A 12km trail through a ravine park in East York that most west-siders have never visited. Taylor Creek runs through forested ravine to the Don River — a complete wilderness experience accessible by TTC. The trilliums in spring are extraordinary.
Neighbourhood: East York · Address: 1672 O'Connor Dr, Toronto, ON · Hours: Open 24 hours · Price Range: Free · Editorial status: Not yet verified
Taylor Creek Park lets you trade city traffic for a 12km forested trail alongside a babbling creek, all within walking distance of the subway. Spring brings a shock of trilliums, while fall is all about quiet, leaf-crunching miles.
Unlike crowded High Park or the Don Valley trails, Taylor Creek feels genuinely secluded and unspoiled, even on weekends. The creek-side path is long, mostly flat, and sheltered by mature hardwoods, making it one of the few Toronto trails where you can walk for an hour and barely see another soul. Plus, the trillium displays in May rival those of provincial parks without ever leaving the city.
If you’re in Toronto in summer and want a place that feels both completely public and somehow still half-secret, go to Sunnyside Gus Ryder Pool. It’s huge — not “city pool huge,” but actually enormous, a full 100 metres long, which makes it the largest outdoor pool in Canada. The first time you see it, it’s a bit surreal: this massive rectangle of bright blue water sitting right beside Lake Ontario, with the Martin Goodman Trail rolling past and the old Sunnyside Pavilion watching over the whole scene. What I love about Sunnyside is that it doesn’t feel overly polished or precious. It feels used, in the best way. You get lane swimmers doing serious sets at one end, kids splashing and clinging to pool noodles at the other, parents camped out with towels and snacks, and groups of friends who biked down and decided to spend the afternoon there because, honestly, why not? It’s free, which still feels kind of miraculous in a city where a summer day can get expensive fast. The setting is what makes it special. You’re swimming outdoors with the lake just steps away, and there’s something very Toronto about looking up from the water and seeing the pavilion, the boardwalk energy, the cyclists, the sky opening wide over the waterfront. The heritage Sunnyside Pavilion adds a lot to the atmosphere too. It’s not just a backdrop — it has change rooms, and the café next door makes it easy to turn a swim into a proper half-day. You can do laps, dry off in the sun, grab a coffee or something cold, and just hang around without needing a big plan. If you can, go on a weekday morning before 11. That’s the move. Even in peak summer, it’s surprisingly calm then, and you get the best version of the place: quieter water, fewer kids zigzagging into your lane, more room to spread out, and that slightly smug feeling of having figured something out that other people haven’t. Later in the afternoon, especially on hot weekends, it gets much busier. Still fun, just louder and more chaotic. It’s also a great pick if you’re with family. Because the pool is so big, it never feels as cramped as smaller city pools can, and there’s enough going on that everyone can have their own version of the day. Serious swimmers can actually swim. Kids can burn off energy. People who just want to sun themselves and dip in every so often can do that too. Sunnyside is one of those places Torontonians tend to mention a little quietly, like they don’t want to ruin it. And I get it. There really isn’t another spot in the city — or honestly in Canada — with this exact combination of giant outdoor pool, lakeside setting, and beautiful old pavilion. Bring sunscreen, water, and flip-flops for the deck. The pool is at 1755 Lake Shore Blvd W, and in summer it’s open Monday to Thursday from 11:00 AM to 7:45 PM, Friday and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 7:45 PM, and Sunday from 11:00 AM to 7:45 PM. Go once, and you’ll understand why people keep coming back.
WTF Toronto creates guides using independent editorial research, official sources, local knowledge and firsthand experience where available. Commercial relationships are disclosed where applicable.