Discover Toronto's hidden waterfront spots — Tommy Thompson Park, Humber Bay Arch Bridge, Governor's Bridge Lookout, Riverdale Park East, Colonel Samuel Smith Park, and the Scarborough Bluffs beyond the tourist trail.
Toronto's best hidden waterfront spots include Tommy Thompson Park (Leslie Street Spit) — an urban wilderness built from construction rubble with over 317 bird species; the Sunfish Cut inner lagoon inside Tommy Thompson Park; Humber Bay Park East with the Humber Bay Arch Bridge and the definitive Toronto skyline photograph; Colonel Samuel Smith Park in Etobicoke with quiet lakefront trails; Governor's Bridge Lookout above the Don Valley; and Sheldon Lookout in Scarborough Heights Park with panoramic lake views.
The best sunrise spots in Toronto include Riverdale Park East hilltop (panoramic south-facing skyline view), the Humber Bay Arch Bridge (looking east across the lake to the CN Tower), Cherry Beach (east-facing lake view from the Port Lands), and the Scarborough Bluffs at Bluffer's Park (elevated lake view from the cliff). Governor's Bridge Lookout is excellent for early morning ravine photography.
No — Tommy Thompson Park (Leslie Street Spit) is only open to the public on weekends and statutory holidays. The park is managed by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). Dogs are not permitted in order to protect the wildlife. No motor vehicles are allowed. The main access is on foot or bicycle from the eastern end of Commissioners Street.
Yes — the Scarborough Bluffs can be reached by TTC bus (Kingston Road routes) and then a walk through the neighbourhood to various Bluffs access points. Bluffer's Park at the base of the bluffs is accessible via TTC bus + walk. The elevated lookout points along Scarborough Heights can also be reached by bus. The bluff paths themselves are seasonal and some are formally closed due to erosion — always stay on marked safe paths.
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