Toronto’s many beaches are home to a number of activities. From sunbathing to beach volleyball, the city’s sandy shores cater to all ages. Wither several sites across the city, Toronto's beaches are all easily accessible via public transit from the downtown core, from the East, or West ends of the city.
Lake Ontario Water Quality and Testing
The City of Toronto tests and posts the water quality at it is main beaches to determine whether it is safe to swim in the water on a daily basis, from June to September. Swimming conditions take into account the amount of pollution and E. Coli counts in the water over the past 48 hours. Beaches become unsafe for swimming after heavy rainfalls which wash debris and other containments into the water.
Updated swimming conditions can be found here on the City of Toronto’s website, in addition to beach location maps.
Blue Flag Beaches: Award of Excellence
Toronto is home to several Blue Flag Beaches, an internationally recognized standard of excellence awarded to over 3200 beaches in thirty-seven countries. This award is presented to beaches that achieve high standards in several areas including water quality, safety, available services, and environmental education and management. Blue Flags are valid for a single season and the awarded beach is prone to inspection at any time. At the beginning of each swimming season, the beaches that have been awarded Blue Flags must be reassessed in order to keep their designation. Any failure to comply or degradation of criteria revokes the Blue Flag status.
Blue Flag Beaches in Toronto include: Woodbine Beach, Kew and Balmy Beaches, Cherry Beach, Ward’s Island, Hanlan’s Point, Gibraltar Point, and Centre Island Beach.
The Eastern Beaches-Woodbine Beach, Kew-Balmy Beach
One of the largest beaches, Woodbine Beach, located in the east end of Toronto, commonly referred to as “The Beaches,” Woodbine Beach is the centre for summer sports. Almost 100 volleyball nets are regularly set up for recreational and competitive league games, while day trippers often add their own nets to this line-up.
A 3.5 km boardwalk stretches along the shores of the beaches here from Silver Birch Avenue to Ashbridges Bay Park. Woodbine Beach is houses a restaurant, café, and wheelchair accessible change rooms and washrooms, as well as ample pay parking on-site.
Water sports also reign supreme here, although the beaches here are often too contaminated for swimming.
Centre Island and Ward’s Island Beaches
Located a short ferry ride from downtown are the Toronto Islands. The beaches here are often clean and can be packed with families looking to escape the summer heat of the city. The Toronto Islands are beautifully surrounded by tress and parks, with picnic areas, snack bars, and even a children’s amusement park. Change rooms and washroom facilities are also on site here.
There is also a pier here complete with benches and telescopes to take in the surrounding scenery.
Nude Sunbathing at Hanlan’s Point, Toronto Islands
Hanlan’s Point Beach, located on Toronto’s Centre Island is the city’s clothing optional sunbathing beach. The sand here, like the other Island beaches, contains soft, white sand, and often free of litter and debris. Expect to see pamphlets from the Hanlan’s Beach Naturists which offer etiquette tips for nude sunbathing. The group also organizes activities such as beach sports, art and theatre in the nude, and games. Ladies be forewarned, as male sunbathers usually outnumber their female counterparts. As a clothing optional beach, visitors are not required to be fully nude.
West Toronto- Sunnyside Beach
One of the few beaches in Toronto’s West end, Sunnyside Beach has undergone a recent clean-up and revitalization. With a beautiful boardwalk stretching across the area, Sunnyside Beach is also home to one of the city’s public pools, and several snack shops. Often the site of rowing competitions and dragon boat racing, Sunnyside Beach is also popular for joggers, dog-walkers, and families.
Central Toronto- Cherry Beach
Often one of the cleanest swimming beaches, Cherry Beach, located at the foot of Cherry St, east of the downtown core has been revitalized recently to make it a prime summertime destination. Renovated change rooms and washroom facilities, as well as a paved path are now on-site, as well as picnic areas with barbeques. Cherry Beach is a popular location for beach sports including windsurfing and kitesurfing. The Martin Goodman Waterfront Trail also passes along the beach, including an off-leash area for dogs.
Rachel West - Rachel resides in Toronto, Ontario and works as an Online Merchandiser for Entertainment, writing about the latest DVDs and CDs for a high ...
