Toronto Islands

This archipelago is just 1 mile south of Toronto and makes a great day paddle destination, with opportunities for sidetrips to quiet little bays or paddling the Inner Harbour, which offers an excellent view of the Toronto skyline. The islands were once a peninsula formed by sediment deposited at the mouth of the Don River, but a storm in 1858 washed away part of the peninsula and created the Eastern Gap. The islands are government owned, but land on Ward’s and Algonquin Islands is leased to residents. There is also an airport on the western end of the island (Hanlan’s Point), an amusement park on Centre Island, and numerous marinas, including that of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club. The island group has regular ferry service, but paddlers only have to cross the Eastern Gap from Cherry Beach to get to the islands.