A stunning visit to the Port Union Waterfront Park and the East Point Park on the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail (6 KM, easy almost flat terrain and highly accessible)

A stunning visit to the Port Union Waterfront Park and the East Point Park on the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail (6 KM, easy almost flat terrain and highly accessible)

If you often take the GO Train to Oshawa from Union Station or even any of the VIA Trains in the direction of Ottawa or Montreal, you may have noticed that sitting on the right side of the train, the scenery suddenly gives way from industrial terrains and the back of retail stores, to stunning waterfront scenery along Lake Ontario. But did you know that there is an entrance to the walking trail, right next to the Rouge Hill station and that it is possible to see stunning waterfront scenery, in just around a 1-2 hour walk?

Arriving at Rouge Hill station, particularly if coming from Union Station, you will probably be amazed at just how calm this station is and how even on a day like today (this was the middle of rush hour), it’s still possible to hear the sound of waves coming from the lake. Unfortunately, there is no Presto card reader on the platform itself, so you may have to go down the tunnel and walk towards the main station when traveling with Presto or a tap debit/credit card. 

Unfortunately this platform does not have a Presto card reader, meaning you cannot quite step off and go onto the trail.

There are Presto readers next to the small tunnel. This is also where you can cross the tracks when arriving by car or bus. A large parking lot is available at Rouge Hill station.

After tapping off, you can walk to the trail through a small gate, where you’ll be immediately greeted by a few benches (unfortunately not in the picture) that allow a stunning view of the coastline and to take a quick break before your hike:

When taking a right from the train station (a review of the stunning Rouge Beach may be coming in the future, but definitely worth a visit, turning left, a roughly a 15 min walk from the Rouge Hill station from the trail) you’ll be greeted by a semi-covered leafy trail that is surrounded by access to several secluded beaches and where the constant sound of seagulls will accompany your walk between spring and autumn. 

For those who don’t want to walk all the way, there is also once again the possibility to rent a bicycle at the Toronto Bicycle Share Station, although beware there is nowhere else nearby to return the bicycle, so in most cases you would have to take the bicycle round-trip, which might incur extra charges.

Walking further along and turning left you’ll be suddenly greeted by a stunning expansive view of the lake, underneath a cute partially covered picnic shelter. Not only is this a fantastic photo spot but also a great place to sit down for a while and have a picnic or water break.

I highly recommend to keep walking along the circular gravel trail and take in the breathtaking views of the lake here along the gravel trail.

After finishing the circular trail, you'll come back to the asphalt road.

Going left here brings you back to the main trail. Taking the gravel path is a highly recommended detour.

From here the path follows a meandering course along the lakeshore, with plenty of shaded benches along the way to stop and have a break. What is perhaps the best part about this trail, is how even on a September evening, there were plenty of small secluded sections of beach to sit on. Beware however that swimming here is currently not recommended due to high bacteria levels, although i did spot a few people sailing here.

Walking further along, you’ll get to the official entrance of the East Point Waterfront Park, from the bridge it is possible to take in the stunning view of the river meeting the lake. Here it is possible to either keep walking straight (and especially in the morning visit the stunning Sunrise hill, although the view is just as beautiful any time of the day) or take a slight detour next to the river. 

Walking along the Highland Cree, it is possible to walk all the way up to Colonel Danforth Park and even exit at Morningside park near the University Of Toronto Scarborough campus, although I mostly saw cyclists along this route and fewer hikers, and the scenery is less significant, although still very green, pleasant and quiet. Beware that this hike can take up to 2 hours and that there are no stores or water fountains along the way, without a significant detour back up to surface streets.

One of the many tranquil scenes along the northbound forested trail.

If you choose to walk straight from the East Point Park Bridge, you’ll get to a more secluded section, which until recently was temporarily closed for maintenance. Although the views are stunning on this section as well, sadly the trail somewhat deviates beyond Sunrise Hill (which is a small hidden path to the left) and those who want to continue towards the Guild Park&Gardens and Bluffer’s Park beach (itself hopefully the subject of a future article), will unfortunately have to walk over normal streets near the Fj Horgan Water Treatment Plant

Those who choose to walk beyond the East Point Park Bridge will be treated to another section of stunning waterfront scenery, although sadly the path will deviate north from here, going along paved reads near the water treatment plant before finally coming back to the Guild Park&Gardens.

Finally there is the view from the Sunrise Hill, while I wasn’t here to witness the sunrise myself and instead came in the late afternoon, it still offers a beautiful view of the surrounding area and a nice way to end or break-up a longer hike.

 

Route and how to get there:

The suggested route featured in the article is around 6 KM long, although many variations exists, including even combining this with a visit to the Rouge Urban National Park or Rouge Beach, or going the other way from the Bluffer’s Park direction. I have mapped the route on Google Maps here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/2pudcYuACF5xqVmQ7

The best way to get here is either by GO train on the Lakeshore East Line from Oshawa or Toronto’s Union Station, getting off at Rouge Hill station (and being sure to sit on the left or right side of the train, respectively to enjoy the stunning lake views) or by car parking at the lot of the Rouge Hill GO Station and crossing the pedestrian tunnel.