Toronto Island Park is made up of several islands, including Ward’s Island, Centre Island and Hanlan’s Point.
Pedestrians can take the ferry from Jack Layton Ferry Terminal to get to Toronto Island Park.
Only emergency and commercial service vehicles that are properly identified are issued a vehicle permit and allowed passage to the Toronto Islands.
Throughout the Island, there may be temporary public art installations. Visit the Public Art Map to find out if there is an ongoing art installation.
At over 200 years old, the Gibraltar Point Lighthouse is the oldest stone building in Toronto and Canada’s oldest standing lighthouse. It’s located on Gibraltar Point, just north of Gibraltar Point Beach.
Parts of Toronto Island are Environmentally Significant Areas, and a variety of migrating birds can be spotted in the spring and fall. Key areas to visit for bird-watching including:
Sand dunes and beaches run the length of the western shore of Toronto Island Park from Hanlan’s Point to Gibraltar Point, as well as Ward’s Island. They are an example of a freshwater coastal ecosystem that is uncommon along the Lake Ontario shoreline, and are home to several rare species that are adapted to this very dynamic and fragile environment.
Visit Biodiversity in the City for more information on the different species found in Toronto.
There are several lagoons between each of the islands where paddlers can access various points throughout the park. For City of Toronto paddle boat rentals, review the Attractions section of this page.
Toronto Island Park is home to:
Overnight camping is not allowed on Toronto Island Park. Exceptions apply for non-profit groups when obtaining a one-time permit for Snake Island.
Fishing is allowed on Toronto Island Park. When fishing, be sure to follow all Ontario fishing regulations and rules.
All facilities for each of the islands can be found on their individual pages:
Permit holders take precedence over general court use.
Four of Toronto’s 11 beaches are on Toronto Island Park.
Beaches are supervised by a lifeguard and maintained in the summer. Swimming without a lifeguard is not recommended.
Two splash pads are on Centre Island and operate in the summer months. One of the splash pads is located within Centreville Amusement Park and users don’t need to pay an entrance fee to Centreville or purchase tickets to use it. The other splash pad is located near Saturn Playground and William Meany Maze. Splash pads are unsupervised.
William Meany Maze, located on Centre Island, is a hedge maze with 1,200 Black Cedars planted in a winding design. This recreates the original Toronto Island maze, a landmark built in 1967 to honour Canada’s centennial year.
Toronto Island Park is also home to Avenue of the Islands Gardens.
The garden is a hands-on learning environment that combines interactive features with recreational programming for children. Franklin’s Children’s Garden is inspired by Franklin the Turtle from the celebrated book series illustrated by Brenda Clark and published by Kids Can Press.
Toronto Island Park is connected by many multi-use trails, paths and bridges that are shared by pedestrians, cyclists, roller-skaters, and service and emergency vehicles.
The boardwalk offers a 1.5-kilometre walk with views of Lake Ontario, Tommy Thompson Park and Ward’s Island Beach. The main entry and exit points are located on the north side of Ward’s Island Beach and just east of Centre Island Beach with others along the way.
Centre Island pier provides views of the islands, Tommy Thompson Park and Toronto’s city skyline. It’s located at Centre Island Beach.
Take part in one of the self-guided tours that highlight unique landforms, gardens and trees and dynamic aquatic habitats that support more than 200 species of birds and animals living in the park.
| Type of Boat | Maximum Boat Capacity | Cost per hour* |
|---|---|---|
| Canoe | Two adults or two adults with one child under the age of 12 | $30.00 |
| Solo Kayak | One adult | $19.00 |
| Tandem Kayak | Two adults | $38.00 |
Valid ID must be presented for rentals. Paddles and lifejackets are included with rentals.
Reservations are made on-site for the next available boat starting at 11 a.m. We only accept Credit and Debit cards for payment (no cash).
*Tax included.
Closed for the 2022 season.
Centreville offers over 30 rides and attractions. This amusement park is not operated by the City of Toronto.
Centreville operates Far Enough Farm. Meet ponies, rabbits, sheep, chickens, and other barnyard creatures at this free hobby and petting farm.
| Type of Ticket | Cost* |
|---|---|
| Adult | $10.00 |
| Senior | $7.25 |
| Student | $7.25 |
| Child (ages two to 12) | $5.50 |
| Child (ages two and under) | Free |
Only Credit and Debit cards are accepted for payment.
*Tax included
Closed for the 2022 season.
Visit CentreIsland.ca for a list of privately operated food facilities.
Picnic sites throughout the park are available for booking from May to September. Groups are allowed to permit one picnic site per event, per day. Leave the area cleaner than you found it. Dispose of your litter and recycling into the closet waste and blue bin.
For picnic sites that haven’t been booked, spaces are first-come, first-serve.
There are five fire pits on the Toronto Islands that are available for booking.
Toronto Island’s off-season runs from late-October/early November until mid-April.
Here’s what you need to know about visiting Toronto Island Park during the off-season:
The following facilities are located on Toronto Island Park.