Etienne Brulé Park

It’s a beautiful walk along the Humber River but I find the people who frequent this park are pretty stuck-​up. Most likely because the houses in the area are occupied by «well to do» folk with snobby attitudes, who perhaps feel more entitled to use this park. And don’t get me started on the cyclists. Whipping by you like they own the place, despite clearly posted speeding limit signage. It’s dangerous, especially when they’re turning corners. Saw a child almost get run over once, and the sad part was, the cyclist got defensive and upset that the child was «in the way».
It’s neat when the Salmon are running and you can see them jumping upstream, heading out to spawn. Fishing is allowed, just make sure to check regulations before you go (ie, no fishing at certain points in the river).

I visited this park back in September of 2014 and I liked it very much. It is very true that it feels like a «secret» park, as it’s kind of tucked out of the way. The only reason I know it exists at all is because of Lee, for whom it is a major part of his cycling route.
It is very pleasant to go for a walk and watch the water, or lie on the grass and look at the trees. There’s plenty of wildlife to keep an eye out for in the river.

This has become my favorite park… even more than High Park. It may not be as sensationalized, but I love how it’s somewhat of a «secret garden» just further down The Old Mill Inn. We live less than 10 minutes away and my husband and I take a lot of walks here to see the changing of the seasons. I can’t wait to take out our bikes again as Spring is finally here! There’s a pedestrian lane for those who want to walk or run, and a separate lane for cyclists. I like how the Humber river runs through this park and sometimes just sitting at one of the benches is all you need to get all your wits back to face another week. Somewhere near the end is a path on the left side that leads to a bridge going into Lambton Woods Park. I like seeing families and couples enjoying a day out too, and little kids having a good time on their scooters or bikes. No matter how crowded the parking lot gets, there always seems to be space for everyone. Dogs are welcome too of course, and once we saw a cat as well!

It was a mild morning in Toronto and I went for a run through Etienne Brule Park and up the South Humber Trail. I must say that it’s now my favourite place to run (sorry High Park) in the West End. I ran up along the Humber River, right by forested trails and pass 5 levees. There’s just something about the sound and sight of rushing water that is so calming. Further along the trail is a small playground, a tiny baseball diamond and a basketball court. If you cross the Old Mill bridge, you can run along the west side of the Humber River as well.
Best place to start is at the park entrance/​parking lot by Old Mill Road.
Go for a walk/​run/​bike through this trail. I guarantee that your worries will melt away or your money back… in Philippine Pesos, amortized over 30 years at 0.001%. Enjoy!

This is a great park that stretches a long way up the Humber river. The southern end is especially popular for picnics and barbeques, and in the summer there’s usually an ice cream truck hanging out in the parking lot.
Be warned that there aren’t too many entrances and exits along the length of the park, so unless you’re going a fair way, be prepared to turn around and come out the way you came. It’s also a bit dangerous by the river in storms or after thaws, since most of the park is a flood plain; I remember one winter when it became almost impassable after huge slabs of ice washed up everywhere.