Sunalini Rana

Cedar Trail is a scenic hiking trail located in Rouge National Urban Park. This trail offers nature enthusiasts and hikers a wonderful opportunity to explore the beauty of the park's diverse ecosystems. As you traverse Cedar Trail, you'll be surrounded by lush cedar forests, picturesque meadows, and tranquil streams. The trail provides a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, allowing visitors to connect with nature and enjoy the park's natural wonders.

The entrance to this park from Lawrence is easy to miss, and the parking is free but small. The trail is beautiful, and it is busier (but not crowded) on the weekend. There is another entrance from Moccasin Trail Park and there are few parking spots there too. We lost our way but still reached a playground at the end (phew, it’s not easy to bribe kids to walk.) An unique aspect of this trail was the hung stones depicting fluctuations in the Don’s water levels over the years. This art installation is done by Toronto artist Robert Sprachman and is entitled High Water Mark.
There is a BBQ area when entering from the Moccasin Trail park side.

There are a few spots available just beside the park for the parking. However, you can also park on the street. The garden is well-kept and clean. It leads to a trail to the waterfront, and it has some steep ups and downs. But you will enjoy the beauty of it. It’s not a very long train. Maybe One and a half km. But it’s beautiful. Due to the unstable bluffs, a portion of it is closed; however, I saw people were still crossing that area to dive into the water. On the other side of the Bluffs, you can see Scarborough Bluffs Park, but there is no access, unless you want to swim.

Our journey to cover the waterfront trail continues. West shore West Beach is spacious, and the water was cleaner than the other ideas I visited in the past. It was a hot day, so the weather was, however, the warm water was feeling good. This trail is not too quick, just one and a half km. It’s scenic, and people are Courteous. There are many empty spots between groups of people, so you can find a suitable picnic area by the beach if you are looking to spend a day with your loved ones.

I stumbled upon this park by chance, and I am so thankful that I did. Not only is this park stunning, but it also has a trail leading to a forest, with the beauty surrounding it from all sides. The parking is free and decent. The entrance to the park was closed, but the butterfly conservation area was open. The trail leads to a small beach. It’s about 2 kilometers long and not very tiring. The exact route also leads to a more considerable parking lot and a water treatment plant. There is a small hill here which gives you vast views of Lake Ontario.