Local Guides World
Best Bird watching areas in Canada
Top Rated Bird watching areas
O'Brien's Whale and Bird Tours
Discover Manuels River Trails
Tommy Thompson Park
Rouge National Urban Park
Wild Bird Trust of BC
Rouge National Urban Park
Kopegaron Woods Conservation Area
Kopegaron Woods Conservation Area
Albion Hills Conservation Park
Pelee Island Bird Observatory
Claireville Conservation Area
Hawk Hill
Top Reviewed Bird watching areas
Rouge National Urban Park
Rouge National Urban Park
Albion Hills Conservation Park
Tommy Thompson Park
Claireville Conservation Area
O'Brien's Whale and Bird Tours
Wild Bird Trust of BC
Kopegaron Woods Conservation Area
Kopegaron Woods Conservation Area
Discovery Ridge Ponds
Hawk Hill
Pelee Island Bird Observatory
Tommy Thompson Park
Rouge National Urban Park
O'Brien's Whale and Bird Tours
Kopegaron Woods Conservation Area
Hawk Hill
Kopegaron Woods Conservation Area
Albion Hills Conservation Park
Wild Bird Trust of BC
Rouge National Urban Park
Discover Manuels River Trails
Discovery Ridge Ponds
Pelee Island Bird Observatory
Reviews
Nice place to visit. You can choose to walk right by the water or up in the trees. Nice lookout points and a couple of rest areas
It was great relaxing walking the trails
enjoy many bird species, then oysters and clam chowder soup at the 🦀Crab Shack for lunch outside.
One of our favorite things to do for an afternoon it was lovely 👣👣👣👣🦆🦆🦆🦅🦆🦤🐦⬛🐦🐦🦀🦞🦐🦂⚘️⚘️🪻🌷🌿🌿🌿🌿
enjoy many bird species, then oysters and clam chowder soup at the 🦀Crab Shack for lunch outside.
One of our favorite things to do for an afternoon it was lovely 👣👣👣👣🦆🦆🦆🦅🦆🦤🐦⬛🐦🐦🦀🦞🦐🦂⚘️⚘️🪻🌷🌿🌿🌿🌿
Always a nice relaxing walk. And short enough you can decide to do 2 or 3 rounds.
I love this park. There are so many trails which you can explore and give you options to choose difficulty levels of hiking. My favorite one is the Vista trail starting near Twyn River Parking lot. It has got some elevation, there are a few points from which you can see the stunning forest growing downhill, and finally can catch the beautiful fall view from the Rouge platform.
A lovely place to walk during all seasons! It's nice and flat with easy trails, which is great for me because I'm rehabbing from a knee replacement. Most people you meet on the trails are very friendly and will smile and say hello, which is sometimes unusual for Vancouverites. I've deducted one star because they don't have any accessible parking spots and because the bathrooms aren't open when the wild bird store isn't open. A public place should have bathrooms available at all times.
I've been to the island many times, mostly for work, and there aren't many things that can surprise me but the the south shore certainly did. I had no idea it was rock. Gorgeous!
A gorgeous new disc golf course awaits you! Get outside and give this beautiful terrain a try. The holes are expertly designed with a balance between risk and reward with many of the holes challenging your strategy with unique shot shapes and elevation changes. We will be back again soon!
Good
Great place to walk and be one with nature.
My cousin took me and my wife here for a nice, leisurely hike. Twas a beautiful place and would probably be more breathtaking as the fall season progresses.
Unfortunately not that impressed with Albion Hills for camping. Seems you can park your trailer any way you want on your site. Guess this is because one hydro/water post serves 2 sites and i guess most folks don’t carry extension cords or extra water hoses.
Anyway here in early October and it was rather dumpy looking with cars and trailers parked any which way.
Bathrooms were not clean on any day (we were here 4 days).
I count my blessings that my dog rarely barks, but there were plenty of other folks that don’t seem to mind letting their dog bark all day while at their site (that isn’t the fault of Albion Hills though).
There is plenty of hiking and cycling trails that were great.
Anyway here in early October and it was rather dumpy looking with cars and trailers parked any which way.
Bathrooms were not clean on any day (we were here 4 days).
I count my blessings that my dog rarely barks, but there were plenty of other folks that don’t seem to mind letting their dog bark all day while at their site (that isn’t the fault of Albion Hills though).
There is plenty of hiking and cycling trails that were great.
