A 70 km loop through Toronto's east end. Out along the lake and through Scarborough, up Highland Creek to the Meadoway, then back down the Don Valley to where you started.
Distance
70 km
Elevation
381 m
Ride time
2.5–3.5 hr
Difficulty
Moderate
The route
About this ride
One big loop of the east end, from the beaches to the meadows and back down the valley, with coffee and a bagel about halfway round.
The Meadoway is a 16 km hydro corridor across Scarborough that the local conservation authority and the City have been turning from mown grass into native meadow, with a paved trail running through it. When it is finished it will link the Don River ravine to Rouge National Urban Park. For now the trail ends at Eglinton Avenue East, and this loop uses it as the way back toward downtown.
The ride starts by the lake and heads east on the Waterfront Trail past Woodbine Beach, then climbs up into Scarborough on residential back streets. Most of the climbing is in this stretch, but none of it is steep. The route comes back down toward the lake at Port Union for coffee at Mr Beans, about 34 km in, then follows the Highland Creek trail north to the Meadoway. Where the Meadoway ends there is a short run on streets, then a switchback drops you onto the East Don Trail, and the Don carries you back to the start.
The coffee stop is a short detour off the Waterfront Trail. If you would rather skip it, keep left where the route turns up toward Port Union and you save about 4 km. Expect some stop and go where the Meadoway crosses streets, and give yourself enough daylight: the ravines get dark well before sunset.
Along the way
6 of 6 showing
0 km · Sherbourne St at Queens Quay E, Toronto
We started at the foot of Sherbourne Street by the lake and headed east on the Waterfront Trail. As it is a loop, you can just as easily join from the Beach, the Meadoway or the Don if one of those is closer to home.
~32 km · near the Port Union turn-off
There was construction on the Waterfront Trail around the turn up to Port Union when we rode it, but you could still get through. Worth slowing down for.
~34 km · 5550 Lawrence Ave E, Scarborough
An independent cafe that has been a Port Union fixture for years. Coffee, lattes and pastries, and bagel sandwiches that make a good mid-ride stop. Worth checking their hours before you set off.
Open in Maps →~36 to 43 km · Highland Creek
A lovely stretch of trail along the creek, with a few short sections of dirt and sand. Take those steady.
~52 km · over the bus lanes
Partway along the Meadoway the route crosses the bus lanes on the Moorgate bridge. You will need to get off and walk the bike over.
~59 km · into the Don Valley
A fun switchback path drops you into the valley onto the East Don Trail. Take your time on it, and be ready to get off and walk if there are people on the path.
From the ride
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