Tommy Thompson Park Toronto: A Visit Plan With Owl Etiquette

Winter owls are one of the quiet thrills of Toronto’s waterfront, and the best way to enjoy them is to let them be. So we are putting the owl etiquette before the trail map.

How should you watch owls at Tommy Thompson Park?

Carefully, and briefly. TRCA says the park hosts a few owls during the winter as they move south from their nesting grounds in search of food. It adds that human presence can be stressful for owls, so it asks visitors to follow simple guidelines. Owls need to spend time doing two critical activities, hunting and resting. An owl disturbed while resting during the day may not be fit to hunt at night.

Here is the short version of TRCA’s etiquette.

• Keep your distance. TRCA asks for a minimum of 12 metres.
• Keep it brief. Limit viewing time to a few minutes, or less if the owl appears stressed.
• Be quiet. Walk and speak quietly when around an owl.
• Let it fly. Never chase an owl if it flies away.
• Leave the scenery alone. Do not trim plants or branches to obtain a better view or photo.
• Skip the flash. Never use flash photography, especially after dark.
• Skip the bait and the audio. Never bait an owl, since owls accustomed to being fed by humans can be hit by vehicles and buildings. Audio playback should not be used to attract an owl unless conducting authorized ornithological research.

TRCA also lists signs that an owl is stressed, starting with eyes wide open and staring directly at you. If you see those, back away.

One more courtesy: refrain from reporting owl sightings on the internet or birding hotlines, and do not share an owl’s exact location. Take the photo, keep the secret. The full guidance is in TRCA’s Owl Viewing and Reporting Policy, which you can download from its visitor page.

What is Tommy Thompson Park?

It is Toronto’s Urban Wilderness: a unique place near downtown Toronto to experience nature, according to TRCA. The park’s website is titled Tommy Thompson Park | Leslie Street Spit, which is the other name many Torontonians know it by. TRCA reports more than 300 recorded bird species and calls the park a prime destination for wildlife viewing and fishing. The park also offers picturesque views of the Toronto skyline and Lake Ontario. Bring binoculars and patience, and the lake does the rest.

There is a free way to try the fishing, too: Learn to Fish sessions are offered at the park at no cost.

When is Tommy Thompson Park open to the public?

TRCA lists separate public hours for weekdays, and for weekends and holidays, in the Park Hours section of its visitor page, so check it for current times. The Nature Centre is open on weekends and holidays. TRCA also notes that there is no scheduled programming at the park for the last two weeks of December.

TRCA’s visitor information page carries a Park Notices section, so check it before you go. TRCA also offers a downloadable trail map.

How do you get there?

The park is at 1 Leslie Street, and the entrance is at Leslie Street and Unwin Avenue. There is a free parking lot at the park entrance. By transit, TRCA says the park is a five-minute walk from the Commissioner’s Street bus stop at Commissioner’s and Leslie, served by the 83 Jones bus. On foot or by bike, the Martin Goodman Trail and Waterfront Trail pass the park between Woodbine Beach and Cherry Beach.

What should you bring and leave at home?

Bring water, because there is no running water in the park. Bring earphones if you want music, since amplified sound is not permitted. Leave the dog at home: pets, including dogs, are not permitted. TRCA also lists no e-bikes, motorcycles, drones, skating, fires, camping or motorized skateboards and hoverboards. Swimming is not permitted anywhere in the park. For washrooms, TRCA lists three accessible portable toilets, at the parking lot, the staff booth and Peninsula C, plus vault toilets on weekends from spring to fall at the Outdoor Classroom.

Borrow instead of buying. TRCA’s Nature Exploration Lending Kit provides tools such as field guides and binoculars. You borrow it at the Nature Centre on weekends and holidays and return it the same day. Fishing rods, reels and tackle boxes are available for loan at the Nature Centre too, just like a library book.

Can you visit in winter?

Yes, if you dress for it. TRCA says some visitors explore the park in winter for cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, and that trails are not maintained in winter. For other cold-weather outings, see our winter walks guide and our skating trails list.

What does a slow day at the park look like?

1. Pick a weekend or holiday, when the Nature Centre is open.
2. Borrow binoculars and a field guide there, then head out with water and warm layers.
3. Walk until the skyline fills the view, stop for a few quiet minutes, and let anything with feathers set the pace.

The goal is simple: leave the park the way you found it, and leave the wildlife with a good day too.

Where else should you go on the waterfront?

The park sits at the end of Toronto’s waterfront story, so pair it with Toronto’s waterfront parks or our guide to parks in Toronto. For more trails, our hiking guide has plenty.

Send this to the friend with the good camera and the patient streak.