Leslie Street Spit

The Leslie Street Spit is a man-made peninsula extending roughly 5 kilometers into Lake Ontario and offering a mix of paved paths and natural habitats. Visitors find open spaces for walking and cycling along the waterfront, with areas that support different plants and animals throughout the site.

The peninsula began taking shape in 1959 when the Toronto Harbour Commission built it using concrete, sand dredged from the lake, and construction waste from the city. Over the decades, the man-made structure gradually transformed into a thriving habitat for wildlife.

The park serves as a place where visitors discover the natural world and learn how local habitats work. People come here to connect with birds, plants, and water in ways that feel real and hands-on.

The site is open to the public on weekends and holidays, with marked trails for walking and biking along the waterfront. Weather conditions can be windy near the water, so sturdy footwear and appropriate clothing are recommended.

The site hosts more than 300 bird species, with one of the largest colonies of double-crested cormorants on the Great Lakes. This concentration of water birds makes it an exceptional location for watching and studying avian life.