Mini Article: A Winter Visit To Bluffer's Park Beach
Located down a (for Toronto and surroundings), fairly steep cliff, where walking or driving down the road from the unassuming neighbourhood above, feels strangely more like driving down to a beach somewhere in Europe; Bluffers Park Beach offers a unique experience that is not really found anywhere else in the GTA.
It also has a rare blue flag distinction (something usually associated with warmer countries), meaning that when the weather is warmer, the water is safe to swim in most of the time and water quality reports can be checked online. The area also features, at around a 15 min walk from the main beach, several pubs and restaurants in the yacht club, some of which are open all year-round.
The walk, beginning near Brimley Rd and Kingston Rd and the Resthaven Memorial Garden, starts out fairly unassuming past a secondary school (that at the time of making the article, seemed to be having a film crew there, does anyone know what is being filmed there?) through a fairly unassuming residential neighbourhood. It is also possible to walk from here to the Sunnypoint Nelson Park and admire the view from above.
Right after passing the sign, the road goes down into a steep forested section, where with the cracked asphalt and uneven gradient, caution is warranted as cars do race by. I highly recommend walking on the opposite shoulder of traffic here. The rare for Toronto feeling of walking down a steep hill here, already creates a sense of mystery and secludedly.
After a few minutes (and where it is possible to either go on the separated trail or keep walking along the shoulder, I recommend the former but I chose for the purpose of this article to stay on the shoulder), the scenery suddenly opens up to reveal a nice view of the water and marina below. What is noticeable, is that unlike many other parts of the city, there really is almost nothing around this area, making it a very quiet serene experience, especially when walking here in winter.
After turning left at the intersection it is a short walk along a shaded route, passing several yacht clubs and marinas and where it is possible year-round to see Mallard ducks on the ponds, before arriving at the main parking lot of Bluffers Park Beach. Again it is possible to go in various directions here, with other scenic sights including the Bluffers Park itself, Jaison’s Round, as well as a lesser visited smaller beach walking west, being nearby.
And for the main attraction! While Bluffer's Park Beach offers less of a hiking area in itself, it is a serene escape from the rest of the city, to even in winter, spend a morning doing a small picnic or walking along the beach, enjoy the sound of the waves or watch the sunset in the mid-afternoon.
Several picnic tables are also located nearby in a wooded area and offer a nice view of the coastline, you may even spot some seagulls or waterfowl! There is also a smaller beach just slightly south of the parking lot, offering a quieter experience, especially in the busier season.
Bluffers Park Beach is part of the Bluffers Park in Scarborough and is open year-round (although the trail down receives no winter maintenance so may be slippery on snowy or rainy days), although not as accessible on foot, it is possible to drive down with a rideshare or park right in front of the beach at one of the lots. For those looking for a warmer experience, there are several restaurants in the nearby marina, some of which are open all-year round.
The 201 Bluffer’s Park Beach TTC route unfortunately only runs from May to October but it is possible to take the GO Train to nearby Scarborough station and then catch the 102 or 9 bus route to the junction of Brimley Road and St Clair Avenue East.
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