City and Parks Canada point to, plus a few notes on what to expect once you get there.

What should you know before you head out?

Toronto is not a groomed-track city. The City says its parks do not have groomed cross-country ski trails, though skiing is allowed in parks unless signs indicate otherwise. That means the best days follow a proper snowfall, and your route is whatever the snow has left you.

Rentals are not covered here, so check with whoever runs the site you choose. At Rouge National Urban Park, for example, Parks Canada says there are no rentals available in the park, so you bring your own pair of snowshoes.

How do you pick the right outing?

Think of it as three steps. Start small on a golf course snow loop, where the City lists loops from 1 to 2.5 km. Step up to a beginner woodland trail such as Sun Valley, at 1.3 km. Then go big at Tommy Thompson Park, where the City counts more than 10 kilometres of trails. Whatever you choose, snow conditions decide the day, so check the forecast and the park’s own page first.

Where are the golf course snow loops?

If you want an easy first outing, start here. The City invites you to walk or snowshoe at a City golf course snow loop. Snow loops typically open for the season in December.

The City’s golf page lists loops ranging from 1 to 2.5 km at Dentonia Park in Scarborough, Don Valley in North York, Humber Valley in Etobicoke and Scarlett Woods in Etobicoke, among others. Public washrooms are available in golf course buildings, and City golf courses are accessible by TTC. Our pick for beginners and anyone testing new snowshoes.

Is High Park good for snowshoes and skis?

The City describes High Park as crisscrossed with a network of trails and a great spot for beginners and families. The park combines extensive natural areas with maintained parkland, and the City says it can be enjoyed year-round. One note for planning: unpaved trails in High Park are not maintained in winter. Our pick for a first outing on snowshoes after a fresh snowfall.

Can you ski or snowshoe on the Toronto Islands?

Yes, and the journey is half the fun. The City says watching the ferry break ice on the way to Toronto Island Park is a treat, and that from Wards Island you can ski or snowshoe all the way to Centre Island. Ferries to Toronto Island run year-round from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal, and the winter schedule runs from October 14 to mid-April. Our Toronto Islands in winter guide has more on getting there and what else to see.

What about Tommy Thompson Park?

For big sky and big views, the City points to Tommy Thompson Park. It says terrific views of the city can be had from the tip of Leslie Spit, and that there are more than 10 kilometres of trails to cover. Allow plenty of time, because distance adds up quickly on snow, and pack a flask of something hot for the turnaround point.

Which Don Valley and ravine trails work in winter?

In the Don Valley ravine system, the City says Crothers Woods, Sun Valley and Cottonwood Flats have combined kilometres worth of woodland trails. The Crothers Woods network offers approximately 9 km of multi-use, one-metre wide natural surface trails with some steep sections, rated intermediate. For an easier start, the Sun Valley Trail is a 1.3 km granular-surfaced beginner trail with one steep 100 metre section. Our Crothers Woods guide covers the trails in detail.

Closer to midtown, the Beltline Trail is a nine-kilometre adventure that follows the path of Mud Creek in Moore Park Ravine. It follows an old railway line from Allen Road south of Elm Ridge Drive west to Mount Pleasant Cemetery. The Lower Don Trail adds another option, running 5 km along the Don River from Pottery Road to Corktown Commons.

Is Rouge National Urban Park worth the trip?

Parks Canada lists hiking, snowshoeing, birdwatching and cross-country skiing among the winter activities at Rouge National Urban Park. It calls snowshoeing a great winter activity and an alternative to winter hiking, and says the best conditions come after a recent snowfall.

For skis, Parks Canada says Bob Hunter Memorial Park offers some of the best trails, with gentle sloping hills and scenic views. The trails are not groomed or maintained in winter. For snowshoeing, Parks Canada also advises checking weather conditions and parking availability before you head out. More trail ideas live in our Rouge National Urban Park guide.

What if you would rather go downhill?

If the plan tilts toward lifts and slopes, the City operates a ski and snowboard centre at Earl Bales Park. Its ski season is scheduled to begin in January and end mid-March, depending on weather and snowfall. For more cold-weather ideas across the city, browse our Outdoors desk.

Send this to the friend who keeps saying they will finally use those snowshoes.