Toronto Island Park is made up of several islands, including Ward’s Island, Centre Island and Hanlan’s Point.
Take the ferry to and from Jack Layton Ferry Terminal to Centre Island, Hanlan’s Point or Ward’s Island.
Tickets for the ferry can be purchased online or at the terminal and include the return trip. Online ticket holders enter the terminal through a separate line during busy travel times.
The ferry is busiest on weekends and holidays, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. when heading to the islands and from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. for return trips to the city. Plan to travel during less busy times to avoid longer wait times. The busiest route is the ferry from Centre Island. Wait times for the return trip from Centre Island can exceed an hour during busy periods.
Many private water taxi companies operate in Toronto’s harbour.
Toronto Island Park is connected by a network of pedestrian-friendly multi-use trails that wind through the lush greenery and bridges that take you from one island to the next. The estimated distances between the Island docks follow.
| Distance Between Docks | Distance in km | Walk Time |
|---|---|---|
| Centre Island and Ward’s Island | 2.9 km | 35 minutes |
| Centre Island and Hanlan’s Point | 3.9 km | 50 minutes |
| Ward’s Island and Hanlan’s Point | 5.4 km | 70 minutes |
Only emergency and commercial service vehicles are allowed on the island. Public vehicles are not allowed.
There are two permanent public art installations on the Island:
Visit the Public Art Map for more information.
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.
Toronto Island Park is home to:
| Type of Rental | Maximum Boat Capacity | Cost* |
|---|---|---|
| Canoe, one hour | Two adults or two adults with one child under the age of 12 | $30.78 |
| Canoe, three hours | Two adults or two adults with one child under the age of 12 | $77.51 |
| Solo Kayak, one hour | One adult | $19.40 |
| Solo Kayak, three hours | One adult | $44.46 |
| Tandem Kayak, one hour | Two adults | $38.75 |
| Tandem Kayak, three hours | Two adults | $101.46 |
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. Only credit and debit cards are accepted.
*Tax included.
Overnight camping is not allowed on Toronto Island Park. Exceptions apply for non-profit groups when obtaining a one-time permit for Snake Island.
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.
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 10 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 that operate from May to September.
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.
| Type of Ticket | Cost* |
|---|---|
| Adult | $10.25 |
| Senior | $7.41 |
| Student | $7.41 |
| Child (ages two to 12) | $5.70 |
| Child (ages two and under) | Free |
Only credit and debit cards are accepted.
*Tax included
Closed for the season.
Visit CentreIsland.ca or The Riviera 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 closest 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.
The following facilities are located on Toronto Island Park.
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: