The Humber River Recreational Trail (or Humber Trail) is a popular paved and signed multi-use trail in west Toronto that runs north-south along the Humber River, from Lake Ontario in the south to Steeles Avenue in the north. From tip-to-tip it is nearly 25 km long. The Humber Trail (alternatively known as the William Granger Greenway) also passes through the Kortright Centre for Conservation in Vaughn, though it is not contiguous with the Toronto section.
The Humber Trail is a relatively flat trail and is accessible to a wide variety of users and abilities. There is, however, one staircase leading up to/down from Weston Road at Mallaby Park. On any given day, you’ll find cyclists, runners, and pedestrians enjoying the mix of natural and urban landscapes. Winter users take notice that the trail is not maintained and you may find sections to be quite icy/snowy/slushy.
Trail Description (South to North)
The southern terminus is the Humber Bay Arch Bridge and passes beneath the Gardiner Expressway and Queensway Avenue. It goes through South Humber Park and the Humber Marshes before heading up a steep hill to Stephen Drive. The trail then passes through a residential neighbourhood for approximately 1 km requiring cyclists to use a painted bike lane and pedestrians sidewalks until King’s Mill Park
At the top of the hill just beyond the Toronto Humber Yacht Club, there is a section that offers great views of the Humber River. It then crosses beneath the Bloor Street steel arch bridge and Line 2 Bloor Subway line. This is a great spot to access the trail by public transit via Old Mill Station. From the station, walk down the Old Mill Road hill or via a staircase from Bloor Street West. At the bottom of the hill, the trail passes the iconic Old Mill Toronto before crossing the Humber River over top the Old Mill Stone Bridge (c. 1916).
Once across the bridge enter into Etienne Brule Park. As you continue north, you’ll rewarded with beautiful views of the Carolinian deciduous forests and the Humber River. About 3 km northwards, you’ll cross a wooden pedestrian bridge built atop the remaining Guelph Radial Line Bridge footings (c. 1917). This is a great place to enjoy the surroundings. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a train crossing the 171 m long Lambton Canadian Pacific Railway bridge (c. 1874). From here, the trail is twinned with an additional gravel/dirt path (not wheelchair accessible) for approximately 1.5 km through Lambton Woods and James Gardens.
At Eglinton Avenue, the trail connects with the east-west paved Eglinton West Path. You will need to cross Eglinton Aveune here if continuing northwards. You will come to the Ukrainian Canadian Memorial followed by a short but steep hill down into Raymore Park. Within the valley, the trail meanders and crosses the river once again before coming to Cruickshank Park. If you want to continue northbound, you will have to take a staircase up to (down from) Weston Road where you will be required to use busy Weston Road. You can bypass the stairs by taking a ramp up to Weston Road, just beyond the playground in Cruickshank Park, but this option requires a longer 1 km traverse along Weston Road before rejoining with other users. If you take the stairs, your distance along Weston Road is about 350 m. Turn onto Fairglen Crescent to rejoin the separated trail at Crawford-Jones Memorial Park.
From Crawford-Jones Memorial Park, you will travel beneath Highway 401. The trail then connects with the West Humber Recreational Trail at Summerlea park—a separate trail leading to westwards to Humber College and the Humber Arboretum. You will then meander for an additional 5 km through forests and meadows, crisscrossing the river multiple times, before reaching the northern limit at North Humber Park on Steeles Avenue.
Major Access Points
By Public Transit (as of March, 2021):
- 501 Queen & 508 Lakeshore streetcar
- Old Mill subway station
- Weston GO/UP Express with a 500 m walk/run along Lawrence Ave. W.
- Multiple bus routes including (but not limited to) 60 BD Steeles Ave. W., 36 AB Finch Ave. W., 84A Sheppard Ave. W., 52 Lawrence Ave. W., 32A Eglinton Ave. W, 40A Dundas Street W.
Parking for Cars:
- King’s Mill Park
- King’s Mill Park North
- Etienne Brule Park (parking lot closed during winter)
- James Gardens
- Weston Lions Park
- Crawford-Jones Memorial park
- Pine Point Park
- Blue Haven Park
- Rowntree Mills Park
By Other Trails:
- Martin Goodman Trail
- Eglinton West Path
- West Humber Recreational Trail