Tommy Thompson Park — Full Trail to the Beacon & Back

Join us for an afternoon hike through one of Toronto’s most unique waterfront landscapes! 🌿🌊 📅 Saturday, September 26, 2026 🕒 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM 📍 Meeting Point: Main Entrance, Tommy Thompson Park 🥾 Distance: ~9–10 km round trip ⏱️ Total time: 4 hours 💪 Difficulty: simple — mostly flat Meetup Fee - 2$ interac to [email protected] (mention your meetup profile name and the event name) We’ll hike from the main entrance of Tommy Thompson Park all the way toward the Beacon/Lighthouse at the tip of the Leslie Street Spit, take some time to enjoy the views and take photos, and then make our way back together. Expect Lake Ontario views, Toronto skyline photography, wetlands, wildlife, open waterfront and plenty of opportunities for great pictures. 📸 🗺️ Itinerary 3:00 PM — Meet at the Main Entrance 👋 Check-in & introductions. 15-minute waiting period We’ll wait for late arrivals until 3:15 PM. Please try to arrive on time so we can keep the hike on schedule. 🚶 3:15–3:30 PM Main Entrance → Nature Centre 📍 ~0.7 km Easy warm-up section as we enter the park and leave the city behind. 🌿 3:30–3:55 PM Nature Centre → Inner Park / Wetland Areas 📍 ~2 km from entrance We’ll continue toward the outer peninsula, with opportunities to spot birds and wildlife. 📸 3:55–4:05 PM Short photo & regroup stop A quick break for pictures and to make sure everyone is together. 🌉 4:05–4:25 PM Continue toward the Pedestrian Bridge 📍 ~3 km from entrance The landscape becomes increasingly open as we move deeper into the Leslie Street Spit. 🌊 4:25–4:35 PM Pedestrian Bridge — short stop Group photo, water break and regroup. 🚶 4:35–5:10 PM Pedestrian Bridge → Beacon/Lighthouse area This is the more remote section of the hike, with Lake Ontario surrounding the peninsula and increasingly wide-open waterfront views. 🎯 5:10–5:30 PM Beacon / Lighthouse — Main Stop Our destination! We’ll spend around 20 minutes here for: 📸 Group photos 🌊 Lake Ontario views 🏙️ Toronto skyline views 🌿 Exploring the surrounding landscape 🥤 Quick snack/water break 🔄 5:30 PM — Start return hike We’ll retrace our route back toward the main entrance. 🌉 ~6:15 PM Pedestrian Bridge / Outer Park Quick regroup and water break. 🚶 6:15–6:50 PM Continue back toward the entrance We’ll maintain a steady pace so everyone can finish comfortably within the event window. 🏁 6:50–7:00 PM Arrive back at the Main Entrance 7:00 PM — Event officially ends ⸻ 📏 Distance Entrance → Beacon: approximately 4.5–5 km Total round trip: approximately 9–10 km The exact distance can vary depending on the route and any trail restrictions/closures. 🎒 Bring Along Comfortable walking/hiking shoes 1–1.5 L water Small snacks Sunscreen & sunglasses Light jacket/windbreaker Bug spray Phone/camera Small backpack 🌬️ Tip: The outer peninsula is exposed to the lake, so it can feel considerably windier than downtown Toronto. ⚠️ Important This is a long-distance hike rather than a casual walk. Please be prepared to walk approximately 10 km within the four-hour event window. We’ll have short photo and regroup stops, but we won’t be taking extended breaks because we need to reach the Beacon and return by 7 PM. Please stay on designated trails and follow park rules. 🐕 Please note: Tommy Thompson Park has restrictions on pets because of its importance as a wildlife habitat. 🌅 Let’s walk to the edge of Toronto! A long waterfront trail, wildlife, skyline views, Lake Ontario and the Beacon at the end — a perfect Saturday afternoon adventure away from the usual city walk. 🌊🌿📸