Scarborough Bluffs

The Ride

The Scarborough Bluffs ride is short on distance and long on effort. The whole thing is about 5 kilometres, but the elevation makes it feel like twice that. Brimley Road south of Kingston Road drops roughly 100 metres over about 1.5 kilometres, a steep and sustained descent that feels great on the way down and punishing on the way back up. This is one of the hardest hill climbs in Toronto. Seasoned cyclists train here. If you're new to riding, know that before you commit.

The descent is fast and winding, with trees closing in on both sides. Exercise caution due to the speed and sharing the road with vehicles. By the time you reach the bottom, you're at the lake. Bluffer's Park opens up in front of you with the marina, the beach, and the bluffs rising on either side. The transition from suburban Scarborough to waterfront park happens quickly and completely.

Once you're in the park, the riding is easy. Flat paths along the waterfront, the marina to one side, the lake stretching out to the south. The beach has a good energy to it, especially on weekends. People barbecuing, kids playing, the whole scene spread out along the sand with the bluffs towering behind. On a nice day, biking to the Scarborough Bluffs makes it a great day

Two Views of the Bluffs

There are two ways to see the Scarborough Bluffs:

From the bottom, inside Bluffer's Park, you look up. The bluffs rise above you like layered walls of sand and clay. Standing at the base and looking up, you understand why this is one of Toronto's iconic natural landmarks. The beach sits at the end of it all, and the water is right there.

From the top, near Scarborough Crescent Park, you look out. Lake Ontario spreads to the horizon, and the bluffs drop away below your feet. Take in the full sweep of the escarpment stretching east and west along the shoreline. Getting to this viewpoint requires a detour off the main trail onto a dirt and gravel path through the forest. There's some climbing involved and the surface is rough but it's worth it.

The Climb

Here's the thing about Brimley: you have to go back up. There's no other way out. The climb is about 1.5 kilometres of sustained uphill, and by the halfway point you'll feel every metre of elevation you descended so casually on the way in. It's the kind of climb that makes you stand up on the pedals and question your route choices.

But it's also the kind of climb that feels genuinely good to finish. There's a reason cyclists come here specifically to train. The gradient is consistent, the road is wide enough to feel safe, and the sense of accomplishment at the top is real. If you're looking to push yourself, this is the ride that does it.