Visiting Tommy Thompson Park
Exploring Tommy Thompson Park
Tommy Thompson Park is a great place to experience nature and the outdoors. It is widely considered one of the best places for bird-watching in the city, with more than 300 recorded species. It’s also a prime destination for wildlife viewing and fishing.
In addition to its unique natural features, the park offers picturesque views of the Toronto skyline and Lake Ontario.
Spring, summer, and fall are the most popular seasons for recreational activities such as hiking, running, roller-blading and leisure cycling on the park trails.
Some hardy individuals will also brave the cold and explore TTP in the winter months, enjoying the opportunities for cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. Please note that trails are not maintained in the winter.
Park Hours
Tommy Thompson Park is open to the public:
- Weekday evenings 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- Weekends and holidays 5:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Nature Centre is open
Weekends and holidays:
- April to October 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- November to March 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Tommy Thompson Park is CLOSED to the public weekdays until 4:00 p.m.
Park Notices
NOTICE:
Members of Aquatic Park Sailing Club have vehicle access to Tommy Thompson Park for scheduled seasonal maintenance on the weekends of October 19-20, October 26-27, and November 2-3, 2024.
NOTICE:
Due to dredging activities requiring access to Cell 3, the pedestrian bridge will be CLOSED from Monday at 7:00 a.m. to Friday at 3:00 p.m. until December 13, 2024.
PARK RULES & ENFORCEMENT:
TRCA and the City of Toronto enforce park rules to ensure the health and safety of visitors and wildlife at Tommy Thompson Park. Unfortunately, the rise of violations at the park has led to the increase of enforcement from both organizations, to educate visitors and turn away those looking to enter the park with pets. We are also working to engage the Toronto Police Service, as our mutual enforcement officers cannot be on site 24-7, and we understand that additional patrols are required after hours to address infractions that are occurring. TRCA has resumed the TTP weekend programming. All parties are committed to protecting the park and we will adapt our efforts accordingly, based on the behaviours of the visitors to the site. If you visit the park and would like to report an infraction, please contact 311 or for more information contact ttp@trca.ca.
PROJECT INFORMATION:
Work has begun on the Ashbridge’s Bay Landform Project, taking place along the east shore of Tommy Thompson Park from the Ashbridge’s Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant property to the Tommy Thompson Park Nature Centre. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT.
HOW TO GET THERE
Address: Tommy Thompson Park, 1 Leslie Street, Toronto
By Car: The park entrance is located at Leslie Street and Unwin Avenue. This is five minutes east of the DVP/Gardiner junction along Lake Shore Blvd East.
Parking: There is a free parking lot at the Tommy Thompson Park entrance. Street parking is also available on Leslie Street and Unwin Avenue.
By TTC: Tommy Thompson Park is a 5 minute walk from the Commissioner’s Street bus stop at Commissioner’s and Leslie. This stop is serviced by the 83 Jones Southbound bus. Route 83 runs between Donlands Station on Subway Line 2 and Commissioner’s Street. Connections with Streetcar routes 501, 502, 503 and 506, and bus routes 56 and 31B along the scheduled route.
By foot/bike: The Martin Goodman Trail/Waterfront Trail passes Tommy Thompson Park between Woodbine Beach and Cherry Beach. This is a multi-use trail.
Park Rules
Please Note the Following:
- Embayment D, B and A are important wildlife areas, boating is not permitted.
- Cell 1, 2 and 3 are confined disposal facilities and boating is not permitted in these areas.
- Swimming is not permitted anywhere at Tommy Thompson Park.
- No e-bikes, no motorcycles, no drones, no skating, no fires, no camping, no motorized skateboards/hoverboards.
- Removing anything from the park is not permitted. This includes: plants, plant parts, sediment, bricks, wildlife in any form etc.
- Please stay on trail.
- Respect wildlife, following our policies.
Map & Trails
Before you visit
Water
There is no running water in the park. Be sure to bring extra water with you.
Washrooms
There are 3 accessible portable toilets throughout the park (at the Parking Lot, Staff Booth and at Peninsula C). Vault toilets are available on weekends from Spring to Fall at the Outdoor Classroom. A standard portable toilet is located at the Peninsula D lookout.
Pets
Pets, including dogs are not permitted in the park.
Vehicles & e-bikes
Motorized vehicles, including e-bikes are not permitted in the park.
Sound
The use of amplified sound is not permitted in the park. Please use earphones if you’re listening to music while in the park.
Biting Insects
- European fire ants are abundant at Tommy Thompson Park. This non-native species bites and the severity of the reaction varies from person to person. Typically it’s very sharp and painful for a few minutes, subsiding into an itch similar to a mosquito bite. To avoid an ant bite, avoid brushing up on plants and tuck your pants into your socks. Brush off any ants that you may find climbing on you.
- Ticks have been reported in Tommy Thompson Park. It is possible they can carry Lyme Disease. It is advised that anyone walking along nature trails should thoroughly check themselves for ticks after a visit. LEARN MORE.
Renting Quadcycles
Quadcycles are available for rent from the Nature Centre, to help you journey into the park’s interior.
