The Don Valley mountain bike trails in Toronto, Ontario are truly a one-of-a-kind experience. Of course, with 170+km of twisty, technical, and often janky trails cutting their way through Canada’s largest urban area, the experience is sure to be unique.
But while there is certainly an allure to mountain biking in a city of 3 million people, the reasons for riding the Don go far beyond the uncommon action of riding your mountain bike in a city.
Let’s take a look at what the Don has to offer and why every mountain biker should take the time to discover Toronto’s one-of-a-kind mountain bike trails!
Why Visit the Don Valley Mountain Bike Trails?
There’s thousands of kilometers of mountain bike trails in Southern Ontario alone, many of them great, and all of which don’t require the hectiness of getting yourself into Canada’s largest city.
You’re familiar with your favourite trail systems and they’re easy to get to, so why invest the time in discovering an unknown trail system buried in the depths of Toronto’s sprawling Don Valley, right?
That’s how I used to think. And while it’s true the Don can be a bit difficult to reach if you’re coming from beyond the city centre, you’d be mistaken to think it’s not worth it.
Having become a huge fan and regular rider of the Don over the past few years, here are my top four reasons you should visit the Don Valley mountain bike trails as soon as possible!
The Unique Trail Building
For me, the biggest standout feature of riding the Don Valley mountain bike trails is how they are unlike any other mountain bike trails I’ve ever ridden.
For those unaware, the Don Valley mountain bike trails are unsanctioned, meaning they are not overseen, managed, or technically approved by any governing or overseeing body.
Where Durham Forest is overseen by the Durham Mountain Bike Association, the Don is simply overseen by the different individuals who decide to take it upon themselves to build and maintain the trails.
While sanctioned trails, built to specific standards and best practices, are 100% the proper way to build trails and grow the sport, it can result in mountain bike trail systems feeling relatively similar, especially if the different systems share similar terrain and topography. There’s only so much you can build and do with a trail when adhering to grade requirements and safety protocols.
The mountain bike trails in the Don, on the other hand, are free to be built in whichever way, shape, and form the trail builder sees fit. The result is an eclectic mix of trails, each representing the varying characteristics, style, and vision of their individual trail builder.
One trail may feature tight, awkward descents followed by janky, technical, and off camber climbs, while the trail immediately after will feature fast, smooth, and flowy descents followed by gradual climbs back up the valley side.
One trail may be the usual dirt and tree roots while the next may be built from industrial leftovers like poured concrete, cinder blocks, retaining walls, all linked together with a couple bridge foundations.
It sounds wild, and it is, but it keeps you on your toes and always looking forward to what’s going to be thrown at you next. In fact, the Don is so good at this that you almost become addicted to trying new trails you haven’t ridden just to see what crazy and interesting trail feature you’re going to come across next.
So, if you’re looking for a truly unique mountain bike experience, riding on trails unlike anything else in Ontario, then the Don is a can’t miss destination.
The Variety of Trails
The next reason to visit the Don is the variety of trails. And while this may sound similar to the trails being unique from one-another, it’s not exactly.
While the uniqueness of each trail certainly contributes to the overall variety, the true variety comes from the simple fact of there being 170+ kilometers of mountain bike trails to choose from.
The result is a full day’s worth of riding for any level of rider. Whether a beginner rider wanting to stick to green trails and bike paths or an expert rider looking for the most challenging climbs and a punishing day on the bike, the Don has something for you.
What’s even better is that you can ride two completely different routes while sticking to the same difficulty of ride.
Feeling great, full of energy, and in the mood to attack technical climbs on expert rated trails – you can have three hours of that. Feeling like hitting some jumps, riding some berms, going fast, and climbing gradually on expert rated trails – you can have three hours of that too.
The ability to completely separate your rides into a tough and technical day on the bike vs. a fun and easy day on the bike while riding the exact same trail system is pretty unique, and extremely difficult to do without the amount of distance the Don Valley offers.
Of course, this applies to the other trail difficulties as well, providing completely unique rides and days for any level of rider.
All that said, the magic really comes together when you start linking the different trails together, going from the most technical and challenging expert trails to the fun and flowy intermediate trails to jump trails with drops and gaps abound.
The freedom to go and ride whatever you want at a moment’s notice is pretty special, and allows for an engaging trail system that never gets boring.
The Ability to Challenge Yourself
Another standout of the Don is its ability to challenge you.
With the uniqueness and variety of the 170+ kilometers of trails, there is a trail or feature somewhere that you’re sure to find challenging and likely unable to ride the first time you come upon it.
For those interested in progressing, always trying to become a better mountain bike rider, the Don is sure to help you out.
