East Point Park is one of the largest natural wonders along Toronto's waterfront
East Point Park spans over 55 hectares along the city's east waterfront making it one of the largest lakeside parks in Toronto.
Home to breathtaking views of Lake Ontario, the dramatic cliff faces of the Scarborough Bluffs, a bird sanctuary and wide-open meadows of undeveloped land, East Point is nothing short of a natural gem.
There are access points to the trails at both the western and eastern ends of the park with a large parking lot located at the eastern entrance just south of the train tracks.
The trails head south toward the water and then the fenced-in pathway runs safely alongside it.
Although older portions of the trail run right along the edge of the bluffs, keep in mind it can be quite unsafe because erosion has undercut the cliff edge and the sand could collapse at any time.
Situated high atop the bluffs, you can expect to see expansive views of the water and the natural beach below.
You can get to the beach by walking from the end of Beechgrove and Copperfield Road located toward the east end of the park.
The diverse landscape ranges from meadow, bluff, shrub thicket, forest and wetland throughout the trail. The forest and shrub portions are full of vibrant reds and whites this time of the year.
The park wasn't always the natural area that it is today. During the 1800s, the land was privately owned and undeveloped and was then purchased by industrial companies before being transferred to Toronto and Region Conservation in the 1970s at which time it was restored to its more natural state.
Today, plenty of life can be found in the park. The area is a migratory staging area for monarch butterflies in the summer, with the best time to spot them in September. It's also home to over 170 species of birds.
Steel pavilions, which include water jet cutouts of clouds of birds in flight above the names of the species that frequent the area on its walls, can be found at the east end of the park.
The interesting structure is situated next to an inland pond.
Another structure named the Bird Blind is situated a bit closer to the wetland. Its markings, which mimic rays of sunlight, provide peeping holes where you can observe birds on the pond, unobtrusively but at close range.
If you're interested in continuing your explorations, the park connects to the Waterfront Trail at the eastern end with Port Union Waterfront Park located just a short walk up the lake.
Make sure to respect the park during your visit by picking up your trash to leave the area just as beautiful as you found it.
Olivia Little
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