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Tommy Thompson is one of the most unique but overlooked areas of Toronto, a 5km long peninsula created from construction waste dumped into Lake Ontario that has turned into a surreal nature reserve.
You have some of the best views of the city on one side and of the Scarborough Bluffs and Pickering on the other. There's wildlife all around and it's an important bird nesting location. Which makes it all the more weird that beyond the wild plants, you see that you're walking on concrete, tiles and steel rebar!
Bryan will lead an easy hike of up to 8km, adapting to the day's conditions. Hiking with Bryan is an experience that opens your eyes to the beauty of things we'd ordinarily overlook as he points out trees, flowers and animal tracks, giving you a totally new way of looking at familiar places.
This adventure is fully accessible by TTC but dogs are not allowed in the park so your pup will have to sit this one out.
We'll meet at the Tommy Thompson Park Pavilion then head further onto the spit. There are trails criss-crossing the area, all of which are flat and there's little risk of getting lost so you'll have some freedom on the day about which routes to take.
Hikes with Bryan are fantastic learning experiences as he has so much knowledge and passion for the nature that we'll see around us.
09:50: Meet at the Tommy Thompson Park Pavillion - you'll meet Bryan there.
10:00 - 14:00 : Hike, stopping for lunch on the way. PLEASE NOTE - We'll be leaving dead at 10 and can't wait for latecomers so please be on time!
This custom map is georeferenced, meaning it will show you where you are on the map in the right software and lays out the rough path that we’ll be following. It’s opened with the Avenza app which must be downloaded and installed in advance of the adventure.
You should also download the What3words app - this makes it easy to share and find locations in the unlikely event that you get lost.
There'll be snow on the ground so you should be wearing hiking boots and ice spikes are also strongly recommended. N.B. We won't be providing ice spikes for this adventure.
Winter clothing
The key for winter hiking is to have breathable layers that allow you to adjust your temperature as you start to heat up or cool down. The biggest problem you're likely to encounter is actually getting too hot - the amount of exercise you're doing means you'll warm up quickly and it's important that you vent your clothes before you start sweating because that will only make you colder once you stop.
Pay attention to your fabrics - there's a saying that cotton kills because it keeps moisture and makes you colder. Instead, go for breathable fabrics, like athletic wear or wool. Wool has the advantage of keeping you warm when it's wet but cheap polyester running gear is just fine. We've put together a simple guide to layering on our instagram.
A common mistake is to bring your heavy winter coat that you'd wear in the city - this will become very uncomfortable very quickly. If you'd like advice on what coat is suitable, we'll give you recommendations no matter your budget.
Shoes
You should be switching to proper hiking boots once the snow has started. If the snow is really deep, you can wear a proper winter boot that goes above the ankle but this isn't essential, especially if you have gaiters. These go over your shoe to prevent snow coming in. Trainers and city boots are really not suitable because they won't have sufficient grip.
There's a good chance your feet are going to get wet, either through snow ingress or sweat so you should always pack a spare pair of socks when winter hiking.
Traction
You're going to find that you move more slowly and spend more effort hiking in the snow so we tend to hike shorter distances. From first snowfall you should always bring ice spikes with you. The Kahtoola Exospikes are a great option if you have the budget, otherwise Amazon has plenty of cheaper options. You rarely need snowshoes unless the snow is really deep and powdery and hiking with them usually requires even more energy.
Winter Hiking packing list
The park is effectively built on landfill so you should be very cautious around the shore where there's glass, rebar and jagged rocks. Stay on marked paths and off the rocks. Trainers are not suitable for this hike - a hiking boot with a proper sole is a must.
We like to share some of the indigenous background of the areas we visit because these territories have rich histories that are easy to overlook. Indigenous communities have a connection to and respect for the land that has largely been lost since European settlement. As we strive to form a deeper connection with the land, we have much to learn from these communities. You can use the Native Land map to learn more about these areas.