For me personally, I came from a downhill mountain bike background, never riding much cross-country or all mountain trails outside of Albion Hills until I was 24. As a result, my technical climbing abilities were subpar to say the least, as I’d often struggle with any sort of off-camber, rooty, or steep climb.
Considering the Don has many of these, I actually found myself frustrated and discouraged by trails like Catalyst and Party Atmosphere (more on those later) as I was simply unable to ride any of the climbs. 9 times out of 10 I’d find myself hike-a-biking up the climbs, getting passed by seasoned locals who made it look easy.
However, over time and many, many attempts, I began to get the hang of it and my technique, strength, and cardio all improved. What used to be impossible, discouraging and exhausting climbs started to become motivating, and a variety of challenges I would look forward to conquering on my next ride.
Now, not only do I find myself able to ride more times than not the most challenging climbs in the Don, but I find other difficult trails and features at other trail systems to be many magnitudes easier than I did prior to challenging myself on the Don Valley mountain bike trails.
Because of the unsanctioned trails, unburdened by conventional grade standards, you’re unlikely to find more challenging and difficult climbs anywhere else in Ontario. So, for me, someone who struggled with technical climbs, this was a great opportunity to challenge myself and become a better mountain biker – something no other trail system in Ontario has done for me to the same extent.
So, if you’re looking to challenge some of your weaknesses and become a better mountain biker then be sure to check out the Don. And if you’re unsure of what trails may challenge your weaknesses, then let me know in the comments below and I can point you in the right direction!
PS – There are several bike parks in Toronto and the GTA where you can continue to challenge yourself and improve your skills. I wrote about them, as well as several other great bike parks in Ontario, in my post, “The Best Ontario Bike Parks: 12 Places You Need to Ride“. Give it a read to learn more!
The Location in Downtown Toronto
The trails are unique, there’s a lot of variety, and you can challenge yourself – that’s the foundation of why you should visit the Don.
But the cherry on top is its location in downtown Toronto – it’s different, it’s cool, and it’s something no other trail system can offer.
For me, there’s some sort of hidden magic to the juxtaposition of riding your mountain bike in a major city. As if it should almost be forbidden, that it’s just too unnatural to be partaking in my favourite outdoor activity, a sport I love, in the heart of a concrete urban jungle surrounded by millions of people who’ve never even ridden a mountain bike.
The fact that us mountain bikers have our own hidden gem, our own little oasis, amongst the sprawl of Toronto is pretty special and something I often find myself appreciating while I leave the city streets and enter the dirt trails of the forest.
It’s a remarkable feeling and something I hope anyone visiting the Don can experience.
On the flip side, the location of the Don Valley mountain bike trails in downtown Toronto lends itself well to the multitude of other events and activities the City of Toronto has to offer.
For us local to Toronto, it’s easy to simply jump on our bikes and go for a ride. But for those visiting from outside of the city, it’s not quite so easy, and likely requires a day or weekend trip to make it happen.
Luckily for you, the entire city is there for the taking, right at the doorstep of the mountain bike trails. From restaurants and bars to sporting events and concerts, Toronto is bursting at the seams with activities for everyone.
So, why not make a trip of it?
There’s not many places in the world where you can ride three hours of amazing mountain bike trails in the morning, grab lunch at a world class restaurant in the afternoon, and see a favourite artist perform that evening.
The next time you have a trip planned to Toronto, whatever the reason may be, try to bring along your bike and get a ride or two in. Or, if you’re specifically coming to Toronto to ride the Don, check out other events and activities happening in the city.
Whatever it is, make the most of your trip, and don’t miss out on everything Toronto has to offer!
PS – You can also bike at Tommy Thompson Park. While not as adventurous as the Don, it provides great views of the city and a relaxing ride through yet another urban wilderness. You can learn more by reading my post, “Tommy Thompson Bike Park Trail: Everything You Need to Know“.
The Best Mountain Bike Trails in The Don Valley
Thanks for making it this far! I hope it means you’re on your way to the Don the next chance you get. If so, make sure to check out the following trails!
*Side note – All the trails in the Don are two-way trails. That said, the direction shown in the Trailforks maps below is the direction I ride the trails in and thus my descriptions of the trails really only apply to riding them in the same direction*
Motown
At the top of my list of favourite mountain bike trails in the Don is Motown. It’s a glorious 3.8km of challenging but doable black diamond singletrack full of technical descents, punchy climbs, flowy flat sections, and high speed downhills, all of which seem to go on forever. It’s a masterclass in trail building and a can’t miss ride for anyone visiting the Don.
Catalyst
The first trail I ever rode in the Don was Catalyst. A classic and well-loved trail, Catalyst is another black diamond trail (although much more difficult than Motown, IMO) that offers some of the most technical climbs in the entire system, sure to challenge even the most competent of climbers. Bench cut into the valley wall, the exposure is high, and provides for a unique and memorable ride as you try to cling on to the trail.