Its a nice place for walking, not good for bicycle as it has lots of rocks and ups and downs. Good for family as i saw many families and schools coming for the hiking spot…
Over all i found it great
Over all i found it great
Easy access from city limits. Plenty of trails, campsites (serviced and non-serviced, pool/ splash pad and chalet to host events. Nice to go on one day too
Nice and scenic place within 30 minutes of Toronto. We primarily went for fishing and walking trails. Link to the lake is beautiful.
Small area for fishing but there are opportunities to catch. But it gets crowded quick and then the lines are going crossing each other. We ended up moving to northern side of the rouge river and that worked out better.
Beautiful hiking / walking trails.
Small area for fishing but there are opportunities to catch. But it gets crowded quick and then the lines are going crossing each other. We ended up moving to northern side of the rouge river and that worked out better.
Beautiful hiking / walking trails.
Albion Hills Conservation Park is a haven for those seeking an escape from the chaos of the city. Nestled amidst the breathtaking natural beauty of rolling hills and vibrant forests, this park offers solace and tranquility to its visitors. Unfortunately, the once-pristine surroundings are marred by careless actions of some visitors who choose to litter. It is disheartening to see plastic bottles, food wrappers, and other debris scattered across the otherwise enchanting trails and picnic areas. Albion Hills Conservation Park deserves to be charished and preserved allowing future generations to revel in its splendor. Please show respect to this incredible sanctuary of nature. Visitors should refrain from shouting or creating excessive noise in the picnic areas. While it maybe tempting to let our voices carry in the open space, we must remember that others also come to Albion Hills seeking tranquility and relaxation.
Hands down best place in the city to enjoy a full summer sunset over the Toronto skyline! Many hidden gems off the beaten path to explore the waters edge… go find your spot!
During the pandemic, I almost went there every day to ride my bicycle, go fishing, take a walk, and enjoy the scenery. It’s like a treasure in downtown for me. It’s inconvenient to use the restroom when you go deep inside the park. Pets are not allowed, which was good for my daughter who is afraid of big dogs.
The tour was excellent. The crew staff were all friendly. We were too late in the season to see any whales, (mid August) but just seeing the Puffins was worth it. The tour guide was very good.
The biking trails are at the northern end of the park located at 16th Av & Reesor is one of the starting points. Good trail, hard packed small gravel. Not overly long in distance. Very serene surroundings near area farms. The trail meanders thru a few farms in the area.
Loved the 2 hours cruise 🛳. We were lucky to see a Minke whale, a large school of jelly fish, lots of puffins, common murres and several other sea birds! The crew was great and entertaining 👏 👍
We had a really beautiful and rewarding experience with O'Brien's in mid-August for a 9am whale and bird tour with Con O'Brien, cousin of the original founder, and member of the band the Irish Descendants. Con educated our small group of 10 with really interesting facts about the area, Gull Island, all the seabirds we saw, facts about NL in general, and of course sang a few irish songs for us while we sailed. Con was available for a chat any time if you wanted more information about anything. He pointed out notable birds, explained about their habitat, and told stories of other tours he's done, and his traveling adventures. He's also really funny and entertaining, he's clearly very experienced in his role and a natural showman.
The boat itself is really comfortable, with a closed cabin for those who want to stay warmer, and an open upper deck. They sell snacks, alcoholic, and non-alcoholic drinks, and have two bathrooms on board.
We sadly did not see any whales, but did spot a seal, several jellyfish, gulls, murres, puffins, a sun shower, and a rainbow. Gull Island was particularly gorgeous with its mindblowing rock formations and massive bird colonies. The crew took good care of us, and were always consulting their instruments looking for whales. Safety demos were provided. Tipping is optional and could be made by dropping cash in a box at the exit at the end of the tour. When we docked at 11am, we noticed a huge crowd for the next tour, so maybe booking for the early slot is better if you don't want to deal with fighting for railings. Please remember that there are no guarantees about seeing whales and that the crew is doing the best they can to give you a great experience, but cannot pre-book wild animals in a vast ocean.
O'Brien's website is really easy to navigate and book your tour, and the prices are extremely reasonable for the experience. We paid $170 all-in for 2 ppl for a 2 hr tour, which works out to $42/hr which is a bargain for the experience.
The boat itself is really comfortable, with a closed cabin for those who want to stay warmer, and an open upper deck. They sell snacks, alcoholic, and non-alcoholic drinks, and have two bathrooms on board.
