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Sport & OutdoorFamily FavoriteOutdoor Adventure

High Park

1873 Bloor St W · Toronto, ON

Why you should go…

High Park was donated to the city by architect John George Howard in 1873 and now covers about 400 acres in the city's west end. It includes a small free zoo, Grenadier Pond for skating in winter, and Hillside Gardens. The Sakura cherry trees near Bloor and Parkside draw huge crowds for a couple of weeks each spring.

  • #park
  • #trails
  • #cherry-blossoms
  • #free-zoo

Good to know

General sport & outdoor guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Weather calls the shots

    Check the forecast the morning of and keep an indoor backup in your pocket for the day it turns.

  • Shoes, water, sun cover

    The three things that decide whether you last the whole outing or cut it short after an hour.

  • Parking and launches fill early

    On a nice weekend, lots and trailheads are often full by mid-morning.

  • Daylight shrinks in shoulder season

    Spring and fall visits need an earlier start than the same trip in July.

What's around here?

The closest stops to High Park, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sightseeing
    Quirky Fun

    Graffiti Alley

    Free

    A block-long laneway of ever-changing murals that has become the city's most photographed backstreet.

    3.1 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Shopping
    Local Gem

    Kensington Market

    Free

    A scruffy, colorful grid of vintage shops, spice stores, and street murals with a proudly independent streak.

    3.2 mi awaySwitch it up: Shopping

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Casa Loma

    $25–$50

    Wander a full-blown Gothic Revival castle, complete with secret passages and manicured gardens, in midtown Toronto.

    3.5 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Museums
    Rainy-Day Pick

    Art Gallery of Ontario

    $25–$50

    One of North America's biggest art museums, with the world's largest public Group of Seven collection.

    3.6 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Family Favorite

    Toronto Islands

    Free

    Hop a ferry to a car-free island chain with sandy beaches and the classic postcard view of the skyline.

    4.6 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Family Favorite

    Toronto Zoo

    $25–$50

    North America's largest zoo, with over 450 species spread across a forested Scarborough valley.

    18 mi awayMore like this