The best dog-friendly hikes and walks around Lake Ontario

The Cataraqui River forms the lower portion of the Rideau Canal and drains into Lake Ontario at Kingston. Along Belle Island, the river is surrounded by wetlands and marshland, creating a rich corridor for wildlife and a picturesque backdrop for the trail. The river gets its name from the original Indigenous name for Kingston, Katarokwi, whose meaning remains debated, with interpretations ranging from “great meeting place” to “clay bank rising out of the water.”

Belle Island is a beautiful forested 44-hectare island in the Cataraqui River, north of downtown Kingston, and is a popular destination for hiking, birdwatching, picnicking, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing in winter. It sits within the Mixedwood Plains Ecozone and supports a wide variety of wildlife, including bald eagles, osprey, great blue herons, river otters, and beaver. The island also holds deep historical significance, with evidence of Indigenous use dating to the Middle Woodland period and a burial ground discovered here in 1988.

Belle Island trail is a relatively easy route through the forested southern part of Belle Island, lined with lush deciduous trees that provide good shade in most seasons. There are a few viewpoints along the way, and open sections near small beaches make for good spots to stop for a picnic. The trail is open year-round and is popular for birding, hiking, and mountain biking, with cross-country skiing available in winter. Dogs are welcome, just be sure to keep your pup on a leash while you're here.

The Eastern Ravines & Beaches Discovery Walk links wooded ravines, neighbourhood streets, lakeshore boardwalks, and waterfront parks in the east end. Typically starting at Glen Stewart Ravine, the walk runs down toward Lake Ontario and continues along the Beaches boardwalk through Woodbine Beach and Ashbridge’s Bay Park. The path covers approximately 7 to 9 kilometres and takes about 2.5 to 3 hours to complete. This section follows the wooded Glen Stewart Ravine and its spring-fed creek down toward the Beaches, connecting natural forest footpaths with the more expansive Eastern Ravines & Beaches route.

Ames Creek is a beautiful spring-fed stream that flows through Glen Stewart Ravine and is one of the few remaining natural watercourses in Toronto’s urban landscape. It winds along the forest floor beneath a canopy of red oaks and maples, with raised boardwalks allowing visitors to follow its course while protecting the wetland habitat. The creek continues toward Lake Ontario, where it eventually disappears underground before reaching the waterfront.

Glen Stewart Park is a small urban green space in Toronto’s Beaches neighbourhood, known for its wooded setting and trails that lead into the adjacent Glen Stewart Ravine, offering a natural escape within the city. The park’s paths wind through a forested landscape dominated by native trees and connect with elevated boardwalk sections along Ames Creek. The area supports diverse plant and bird life and is valued both for recreation and its environmentally sensitive ecosystem.

On the far side of the marsh, a second observation deck and picnic area offer another place to stop along the loop. Covered tables sit right beside the reeds, with open views across the grasses toward the main lookout in the distance. This midway point makes for a great snack sto, a break from the sun, or taking in the scale of the wetland before continuing along the trail.

Near the start of the Marsh Boardwalk Trail, an elevated observation deck overlooks the open marsh, with wide views across tall grasses and scattered trees. Beneath it, a covered picnic table offers a shaded place to stop. Interpretive signs explain the wetland ecosystem and local species, making this a great spot to pause before continuing along the boardwalk.