We sadly did not see any whales, but did spot a seal, several jellyfish, gulls, murres, puffins, a sun shower, and a rainbow. Gull Island was particularly gorgeous with its mindblowing rock formations and massive bird colonies. The crew took good care of us, and were always consulting their instruments looking for whales. Safety demos were provided. Tipping is optional and could be made by dropping cash in a box at the exit at the end of the tour. When we docked at 11am, we noticed a huge crowd for the next tour, so maybe booking for the early slot is better if you don't want to deal with fighting for railings. Please remember that there are no guarantees about seeing whales and that the crew is doing the best they can to give you a great experience, but cannot pre-book wild animals in a vast ocean.
O'Brien's website is really easy to navigate and book your tour, and the prices are extremely reasonable for the experience. We paid $170 all-in for 2 ppl for a 2 hr tour, which works out to $42/hr which is a bargain for the experience.
Would highly recommend this tour, the team was very respectful of the animals both in the water and in the air, we saw multiple whales and half a million birds. The whole experience was a very memorable and sentimental one as well, @Obriens owners give your crew and guide a big fat tip (and a raise) at the end of this seasons thanks -- We went end of June/early July
Beautiful! Lush trees, lots of benches with a view of the water, mostly shady walk with some areas of sun as well. Great for birding or a casual walk. Flat trail.
Well maintained trails and a beautiful place for a short walk or longer hike. We've seen toads, dragonflies, snakes and all sorts of birds here, and you can see spawning salmon in October. Great place for a family hike.
The parking lot of Twyn Rivers Drive is free and there is an outhouse of you need it.
The parking lot of Twyn Rivers Drive is free and there is an outhouse of you need it.
Awesome tour!
Within the first 5 mins of leaving the dock, a whale was swimming around the boat.
The captain provided play by play analysis of the encounter, ironically, he sounded and kind of looked like Brendan Gleeson.
One of the tour guide was Daniel, very nice and warm singing voice.
This was my wife and I second tour with this company and our kids' first tour. The excitement and sea air made them sleep soundly that night.
We visited puffin island and got a nice history and info about it.
Within the first 5 mins of leaving the dock, a whale was swimming around the boat.
The captain provided play by play analysis of the encounter, ironically, he sounded and kind of looked like Brendan Gleeson.
One of the tour guide was Daniel, very nice and warm singing voice.
This was my wife and I second tour with this company and our kids' first tour. The excitement and sea air made them sleep soundly that night.
We visited puffin island and got a nice history and info about it.
Love the place for camping and mountain biking! As a mountain biker, great technical trails to learn from. Been here a lot of times and would still love to come back for more. Great place to exercise your lungs with a lot of uphill climbs before you enjoy the downhill.
A great place for a long(!) walk in Toronto. Such a nice escape from the city and filled with picturesque wildlife. Lots of bikers and runners there too.
If you’re a pet parent, be aware that there are no dogs allowed in the park.
If you’re a pet parent, be aware that there are no dogs allowed in the park.
Good place for hiking, clean bike trails. Lots of picnic spots. Charcoal and gas BBQ allowed, clean public swimming pool $3 but not heated 🥶, splash pad and a small area for the little kiddies to play. Park admission fee of $7, lots of parking, very little phone reception and washrooms available. Overall a good place to visit and explore!
This is currently my favourite place to go hiking. I’ve only been here twice but I love this place. You can get away from all the noise around you and fully enjoy nature, hearing the sounds of birds and the flow of water. I only ever entered from the side close to the Toronto zoo. It’s a true get away as they’re no picnic tables on that side, only a couple benches here and there.
Small but a stunning example of an old growth Carolinian forest. Majestic old Oaks, Silver Maples and Tulip trees, Sycamores etc. Many Sassafras trees as well. Read many of the reviews and I don’t think most people realize how unique this is. It contains many rare Carolinian forest trees. Beautiful.
Beautiful spot to head out on the ocean. Great prices -children and student rates!! The guides were very friendly and hospitable! We sailed out to the echo reserve to see the puffins save sea birds. No whales today, but it was a great adventure! Gorgeous sights.
please respect this conversation area, pick up your trash, respect wildlife, and stay on the trail.
incredible park to get some of the best views of the city while surrounded by nature. extremely thankful the city is investing in preserving this area for Toronto’s wildlife. It’s a great spot to go for a walk, run or cycle. There are no toilets nor garbage bins to plan ahead. There are poisonous plants if you step outside the trail, so watch out for yourself and if you’re visiting with kids, keep an eye on them. And again, pick up after yourself and respect the signage this is a nature reserve as well.
I’d be careful at night as it’s a popular spot for people to come for a smoke or a drink.
incredible park to get some of the best views of the city while surrounded by nature. extremely thankful the city is investing in preserving this area for Toronto’s wildlife. It’s a great spot to go for a walk, run or cycle. There are no toilets nor garbage bins to plan ahead. There are poisonous plants if you step outside the trail, so watch out for yourself and if you’re visiting with kids, keep an eye on them. And again, pick up after yourself and respect the signage this is a nature reserve as well.