Party Atmosphere / Party Down
At the end of Catalyst comes Part Atmosphere and Party Down, two other classic and highly trafficked trails. Both primarily downhill, they are your reward for making it to the top of the leg burning climbs of Catalyst that proceed them. For those that love high speeds, jumps, and a wall ride or two, these are the trails for you.
By the way, if high speed downhill trails are your thing, you should consider visiting Copeland Forest. It has some of the biggest vertical in Ontario, with 3-5 minute descents being the norm. You can learn more by reading my post, “Copeland Forest Mountain Biking: A Simcoe County Classic“.
RollerFlowster
RollerFlowster is another high speed, bike park-esque trail featuring some of the wildest features in the Don. Aptly named, RollerFlowster closely resembles the ups and downs of a roller coaster, full of blind rollovers, huge G-outs, drops, jumps, and berms. Make sure to hold on tight as you rocket your way down this mad trail.
The Flats
Every trail system needs a fun, fast, and flowy green or blue trail that’s effortless to ride and always a good time. For the Don, The Flats is that trail. As the name suggests, The Flats is a completely flat, traversing alongside the west side of the Don Valley river. Whether you’re a beginner just starting out or someone more experienced looking to go full out, The Flats is a great option.
If you’re just discovering the sport of mountain biking and have yet to buy a mountain bike, consider reading our post, “How to Buy Your First Mountain Bike” to make sure you buy the right mountain bike for you!
Donaconda
A relatively new trail to the Don, Donaconda is an expert level trail featuring steep climbs, janky traverses, and mandatory jumps. It’s a challenging ride, particularly the janky traverses, but the downhill sections are a blast and it’s one of the few trails in the Don where you can fully let off the brakes and hit some decently sized drops and jumps.
Pottery Road Climb / Pottery Road to 3 Rocks / Pottery Road Downhill
These three trails, albeit connected and really just one trail, are the last of my favourite trails in the Don. Unlike the trails listed above, I ride Pottery Road to 3 Rocks in both directions, hitting the Pottery Road Climb heading north and the Pottery Road Downhill coming back south. These trails are great in both directions, providing an unrelenting climb on the way up and a ripping downhill on the way back down. For anyone starting their ride at the southern end of the valley, this proves to be a great start and finish to your ride, warming you up for what’s to come on the way in and rewarding you for all your hard work on the way out.
Where to Start Your Mountain Bike Ride in The Don Valley?
This is probably the most frequently asked question I see on facebook groups when people are first considering visiting the Don. With so many access points it can certainly be overwhelming trying to choose exactly where you want to start.
And while there’s no definitive “best starting point”, there are some spots that offer ample parking space, easy access, and most importantly, lend themselves well to riding a great loop with little to no doubling back. Let’s take a look at some of these!
Redway Road / Loblaws Parking Lot
The go to parking spot for many is the Loblaws parking lot on Redway Road. With ample space, parking on even the busiest of days is no problem. It’s also easily accessible, being just a short drive from the DVP.
But, most importantly, it starts you off at the southern end of the Don, with the majority of the trails to the north. This makes navigation easy, as it’s a simple out and back loop from where you started. Plus, due to the popularity of this starting point, the trails leading to and from it are some of the best maintained in the entire system. For anyone visiting the Don for the first time, I would start here.
ET Seton Park
Further north into the Don is ET Seton Park. Again, there is ample parking space, meaning finding a spot is rarely an issue. Access is a bit trickier though, with only one laneway in from Thorncliffe Park Drive which is highly trafficked by pedestrians and bikers.
That said, it does place you at the heart of the Don, with trails going off in four completely separate directions. This leaves lots of options for those parking here, letting you choose which route you want to tackle that day. It’s also good for longer days, since you can circle back to your car after tackling one route, take a break, and then head out the other direction.
Sunnybrook Park
At the northern end of the Don is Sunnybrook Park. Just like the other two spots, there is ample parking, although Sunnybrook does tend to fill up quicker than the other two on busy days. That said, it’s easily accessible from the DVP/Eglinton.
Just like the Loblaws parking lot, Sunbrook places you at one end of the Don, leaving the majority of the trails in front of you, once again leaving pretty easy navigation. One downfall of Sunnybrook being at the northern end is the majority of the more difficult and fun trails (Catalyst, Party Atmosphere, etc.) ride best south-to-north, meaning you have to ride some of the easier trails south (Swamp, Beaver Tail, Beaver Flats) from Sunnybrook before you can turn back north to ride the better and more fun trails. This can also make for a bit of a disproportionate ride, with the first half being very easy while the second half is more difficult and strenuous.