Availability is on a few weekends in the fall of 2024, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., and will resume with more consistency in 2025. Quadcycles are rented on a first-come-first-served basis through the day. Click on the plus sign below for more details about renting quadcycles.
To inquire about Pedal The Spit guided education programs that include quadcycles, please reach out to Raja at raja.raudsepp@trca.ca.
Upcoming quadcycle rental dates:
Please note that if heavy rains and/or thunderstorms are forecasted on a rental date, quadcycle rentals will be cancelled for that day.
- Saturday, September 14
- Sunday, September 15
- Saturday, September 21
Stay tuned for more rental dates! The list of dates will be updated as they become available.
Quadcycles are four-wheeled cycles – stable for riding, with a sun-shelter roof. Outer riders pedal; centre bench seat rider does not.
Options Available:
- Single bench: Accommodates 3 people + one child in the front carrier*
- Double bench: Accommodates 6 people + one child in the front carrier*
*Front carrier weight may not exceed 40 lbs.
Cost:
Bike rental funds support achievement of Tommy Thompson Park’s objectives.
- Single bench: $24/hour plus a $12 deposit**
- Double bench: $38/hour plus a $19 deposit**
**Deposit is refunded upon return of the quadcycle within the pre-arranged time.
Please Note the Following:
- Minimum rental: one hour, tax included.
- Payment methods include credit card only.
- A minimum of one rider must be at least 18 years old.
- Riders under 18 are required to wear a helmet while on the quadcycles.
- We have helmets available to loan at no charge. Customers are also encouraged to bring their own helmets.
- Quadcycles are permitted ONLY on the main Multi-Use Trail, as far south as the red pedestrian bridge.
For more information about quadcycles, email Raja at raja.raudsepp@trca.ca.
Tackleshare
Fishing rods, reels, and tackle boxes are available for loan at the Nature Centre … just like a library book!
- Call TTP Staff 416-990-8058 to ensure rods are available
- Visit our Nature Centre open on weekends and holidays from 11AM to 4PM
- Fill out a quick sign out form
- Go Fishing!
- Return gear the same day
- and repeat!
Since its launch in 1998, the OFAH Tackleshare program has become a province-wide success with over 140 loaner sites. Thanks to this program, accessibility to angling equipment is no longer a barrier, and children and families are able to get involved in recreational fishing together.
Separate from the Tackleshare program, Learn to Fish sessions are also offered at Tommy Thompson Park, at no cost to you. Please click here for more information: Learn to Fish programs at TRCA sites.
NEW! Nature Exploration Lending Kits
A Nature Exploration Kit is available for you to borrow for use in Tommy Thompson Park. We are excited to increase access to nature exploration by providing tools such as field guides and binoculars so you can explore the wonders of local flora and fauna. The kits are offered on a first-come first-served basis.
To borrow a kit, visit the Nature Centre open on weekends and holidays from 11AM to 4PM. Provide a contact number and a form of ID be shown at the time of borrowing the kit. Explore the nature of Tommy Thompson Park and return the kit on the same day.
Funding for the Nature Exploration Lending Kit program has been generously provided by TD Friends of the Environment Foundation.
Owl Viewing and Reporting
Tommy Thompson Park is fortunate to host a few owls during the winter as they move south from their nesting grounds in search of food. Human presence can be stressful for owls, so it’s important to know some owl facts and follow simple guidelines to ensure their safety.
OWL FACTS
Owls need to spend time doing two critical activities: hunting and resting. They spend most of their waking hours hunting for food.
- An owl that is disturbed while resting during the day may not be fit to hunt at night. Likewise, an owl hunting during the day needs to be left alone to find its prey.
- Human disturbance uses up valuable energy during the cold winter months and may prevent the birds from hunting properly.
Ultimately, owls that cannot effectively hunt will die. Please view owls respectfully to avoid fatally disturbing them.
SIGNS THAT AN OWL IS STRESSED
- Eyes wide open and staring directly at you
- Behaviour changes in response to your presence
- Ear tufts straight up, eyes reduced to slits
- Rapid blinking and/or panting
- Defense display (wings spread and body puffed up) or signs of aggression
HOW TO WATCH AND PHOTOGRAPH OWLS ETHICALLY
- Keep a minimum 12m distance.
- Limit viewing time to a few minutes, or less if the owl appears stressed.
- Remember that trying for the “perfect” photo may be depriving an owl of much-needed rest or food.
- Be quiet. Walk and speak quietly when around an owl.
- Never chase an owl if it flies away.
- Stay on trails.
- Do not trim plants or branches to obtain a better view or photo.
- Never use flash photography, especially after dark.
- Audio playback should not be used to attract an owl unless conducting authorized ornithological research.
- Never bait an owl. Allowing owls to become accustomed to being fed by humans can lead to collisions with vehicles and buildings.
- Refrain from reporting owl sightings on the internet or birding hotlines. Use discretion when sharing information about an owl and do not share an owl’s exact location.
If you see a person or group disturbing wildlife, report to TRCA Enforcement tips@trca.ca or Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) Conservation Officers 1-877-TIPS-MNR.