I’d be careful at night as it’s a popular spot for people to come for a smoke or a drink.
This is a lovely place for a walk. There are a few different trails you can take. We visited in June and parked at the southern parking lot. I was expecting to have to pay for parking but I didn’t see where to pay. We took the Vista Trail and came back via the Orchard Trail. It was nice to see some parts of the trails that have been renovated. We will definitely be back.
This is a lovely place for a walk. There are a few different trails you can take. We visited in June and parked at the southern parking lot. I was expecting to have to pay for parking but I didn’t see where to pay. We took the Vista Trail and came back via the Orchard Trail. It was nice to see some parts of the trails that have been renovated. We will definitely be back.
I would highly recommend this boat tour. You are entertained with music, singing and games. The captain is the father who had three sons managing and handling the whole experience. It was wonderful.
Tip generously as this helps keep this boat tour be the best chance for you to see whales, puffins and other species.
Highly recommend. You will not regret it.
Tip generously as this helps keep this boat tour be the best chance for you to see whales, puffins and other species.
Highly recommend. You will not regret it.
Place is nice for hiking. There is no network in that area so be prepared. There is 7 dollars something fees per person, place has pool too. Good area . 8/10.
Peaceful walk, easily accessible and not too busy. You can see a variety of birds, specially near the ponds. The views are good at the beach. I’d say this is a hidden gem if you like to walk and want to do some bird watching.
2023 June 4★
A nice long trail with views of the city.
Expect to spend at least 30 minutes here by bike and well over an hour by walking.
Bike parking and car parking for about 50 at the entrance.
Rental bikes also available.
Washrooms available at the entrance.
A nice long trail with views of the city.
Expect to spend at least 30 minutes here by bike and well over an hour by walking.
Bike parking and car parking for about 50 at the entrance.
Rental bikes also available.
Washrooms available at the entrance.
This place is beautiful and while its still maintained, the owners and caregivers try their best to let nature stay natural and take its course. The paths are clear and its a very safe area. I've never seen any negative activity. There are a few trees with carvings from young people on them, but they look awesome. It's a very nice place to explore.
Biked here on a Tuesday evening (open to the public at 4pm I believe), and it wasn’t very busy — plenty of room to move. The bugs weren’t too bad for the end of May; it was a sunny day. Simple path in and out with lots of little foot trails here and there. You are only permitted to ride on the main paved sections, with a gravel path at the end near the lighthouse, so if you are cycling, this is a fairly easy route. The pavement is bumpy in places though, so do mind where you put your attention. It is quite serene here — a gem of ride or hike with views of the downtown skyline. Great jaunt away from the hustle and bustle. There is a parking lot at the beginning of the park, quite easy to get to; a water fountain to fill your bottle and all different types of birds for those who keep track of such things. 🙂 Will definitely be riding here again soon.
This is a great place for a short walk through beautiful woods. Excellent bird watching opportunities as well. Check out our video of a walk through the woods in winter on youtube @thewrongsideof40
One of the best parks in the Toronto area, this park offers a fantastic biking and walking trail with a focus on wildlife conservation. You'll have the opportunity to spot a wide variety of birds, reptiles, and fish. The park staff is incredibly knowledgeable and can provide valuable insights. It's worth noting that there are several poisonous plants in the park, so exercise caution and stick to the designated trail—avoid taking shortcuts.
Great tour! The crew was amazing, the caption steered the boat well and we saw many puffins and other birds. No whales at this time, but shout-out to the driver for them that picked up the people from hotels! He was super knowledgeable about the history of the area, local saying and overall great on the ride there and ride back. Totally recommend!
The trail is short so good for older people or people with mobility issues. Most of the trail has a wooden boardwalk. The trees are very tall with many beechnut & maple species. The birding was good with a variety of warblers & a grey tufted titmouse spotted.
Really nice walk - boardwalk & woodland trail. So many different birds to see and hear!
Manuel we have become best friends in this quarantine. And to think two months ago I wanted to kill you
Went there in April. Maybe better during late Spring or early Summer. Took us an hour to walk from the entrance to the light house. I think it's great for bikers and bird watching. Bring water and be sun protected.
Easy and accessible paths to mudflats and the beach. This area is managed by the Wild Bird Trust and is a conservation space. Dogs are welcome on leash and on trails for the east side of the creek.
