The Doris McCarthy Trail (Gates Gully): starts from Ravine Drive, south of Kingston Road and head down to Lake Ontario. This trail through Gates Gulley was named after the well-known Canadian artist Doris McCarthy, who lived at the end of Meadowcliffe Road and owned a portion of the Bellamy Ravine. Doris McCarthy, best known for her landscape paintings, lived on the picturesque 12-acre property from 1939 to her death in 2010. She referred to her home as “Fools Paradise” and she donated it to the Ontario Heritage Trust in 1998, hoping that other artists would use the lands on the Scarborough Bluff to inspire art after her death. She donated the lands in the ravine to the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority for conservation and access purposes. A sculpture is located at the point where the Doris McCarthy Trail meets the lakeshore. This is about a .9 km. walk. The trail branches left or right at this point.
The right trail (about .5 km) leads you to the edge of Bluffers Park and affords magnificent views of the Scarborough bluffs. The left trail (about 4.5 km) takes you along the water’s edge to the headlands at the base of Sylvan Park. A section of the sunken steamship Alexandria can still be seen slightly poking out of the water in this direction.
The trail is designated difficult because of the steep initial section. At the shoreline the trail is flat.
We would also direct you to read our DISCLAIMER and our TRAIL USERS CODE.
Region(s): Toronto
Nearby towns and cities: Toronto - Scarborough
Trail feature tags: scenic view
Doris McCarthy Trail & Gates Gully characteristics
Length: 5 km one wayDifficulty: Difficult (Trail classifications)
Trail surface: Natural and Paved
Trail use: Hiking and Mountain biking
Accessibility Notes: not wheelchair accessible
Fees: None
Flora & Fauna:
Not yet reported.
Amenities: none
Attractions: views
Contact:
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
Find it: 4 Ravine Dr, south of Kingston Rd.
GPS Coordinates (main trailhead):
Latitude: 43.7307700
Longitude: -79.2243370