The trail network surrounding the Evergreen Brick Works reveals Toronto's geological story in exposed quarry walls — limestone, shale, and glacial till layers that formed during the last ice age. The quarry ponds attract migratory waterfowl, the native plant meadow is managed by Evergreen, and the Don River trail connects to a city-spanning ravine system.
Neighbourhood: Cabbagetown / Don Valley · Address: 550 Bayview Ave, Don Valley, Toronto · Hours: Grounds open daily (market: Sat mornings, seasonal) — free to enter
Why Visit
You can literally see Toronto's ancient geology as you walk past centuries-old rock layers and the old quarry walls. It’s a spot where the city’s wild side is a quick bike or transit ride from downtown.
What Makes It Unique
Unlike other park trails, here you walk through an exposed former quarry, with boards explaining the layers of shale and limestone. The trail blends industrial relics, sculptures, and dedicated rewilding zones—a combo you won’t find at, say, High Park. The ponds also draw surprising birdlife right in the city.
The Evergreen Brick Works is well-known as a cultural hub and farmers' market venue — but the trail network surrounding it reveals a more extraordinary story. The old Don Valley Brick Works quarry (operating from 1889 to 1984) cut into the valley walls and exposed geological layers that have become one of Toronto's most visible records of deep time.\n\nThe quarry walls show a compressed geological section: at the base, ancient limestone and shale from the Ordovician period (450+ million years ago); above that, layers deposited during multiple glacial advances and retreats over the last 100,000 years; and at the top, post-glacial soils from the last 10,000 years. This geological record is rare in an urban context and was a major factor in the decision to preserve the site.\n\nThe Evergreen-managed natural areas include a native plant meadow restoration — a mix of prairie grasses, wildflowers, and shrubs that provide habitat for pollinators and serve as a model for urban ecological restoration. The quarry ponds (formed in the former clay extraction pits) are staging areas for migratory waterfowl in spring and fall — ducks, herons, and occasionally more unusual species stop here during migration.\n\nThe Don River trail runs through the Brick Works site and connects to a city-spanning ravine trail system that ultimately extends to Lake Ontario. The site is bicycle-accessible from the Don Valley bike path, making it an easy cycling destination from downtown Toronto.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to do at Evergreen Brick Works beyond the market?
Beyond the Saturday farmers' market, Evergreen Brick Works has trail networks through the former quarry and natural areas, quarry pond birdwatching, native plant meadow, a geological section in the quarry walls worth examining, and connection to the Don Valley trail system. Programs include environmental education events, garden workshops, and nature walks.
How do I get to the Brick Works trails by bike?
The Evergreen Brick Works is directly accessible from the Don Valley bike trail — a dedicated cycling and multi-use path that runs through the Don Valley from Rosedale Ravine south to the waterfront. From downtown, it's approximately 20 minutes by bike. The Martin Goodman Trail also connects.
What birds can be seen at the Brick Works quarry ponds?
The Brick Works quarry ponds attract a variety of waterfowl during spring and fall migration, including dabbling ducks (mallards, teals), diving ducks (lesser scaup, bufflehead), and occasionally rarer species. Great blue herons are resident year-round. The adjacent native plant meadow attracts passerine migrants in season.
What is the geological significance of the Brick Works quarry walls?
The Don Valley Brick Works quarry walls expose a compressed section of geological time — Ordovician limestone (450+ million years old) at the base, multiple glacial deposit layers from the Pleistocene ice ages, and post-glacial soils at the top. This sequence documents the comings and goings of the Laurentide Ice Sheet through the Toronto area over the past 100,000+ years and is one of Toronto's most significant geological sites.