Parking is available at the Pacific Environmental Science Centre on weekends. For weekdays, there’s a small dirt lot off Dollarton to the west of the trails.
Small in area but a good spot for light walk and picnic.
Parking is available at the Pacific Environmental Science Centre on weekends. For weekdays, there’s a small dirt lot off Dollarton to the west of the trails.
Small in area but a good spot for light walk and picnic.
Wow! I’ve lived in Essex county my entire life and have never been here. What an incredible old growth forest with an amazing amount of very tall trees. Beautiful loop trail with many boardwalks. An opportunity to see what Essex County looked like before farming cleared the forests. A gem!
The place is nice but small. Not too many trails for walking
What a wonderful walk! The trails are well maintained and easy for the likes of me, a senior with mobility issues. Didn't see many birds today but those I saw definitely impressed. And the birdsong whistling through the trees was enchanting. A quick trip to bug out of the heat definitely did not disappoint. So glad to have a conservation area in the heart of the big city.
Beautiful views. Relaxed. Few persons.
Best time of the year to visit is during April and May when cherry blossom blooms.
You won't know when you get there. No signage. Amazing opportunity to see purple Martin's close up. Area is great for birding, but so is most of island. We were expecting more...met other puzzled birders looking for "observatory".
Very nice park. It is huge! It has several types of trails according to difficulty level. Good signalling. Plenty of parking which is included in the entrance fee. Washrooms are clean but in specific locations, so most likely you’ll need to drive or go in your bike to get to them.
While hiking, we saw several families camping in their designated campgrounds, which was really cool.
If visiting in summer, bring repellent, sunscreen, food , water and a hat! It is HUGE and you can spend here 3-4 hours at minimum.
While hiking, we saw several families camping in their designated campgrounds, which was really cool.
If visiting in summer, bring repellent, sunscreen, food , water and a hat! It is HUGE and you can spend here 3-4 hours at minimum.
Love these trails!
Amazing walk. Beatiful spot.
Hawk Hill lies inside High Park. It was easy to find the place using Google maps. Lots of people watch birds. There are several types of prey birds in this park. Ranging from Hawks to Bold Eagle. However, most of these birds, don’t land they just fly over the park. The best time to see these bird is noon (September to November). I came in late, but I was lucky to find a pair of Falcon hunting. These birds were on a tree waiting for prey.
Very peaceful area for a walk. Although the parking lot fills up quickly, it never feels busy once past the entrance. The trails wind through a forest of deciduous trees which offer nice variety from all the usual evergreens on the North Shore. Birding is hit or miss throughout the year, but was great on an early morning in October this past weekend (red-tailed hawk, kingfisher, western grebe, sandpiper). Easy access to the beach when the tide is out, and amazing for blackberries in the summer!
Wonderful area to connect with nature, with flat walking trails and benches to rest and bird watch. Also loved the blooming meadows for the bees and butterflies (in spring), information boards about the history of the area, and Burrard Inlet views with fast incoming tide.
Great for a walk with the entire family.
The Manual river trails have something for everyone.
Nature trails for Beginners and Seasoned Hikers alike.
Nature trails for Beginners and Seasoned Hikers alike.
So grateful this initiative is supported- wish there had been a donation box but no one around when we were there yesterday morning Sept 30th... too late in season I guess
The hill has a decent enough view but when I visited it (in late August) I didn't see any hawks.
A nice tourist attraction . Great fishing at Grenadier Pond . Snak bar and picnic area close by
Great birbs- lots of cool types
A small wooded area preserved by the Essex Region Conservation Authority. Major portions of the trail are boardwalk while some portions are mud trails. The feeling of being amidst the giant trees makes us feel humble and connected to the earth more. It is sad that this small woodlot is all that's left after humans deforested the area for agriculture. We need more trees, more forest cover. Thank you ERCA for maintaining the woods. The toilets need refurbishing.
This should still be on your bucket list on places to see in Canada. The ferry ride is lovely, but most of what was once a tourist destination was closed, for sale, or cut off by high water levels. Light house inaccessible. Unique rock formations inaccessible. A good place for birding. Fierce mosquitoes.
So beautiful and many people have cute bird houses
Beautiful place to be in touch with nature
Informative, child friendly, trail access, beautiful scenery.
There are remarkedly few magical places left, natural processes that still exist, and organizations willing to put in the work to understand and protect it all. Pelee Island is the place, bird migration is the process, and PIBO is the organization. This is incredibly important work.
I was here at the end of October for my best friends wedding. The location was absolutely beautiful. It was one of the best weddings I've ever been too and I heard from multiple guests how lovely the location was for a venue.