Activities
Art and Heritage
There are two permanent public art installations on the Island:
- Edward Hanlan, a statute located at Hanlan’s Point Ferry Dock
- Fire and Water, a clock located on the tower of the fire station on Ward’s Island
Visit the Public Art Map for more information.
Gibraltar Point Lighthouse
At over 200 years old, the Gibraltar Point Lighthouse is the oldest stone building in Toronto and Canada’s oldest standing lighthouse. It’s located on Gibraltar Point, just north of Gibraltar Point Beach.
Bird Watching
Parts of Toronto Island are Environmentally Significant Areas, and a variety of migrating birds can be spotted in the spring and fall. Key areas to visit for bird-watching including:
- On Hanlan’s Point, near the large willows along the airport fence
- Near Gibaltar Point, at the dunes and Trout Pond
- At the Nature Reserve north of the water filtration plant
- At Snug Harbour
- At Snake Island
- In the southeast part of Ward’s Island
Sand dunes and beaches run the length of the western shore of Toronto Island Park from Hanlan’s Point to Gibraltar Point, as well as Ward’s Island. They are an example of a freshwater coastal ecosystem that is uncommon along the Lake Ontario shoreline, and are home to several rare species that are adapted to this very dynamic and fragile environment.
Visit Biodiversity in the City for more information on the different species found in Toronto.
Boating
There are several lagoons between each of the islands where paddlers can access various points throughout the park.
Toronto Island Park is home to:
- Serviced public boat moorings (48-hour limit) on Hanlan’s Point and Centre Island
- Privately owned Island Yacht Club on Mugg’s Island
- Toronto Islands Marina on Centre Island
- Privately owned Royal Canadian Yacht Club on Centre Island
- Privately owned Queen City Yacht Club on Ward’s Island
Boat House
| Type of Rental |
Maximum Boat Capacity |
Cost* |
|---|
| Canoe, one hour |
Two adults or two adults with one child under the age of 12 |
$30.78 |
| Canoe, three hours |
Two adults or two adults with one child under the age of 12 |
$77.51 |
| Solo Kayak, one hour |
One adult |
$19.40 |
| Solo Kayak, three hours |
One adult |
$44.46 |
| Tandem Kayak, one hour |
Two adults |
$38.75 |
| Tandem Kayak, three hours |
Two adults |
$101.46 |
Valid ID must be presented for rentals. Paddles and lifejackets are included with rentals.
Reservations are made on-site for the next available boat starting at 11 a.m. Only credit and debit cards are accepted.
*Tax included.
Boat House Hours
- Monday to Sunday
- 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Camping
Overnight camping is not allowed on Toronto Island Park. Exceptions apply for non-profit groups when obtaining a one-time permit for Snake Island.
Centreville Amusement Park
Centreville offers over 30 rides and attractions. This amusement park is not operated by the City of Toronto.
Far Enough Farm
Centreville operates Far Enough Farm. Meet ponies, rabbits, sheep, chickens, and other barnyard creatures at this free hobby and petting farm.
Fishing
Fishing is allowed on Toronto Island Park. When fishing, be sure to follow all Ontario fishing regulations and rules.
Sports Fields and Facilities
- One baseball diamond is on Hanlan’s Point and one baseball diamond is on Ward’s Island
- One disc golf course is located on Centre Island
- One outdoor tennis court is located on Hanlan’s Point
- Pickleball courts are located on Hanlan’s Point
- One 18-hole disc golf course on both Ward’s and Centre Island with the first tee west of the Toronto Fire Hall
All facilities for each of the islands can be found on their individual pages:
Permit holders take precedence over general court use.
Swimming and Water Play
Beaches
Four of Toronto’s 10 beaches are on Toronto Island Park.
- Centre Island Beach (Manitou Beach) is a 10-minute walk south from Centre Island Ferry Dock.
- Gibraltar Point Beach is between Hanlan’s Point Beach and Centre Island Beach, about a 20-minute walk from Centre Island Ferry Dock.
- Hanlan’s Point Beach is a 15-minute walk from Hanlan’s Point Ferry Dock. A portion of this beach is clothing-optional.
- Ward’s Island Beach is a five-minute walk south from Ward’s Island Ferry Dock.
Beaches are supervised by a lifeguard and maintained in the summer. Swimming without a lifeguard is not recommended.
Splash Pads
Two splash pads are on Centre Island that operate from May to September.
- One splash pad is located within Centreville Amusement Park and users don’t need to pay an entrance fee to Centreville or purchase tickets to use it.
- One splash pad is located near Saturn Playground and William Meany Maze.
Splash pads are unsupervised
Gardens
William Meany Maze, located on Centre Island, is a hedge maze with 1,200 Black Cedars planted in a winding design. This recreates the original Toronto Island maze, a landmark built in 1967 to honour Canada’s centennial year.
Toronto Island Park is also home to Avenue of the Islands Gardens.
Franklin Children’s Garden
The garden is a hands-on learning environment that combines interactive features with recreational programming for children. Franklin’s Children’s Garden is inspired by Franklin the Turtle from the celebrated book series illustrated by Brenda Clark and published by Kids Can Press.
Trails
Toronto Island Park is connected by many multi-use trails, paths and bridges that are shared by pedestrians, cyclists, roller-skaters, and service and emergency vehicles.
- Follow all posted signage and rules
- Rent a bicycle from Toronto Island Bicycle Rentals (not City-own or operated)
- Electric scooters, motorcycles or e-bikes over 40 kilograms are not allowed in the park
Boardwalk
The boardwalk offers a 1.5-kilometre walk with views of Lake Ontario, Tommy Thompson Park and Ward’s Island Beach. The main entry and exit points are located on the north side of Ward’s Island Beach and just east of Centre Island Beach with others along the way.
Centre Island Pier
Centre Island pier provides views of the islands, Tommy Thompson Park and Toronto’s city skyline. It’s located at Centre Island Beach.
Tram Tours
| Type of Ticket |
Cost* |
|---|
| Adult |
$10.25 |
| Senior |
$7.41 |
| Student |
$7.41 |
| Child (ages two to 12) |
$5.70 |
| Child (ages two and under) |
Free |
Only credit and debit cards are accepted.
*Tax included
