Canada Beaches
- Annapolis Valley Beaches
- Bayfield Beach
- Bluffers Park Beach
- Cape Blomidon Beach
- Cape Forchu Beaches
- Cape Forchu Light Station Beach
- Cavendish Beach
- Centre Island Beach
- Cherry Beach
- Cobourg Beach
- Evangeline Beach
- False Harbour Beach
- Grand Bend Beach
- Green Point Beach
- Halls Harbour Beach
- Hanlans Point Beach
- Hanlans Point Beach
- Johns Cove Beach
- Kew-Balmy Beach
- Kingsport Beach
- Marie Curtis Park Beach
- Mavillette Beach
- Pereau Beach
- Port Maitland Beach
- Port Stanley Beach
- Prince Edward Island Beaches
- Rouge Beach
- Sauble Beach
- Sunnyside Beach
- Toronto Beaches
- Wards Island Beach
- Wasaga Beach
- Woodbine Beach
- Wreck Beach
Claim to Fame
Repeatedly ranked the fourth most livable city in the world (after Vancouver, Vienna and Melbourne), Toronto is widely known for its ethnic mix, unique neighborhoods and beautiful shoreline, plus the lush and lovely Toronto Islands just off the shore.
- Where are they? on the north shore of Lake Ontario in the province of Ontario; this is the southern edge of the city of Toronto
- Coordinates: latitude» 43.6676°
longitude» -79.2931° - Water Type: freshwater
- Climate: continental (hot, humid summers; cold, damp winters)
- Development: built-up urban area; part of major city
- Length of Beach:
- Type: beige sand
°C | °F
Wind: Kmph
Humidity: %
The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is home to more than 5 million people, about half of which were not born in the city, but came from elsewhere in Canada and the world. Because of its steamy hot summers, the beaches of Toronto are packed all season long with sunbathers and swimmers.
Recent efforts to improve the water quality of Lake Ontario, and thereby Toronto Beaches, have seen great improvements and a number of the local beaches have been awarded Blue Flag status. All city beaches post warnings when bacteria levels in the water make them unsafe for swimming. This generally only occurs during prolonged heat waves at the height of summer. Many beaches, such as Sunnyside Beach, also have public swimming pools, so there is a way to cool off!
Because Toronto Beaches are an integral part of the city, they are close to amenities such as public transportation (buses, streetcars and subway lines), and this makes them highly accessible. Most of the city’s beaches are within a short walk of restaurants, cafés (it is essential to grab a “Timmy’s” if you want to be part of the Toronto coffee scene!), bars and pubs, shops, and even libraries.
Toronto, along with other parts of southern Ontario, has a waterfront trail system, and it is possible to walk, literally, hundreds of miles along the shoreline. As the trail meanders along the Toronto section, it is paved, with a dividing line painted up the center; this is also separated in certain areas for pedestrian traffic and wheeled traffic, such as bicycles, rollerblades, and skateboards. Dogs are everywhere, walking and running with their owners, but Toronto has a strict stoop-and-scoop by-law.
The province of Ontario, which includes its capital city of Toronto, has a ”topless is okay” law, but most Canadians are fairly reserved and women will find that going topless at a beach may cause double-takes from onlookers. However, there are a few beaches that encourage topless sunbathing, and those are the best spots to exercise your right to “bare”!
Toronto Beaches run in a row along the long shoreline, and we have broken them down from west to east in their specific areas. Here are the Toronto Beaches you’ll be able to find at their individual pages on beach.org:
West End:
- Marie Curtis Park
- Sunnyside Beach
Toronto Island
- Hanlan’s Point
- Gibraltar Point
- Center Island
- Ward’s Island
Downtown Toronto
- Cherry Beach
East End
- Woodbine Beach
- Kew-Balmy Beach
Scarborough (extreme east end)
- Bluffers Park Beach
- Rouge Beach