The best family-friendly hikes and walks around Pickering

In 1863 or 1876, the Frenchman's Bay Harbour Company first erected a lighthouse on the coast off Frenchman’s Bay to improve harbor conditions - on the east pier. https://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=2276 The current lighthouse on the west pier was presumably built in 2001 as part of the Pickering Millennium Trail Waterfront Project; the cylindrical lighthouse is 15 meters high and is colored white and green in the upper part. The lighthouse on the east pier has the same dimensions, but with red color in the upper part. It was probably rebuilt in the same period. (Visit on June 15, 2026)

In the years 2018-2023, the area south of Frenchman's Bay on the shore of Lake Ontario was converted into an environmentally sensitive area, after it had been damaged by uncontrolled use in the preceding years. The owner, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, and the operator, the City of Pickering, wanted to create a balance between recreational use and the environment. https://www.pickering.ca/parks-recreation-culture/waterfront/rotary-frenchmans-bay-west-park/ https://www.mbtw.com/design-portfolio/rotary-frenchmans-bay-west-park-pickering-ontario (Visit on June 15, 2026)

The Beachpoint Promenade Trail runs along the shore of Lake Ontario from West Shore Boulevard to Frenchman’s Bay West Lighthouse. The walk passes wetlands, with partial views of Frenchman’s Bay, and a sandy beach with swimming opportunities on the lakefront. Parking along the promenade is subject to a fee from May 1st to October 1st / daily from 9 AM to 10 PM). (Visit on June 15, 2026)

Petticoat Creek Conservation Park is a 70-hectare park above the bluffs of Lake Ontario in Pickering. The park was opened in the 1970s and is owned and operated by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). The Petticoat Creek area has a long Indigenous history, with former settlements of Huron and Irokes peoples and likely a different name in the past. The name "Petticoat" comes from Petite Côte, a term used by French settlers in the 17th century to describe the irregularities of the creek's bank at its mouth. https://trca.ca/parks/petticoat-creek-conservation-area (Visited on June 15, 2026)

The Waterfront Trail runs along Pickering Beach where you can enjoy sweeping views across Lake Ontario. Watch sailboats coming and going from Frenchman's Bay Marina and, on a clear day, look out for the Toronto skyline on the horizon. The sandy beach and waterfront park also make a great spot for a picnic or a quick dip in summer.

Rotary Frenchman's Bay West Park is a waterfront greenspace that has undergone renovations from 2018 to 2023. This project added new parking and additions to the waterfront trails. The park also has newly installed walkways, pathway lighting, and a kayak launch. The park has quite a few amenities, including a public bathroom, sandy beach, picnic area, fishing area, and two art installations. The art installations are titled “Water is Medicine,” created by the art collective Dbaajmowin, and “Our House” by Dorsey James.

Frenchman's Bay West Lighthouse is part of a unique pair of lighthouses, sitting just on the other side of Frenchman's Bay Passage from its "twin," the Frenchman's Bay East Lighthouse. Both lighthouses are white and short, with the western one having a turquoise tip and the eastern one having a red tip, reflecting port and starboard. This lighthouse marks the end of the Beachpoint Promenade Trail and provides stunning views of Lake Ontario.

The Beachpoint Promenade traces the edge of Frenchman's Bay out to the end of the west jetty where you'll find the lighthouse. You'll have great views over the water while on the promenade and from the end of the jetty you can see the east and west lighthouses that mark safe passage for the vessels entering and leaving Frenchman's Bay.