Tommy Thompson Park Bike Trail: Everything You Need to Know

Jutting out into Lake Ontario lies Tommy Thompson Park, a wasteland turned natural urban wilderness perfectly situated for a quick bike ride to escape hectic city life.

Biking at Tommy Thompson Park: An Overview

You want to ride the Tommy Thompson Park bike trail but aren’t sure what to expect. Not to worry! Here’s everything you need to know.

Tommy Thompson Park Trail Map

This overview will be much easier to understand if you have a visual of what I’m talking about.

So, here is an often-asked-for trail map of the Tommy Thompson Park bike trails from Trailforks! Take a minute to open it up and poke around to see what the park offers.

Tommy Thompson Park on Trailforks.com

I highly recommend downloading Trailforks onto your phone if you haven’t done so already. It’s an extremely helpful app that helps you navigate virtually any trail system in Canada. You can find download links for both iOS and Android here.

Entrance

The primary entrance to Tommy Thompson Park is at the foot of Leslie Street, just south of Lake Shore Boulevard.

Getting There by Car

You’ll find a dedicated parking lot at the primary entrance and additional parking just across the street on Unwin Avenue. Both spots are free.

Tommy Thompson Park is most easily accessed via the Gardiner Expressway and/or Don Valley Parkway, but I definitely recommend using Waze or some other navigation app to help you avoid traffic.

Getting There by Bike

If you are coming by bike, you can use the Toronto Waterfront Trail to access the primary entrance at the foot of Leslie Street. You can also access the park by bike via the Leslie Spit Connector, which splits off the Toronto Waterfront Trail on Unwin Avenue, just west of the primary entrance.

Getting There by Transit

If you are looking to access the park by transit, your best bet is to head to the Commissioners Street bus stop at Commissioners and Leslie. This will drop you off less than 5 minutes north of the main entrance.

This stop is accessed by the 83 bus, which connects with the 501, 502, 503 and 506 streetcar routes and the 56 and 31B bus routes.

You can use the TTC’s trip planner to help get you there!

Hours

Tommy Thompson Park does have opening and closing hours. There are as follows:

• Weekday Evenings 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• Weekends and Holidays 5:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Keep in mind these hours if you plan on visiting.

Cost

Luckily for you, Tommy Thompson Park is free to access!

That said, the Toronto and Region Conservation Foundation manages the park. It has done and continues to do a great job helping the area transition into a wildlife park. 

If you’d like to contribute to their efforts, you can make a donation here.

Length

The total length of the Tommy Thompson Park bike trail is roughly 10 km, 5 km out to the point and another 5 km back to the entrance.

Some additional trails divert off the main park road, which can add 2-3 extra kilometres to your ride.

Terrain

The primary bike trail is paved and completely flat, allowing for a leisurely ride that lets you take in the surrounding views.

As mentioned above, some additional trails divert off the main trails. These are gravel and, thus, are slightly more challenging to ride, especially if you’re riding a bike with narrower tires.

Another thing to watch out for when riding some side trails is the debris from which Tommy Thompson Park is made.

You may not know, but the park itself is built from construction waste, meaning everything you see is on top of concrete, glass, metal, and all sorts of other objects that may not be the kindest to your bike.

Just something to keep an eye out for!

Skill Level

The bike trails at Tommy Thompson Park are wide, flat, and paved, providing an ideal place for beginner bikers and kids.

Of course, any skill level can bike here, but for those more advanced, don’t expect any challenging ride.

Riding at Tommy Thompson Park is more about taking in the surroundings and going for a leisurely stroll than riding hard and finding a challenge.

If you’re discovering the sport of mountain biking and looking to buy your first bike, consider reading our post, “How to Buy Your First Mountain Bike,” to ensure you buy the right bike for you!

Facilities

There are washrooms at the park’s primary entrance and portable toilets along the trail itself. The availability of portable toilets varies by season, so I recommend using those at the entrance before venturing into the park.

There is also no running water available, so be sure to bring your own when visiting, especially if it’s a hot day.

Highlights

Toronto Skyline

Tommy Thompson Park provides multiple opportunities for a great view of the Toronto skyline. 

Being so far out into Lake Ontario (even further than the Toronto Islands) gives you a unique vantage point of the city, one that simply can’t be found anywhere else unless you’re on a boat!

So, be sure to stop and take a moment to appreciate Toronto’s skyline in all its glory.

Toronto Harbour Lighthouse

You’ll find the Toronto Harbour Lighthouse at the southern tip of Tommy Thompson Park.

While this isn’t an old, historical, or picturesque lighthouse, it does serve as a lovely destination when you set off for your ride, and being at the tip of the peninsula and above the surrounding area allows for a different view of the lake and surrounding areas.

Bird Watching

Tommy Thompson Park is a bird-watching paradise, with more than 316 species having visited the area at some point in time.

The shorelines are packed full of various species of waterfowl, and the trees are brimming with raptors ready to swoop down and grab the first mouse or rabbit they see.

Other Activities

There are a variety of other activities you can partake in when visiting Tommy Thompson Park.

Of course, just as you can bike on the trails throughout the park, you can also rollerblade, walk or run. Come wintertime and a bit of snow, those same trails become a great place to snowshoe, cross country ski, or fat bike.

The variety of wildlife and bird species, along with the spectacular views of the city, also provides ample photography opportunities for those who would like to bring a camera with them.

One last activity that requires more planning is fishing. For those looking to rent a rod, the park recommends you follow these steps to ensure they are available when you visit:

• Call park staff at 416-990-8058 to ensure rods are available
• Visit the Nature Centre (formerly Staff Booth), which is open from 10AM to 5PM
• Fill out a quick sign-out form
• Go fishing
• Return gear the same day

Finally, if you want to extend your bike ride and or want more challenging terrain, check out the Don Valley to the north of Tommy Thompson Park. You can read my post, “Don Valley Mountain Bike Trails: The Ultimate Guide to Toronto’s One-of-a-Kind Mountain Bike Trails,” to learn more!

If you want to improve your skills, Toronto’s Crothers Woods Skill Park/Pump Track and Sunnyside Bike Park are worth checking out. You can learn more about them and ten other bike parks in Ontario by reading my post, “The Best Ontario Bike Parks: 12 Places You Need to Ride.”

Restrictions

There are a few restrictions to remember when visiting Tommy Thompson Park. These include:

• No e-bikes
• No dogs
• No swimming

Also, as a designated Important Bird Area and Environmentally Significant Area, it’s essential to stay on the trails, don’t remove anything from the park (plants, rocks, wildlife, etc.), and do not engage in any activities that disturb or affect the natural behaviours of wildlife. 

You can learn more about Tommy Thompson Park’s policies here:

• No Pets Policy
• Owl Policy
• Wildlife Observing and Reporting Policy

Final Thoughts

Tommy Thompson Park is a natural oasis on the edge of a bustling city. For those who like to hit the reset button by immersing themselves in nature for a few hours, Tommy Thompson Park is a great place to go.

It’s a peaceful and relaxing bike ride, full of fresh air, stunning vistas, smooth trails, vibrant wildflowers, and a diversity of animals not often seen in Ontario, much less in a major city like Toronto. Get out there, go for a ride, and let me know what you think in the comments below!

Garrett