Looking for running routes in Toronto? The city has better options than most runners realize. Lake access, ravines that drop you into forest within minutes of downtown, a waterfront trail that runs for miles, and enough neighbourhood variety that you can change your route every day without repeating yourself.
I’m a running coach based in downtown Toronto and I train athletes across the city, from Liberty Village to the Annex to Corktown. These are the running routes in Toronto I actually use with clients depending on what they’re training for. Whether you’re building a base, prepping for a race, or just looking for somewhere new to go, this is the guide I wish existed when I started coaching here.
The Best Running Routes in Toronto by Training Goal
These running routes in Toronto cover different training needs. The waterfront trail is ideal for long runs and tempo work. The ravines offer softer surfaces for recovery. High Park and the Beltline work well for tempo efforts and hill training. Here’s how to choose based on what you’re training for.
1. The Martin Goodman Waterfront Trail
Best for: Long runs, tempo work, beginners, race prep
Surface: Paved
Elevation Gain: ~30m (100 ft) mostly flat
Distance: You can go anywhere from 5K to 20K+ without backtracking
AllTrails: Martin Goodman Waterfront Trail
This is where most downtown runners do their mileage. The Martin Goodman Trail runs 56 kilometres along the lakefront from the Beaches in the east to past Humber Bay in the west. If you’re in Liberty Village or King West, you’re five minutes from lake access.
Head west and you pass Marilyn Bell Park, the Music Garden, Ontario Place, and hit the Humber Bay Arch Bridge around the 10-12K mark if you’re doing an out-and-back. Head east from Harbourfront and you’re moving toward the Distillery District, the Beaches, and the Lower Don connection.
Why I use it: Flat, uninterrupted, and one of the first paths cleared after snow. If you’re training through winter or building long run endurance, this is the most reliable option in the city. I send clients here when they need consistent pacing with zero navigating.
2. High Park
Best for: Trail feel, hill training, recovery runs, variety
Surface: Mix of paved roads and packed dirt trails
Elevation Gain: 54–109m (177–357 ft)
Distance: 3K–10K depending on route
AllTrails: High Park Loop
High Park is 400 acres where you can forget you’re in a city. The trails wind through forest, past Grenadier Pond, with enough hills to make training feel varied. Paved roads are good for pushing pace; dirt trails are better for easy efforts and lower impact.
The hills near the south end work well for repeats if you’re prepping for a hilly race. Cherry blossom season in late April brings crowds, so go early if you’re training through that window.
I recommend runners go here when they’ve been doing too much pavement. The surface variety gives your legs a break, and the hills build strength in a way flat road running doesn’t.
3. The Kay Gardner Beltline Trail
Best for: Tempo runs, all levels, weekend long runs
Surface: Paved, crushed gravel
Elevation Gain: 49m (160 ft) mostly flat
Distance: 9K point-to-point (Allen Expressway to Mount Pleasant)
AllTrails: Kay Gardner Beltline Trail
Built on old railway infrastructure, the Beltline cuts across midtown from the Allen Expressway through Forest Hill, Mount Pleasant Cemetery, and down to Evergreen Brick Works. It’s shaded, car-free, and almost completely flat.
The cemetery section is surprisingly nice and popular for early morning runs. At the east end it connects to the Don Valley system if you want to extend the route.
This is my go-to for tempo work. No traffic lights, consistent surface, 9K uninterrupted. If you’re training for a 10K or half marathon, put this in your weekly rotation.
4. The Don River Trail
Best for: Connecting routes, medium distance, east end runners
Surface: Paved and packed gravel
Elevation Gain: Minimal south, increases north
Distance: Varies — 5K to 15K+ depending on direction
AllTrails: Lower Don River Trail
The Don River Trail runs north-south through the east side of the city, starting at Corktown Common near the Distillery and going all the way north through Leaside. It connects to the waterfront trail at the south end, which gives east-end runners easy lake access without running on roads.
Corktown Common is a good start or turnaround point – park, washrooms, easy parking on weekends. The trail passes under bridges and through wooded sections that feel removed from the city even though you’re minutes from downtown.
Underused option for anyone living east of Yonge. The north-south orientation makes it easy to build long routes by combining it with the waterfront at the bottom and the Beltline connection further north.
5. Moore Park Ravine
Best for: Recovery runs, nature feel, experienced runners
Surface: Natural dirt trails, some rooted sections
Elevation Gain: 91m (298 ft) — most elevation
Distance: 6.1K loop
AllTrails: Moore Park Ravine Loop
If you want to feel like you’ve left the city without leaving, Moore Park Ravine delivers. This wooded loop runs through an actual ravine in midtown – along Yellow Creek and Mud Creek, past Chorley Park, connecting to Evergreen Brick Works if you want to extend.
The canopy keeps it cool in summer. The natural surface is excellent for lower-impact training. A few sections have roots and uneven ground, so it’s better for runners comfortable on natural terrain. Short steep sections make it useful for hill training without repeating the same climb.
I recommend this for runners coming back from injury who need to reduce impact, or athletes who’ve been running too much pavement. The soft surface changes how your legs respond and that variation matters for durability.
6. Humber Bay & The Western Waterfront
Best for: Scenic long runs, weekends, cyclists who also run
Surface: Paved
Elevation Gain: Negligible mostly flat
Distance: Connects into the full Martin Goodman Trail
All Trails: Humber Bay Park Trail
The western stretch of the waterfront through Humber Bay is probably the most scenic running in the city. The Humber Bay Arch Bridge is a landmark – twin steel arches over the mouth of the Humber River with unobstructed views of the lake and the skyline behind you. Go early before the crowds.
From here you can connect east back toward downtown or continue west along the waterfront toward Mimico. Humber Bay Shores has good parking if you’re driving to a trailhead on weekends.
Use this for easy long runs when you need a mental reset. The scenery helps on days when your legs feel heavy. The flat paved surface also makes it reliable for progression runs where you want to focus on pace without navigating terrain.
Running in Toronto Year-Round
To get the most out of these best running routes in Toronto, here’s what to know about each season.
Winter: The waterfront trail gets cleared after snowfall and is your most reliable option. Drop your pace on anything icy, run in the middle of cleared paths, and don’t skip the Yaktrax if there’s freeze-thaw cycles happening. Ravine trails get treacherous when frozen.
Spring: Mud season in the ravines, trail shoes recommended from March through April. The Beltline drains well and stays runnable. This is the best time to start building mileage before summer race season.
Summer: Start early. The waterfront gets crowded by 9am on weekends and the sun exposure on the lake path is significant. The ravines and High Park are significantly cooler in July and August. Carry water on anything over 10K and make sure you’re fueling properly for long runs.
Fall: Peak season. The ravines and High Park in October are as good as running gets in this city. Cooler temperatures, colour, and softer light. If you’re running a fall race, your training block overlaps with the best conditions of the year.
Training for a Toronto Race? Here’s What’s Coming Up
The city’s race calendar gives you plenty to train toward. Check out our guide to the best running events in Toronto 2026 for full race details, registration links, and training tips.
Most of these running routes in Toronto will appear in some form on race courses. When you know the city’s trails, race day becomes familiar terrain rather than a surprise.
If you’re training for any of these events and want structured programming, periodized training that integrates running, strength, and mobility so you get to the start line healthy, that’s exactly what my Flex running coaching program is built for. Not sure what to look for in a coach? Here’s how to choose a running coach in Toronto.
If you’re training for a Toronto race and want structured coaching plan on these routes, Book your free discovery call now.