My Two Favourite Mountain Bike Routes in the Don Valley
You can certainly jump onto Trailforks and try to find the most popular trails and heavily tracked routes throughout the Don. But, that’s time-consuming and not a guaranteed way of finding an enjoyable ride.
So, let me share with you my two favourite routes in the Don!
Want to follow along next time you’re in the Don?
If you have Trailforks downloaded on your phone, you can click on this link to follow the first route, and this link to follow the second. Don’t have Trailforks downloaded? You can find download links for both iOS and Android here.
Try out both routes and let me know which one you prefer. I’d love to hear your thoughts below!
Trailforks
I highly recommend downloading Trailforks and using it during rides at new and unfamiliar trail systems. Even with great signage, which direction or trail to turn onto next isn’t always clear. By having Trailforks, especially if you’re following a predefined route, that problem disappears and you’ll quickly know where to go during your ride.
Strava
If you don’t know already, Strava is a fantastic app if you’re interested in tracking your rides. It not only lets you compare yourself to your previous rides, but it also let’s you see how you stack up compared to others riding the same trails as you. For those of you that are competitive, this is a lot of fun. You can download Strava here.
My Final Thoughts
It may take some getting used to, but once you get to know it, the Don provides an unforgettable mountain bike experience. Why? Because you’re going to ride trails unlike anything you’ve ridden before in a place you never expected to be riding your bike in the first place. It may be hard to believe, but Canada’s largest city hosts some of Ontario’s best mountain bike trails, full of great flow, challenging jank, and everything in between. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience, and something every mountain biker in Ontario should enjoy at least once!
– Garrett
Pros
+ Unique trail building keeps the ride interesting
+ Great variety of trails for every skill level
+ Lots of opportunity to challenge yourself on difficult terrain and features
+ Ample accessibility and parking
+ Disperses traffic well; relatively quiet compared to other trail systems
+ Located in the heart of Toronto next to endless other events and activities
+ Offers winter options as well with lots of fat biking trails
+ Close to several bike shops in case you need an emergency fix
Cons
– Doesn’t drain well; very slippery after rain
– Trails can become quite overgrown in the summer
– Two-way traffic can lead to near-miss collisions
– Valley-side trails struggle with erosion, often leading to washouts
– Noisy and smelly at times
Stats
Singletrack Length: 170+ KM
Total Trails: 363
Trail Type: Varied
Average Trail Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Trail Difficulties: Doubletrack (127), Green (88), Blue (80), Black (56), Double Black (12)
Best Trail: Motown
Max Elevation Change: 131M or 430ft
Terrain Type: Varied
Skill: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Expert
Facilities: Parking Lots
Cost: Free
Local Association: Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
Other Groups: Don Valley MTB / Don’t Mess with the Don
Hey Garrett, I just wanted to let you know the Don Valley MTB trail article is great. The four main arms of the Don system are at my doorstep (centered at Don Mills/DVP) and I ride at least once a week in season. You did a great job capturing the flavour of the Don, and reminded me how lucky we are (without giving away all the trails 😉 ) Lots of good information for those looking to discover the area.
I have a few comments.
The total trail count and length is a bit misleading. That must include everything in Toronto, not connected to the Don. Impressive, but hard to access them all.
Elevation change is typically no more than 30 meters from river to top of most ravines. I think the 130 Meter figure must come when measured from Lake Ontario to some point around Sheppard Ave. That said, I can still get in 300M of climbing in a typical 60 or 90 minute trail ride.
The soil is primarily clay based (good for brick making) and is quite hard packed on most trails. Any trail with a slope actually drains very well, and doesn’t hold water, unless in a gully or hole. I never advocate riding immediately after the rain, but a 1/2 day of sun or wind is plenty to dry out the trails to avoid any damage.
I hope we can meet on the trail sometime!
Norm
Hey Norm, thanks for the comment – glad you enjoyed the post! The total trail length and max elevation change come from Trailforks (which I always use for those stats to ensure consistency across different trail networks). As for drainage, you’re right – perhaps simply saying it’s slippery when wet is a better way to describe it. Happy riding!
Great article but the best trail in the Don is Trash Panda 😉
Thank you – I’ve been meaning to update the post to include Trash Panda and Climbmax under the best trails!
A lot of damage done in the Don Valley. Damaged tree roots and erosion. Grew up close to the East Don region and have seen unmeasurable damage done to the hills on the ravine.
Unfortunately this is a constant struggle in the Don. The amount of heavy rains we’ve had this year has made it especially bad. The trail builders do a great job mitigating it, but there’s only so much they can do when entire hillsides start to come down from decades of erosion.
Thanks for the great overview of the Don Valley network….I live in eastern Ontario and was looking around on Trailforks for some new areas to ride, never thought about bringing my bike to Toronto but likely will next time I visit!
No problem! Absolutely bring your bike – the Don’s so good!