Toronto has a particularly long and varied indigenous history, groups who maintain connections to the land include:
Tommy Thompson is one of the most unique but overlooked areas of Toronto, a 5km long peninsula created from construction waste dumped into Lake Ontario that has turned into a surreal nature reserve.
You have some of the best views of the city on one side and of the Scarborough Bluffs and Pickering on the other. There's wildlife all around and it's an important bird nesting location. Which makes it all the more weird that beyond the wild plants, you see that you're walking on concrete, tiles and steel rebar!
Bryan will lead an easy hike of up to 8km, adapting to the day's conditions. Hiking with Bryan is an experience that opens your eyes to the beauty of things we'd ordinarily overlook as he points out trees, flowers and animal tracks, giving you a totally new way of looking at familiar places.
This adventure is fully accessible by TTC but dogs are not allowed in the park so your pup will have to sit this one out.
We'll meet at the Tommy Thompson Park Pavilion then head further onto the spit. There are trails criss-crossing the area, all of which are flat and there's little risk of getting lost so you'll have some freedom on the day about which routes to take.
Hikes with Bryan are fantastic learning experiences as he has so much knowledge and passion for the nature that we'll see around us.
09:50: Meet at the Tommy Thompson Park Pavillion - you'll meet Bryan there.
10:00 - 14:00 : Hike, stopping for lunch on the way. PLEASE NOTE - We'll be leaving dead at 10 and can't wait for latecomers so please be on time!
This custom map is georeferenced, meaning it will show you where you are on the map in the right software and lays out the rough path that we’ll be following. It’s opened with the Avenza app which must be downloaded and installed in advance of the adventure.
You should also download the What3words app - this makes it easy to share and find locations in the unlikely event that you get lost.
There'll be snow on the ground so you should be wearing hiking boots and ice spikes are also strongly recommended. N.B. We won't be providing ice spikes for this adventure.
Winter clothing
The key for winter hiking is to have breathable layers that allow you to adjust your temperature as you start to heat up or cool down. The biggest problem you're likely to encounter is actually getting too hot - the amount of exercise you're doing means you'll warm up quickly and it's important that you vent your clothes before you start sweating because that will only make you colder once you stop.
Pay attention to your fabrics - there's a saying that cotton kills because it keeps moisture and makes you colder. Instead, go for breathable fabrics, like athletic wear or wool. Wool has the advantage of keeping you warm when it's wet but cheap polyester running gear is just fine. We've put together a simple guide to layering on our instagram.
A common mistake is to bring your heavy winter coat that you'd wear in the city - this will become very uncomfortable very quickly. If you'd like advice on what coat is suitable, we'll give you recommendations no matter your budget.
Shoes
You should be switching to proper hiking boots once the snow has started. If the snow is really deep, you can wear a proper winter boot that goes above the ankle but this isn't essential, especially if you have gaiters. These go over your shoe to prevent snow coming in. Trainers and city boots are really not suitable because they won't have sufficient grip.
There's a good chance your feet are going to get wet, either through snow ingress or sweat so you should always pack a spare pair of socks when winter hiking.
Traction
You're going to find that you move more slowly and spend more effort hiking in the snow so we tend to hike shorter distances. From first snowfall you should always bring ice spikes with you. The Kahtoola Exospikes are a great option if you have the budget, otherwise Amazon has plenty of cheaper options. You rarely need snowshoes unless the snow is really deep and powdery and hiking with them usually requires even more energy.
Winter Hiking packing list
The park is effectively built on landfill so you should be very cautious around the shore where there's glass, rebar and jagged rocks. Stay on marked paths and off the rocks. Trainers are not suitable for this hike - a hiking boot with a proper sole is a must.
We like to share some of the indigenous background of the areas we visit because these territories have rich histories that are easy to overlook. Indigenous communities have a connection to and respect for the land that has largely been lost since European settlement. As we strive to form a deeper connection with the land, we have much to learn from these communities. You can use the Native Land map to learn more about these areas.
Toronto has a particularly long and varied indigenous history, groups who maintain connections to the land include:
