Best Places To SUP In Toronto

* By Diana Lee *

Looking to get into stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) this summer? Or maybe you’re wondering where to go with your new paddleboard? Well, you’re in luck because there’s no shortage of places to paddle in Toronto / Tkaronto (Mohawk word meaning ‘where there are trees standing in water’).

SUP is my favourite way to experience the great outdoors. In 2011, one of my first SUP experiences was in Hawaii, where the sport originates. Since then, I’ve paddled abroad in places like Iceland, the Galapagos, and the surreal blue glacier-fed lakes of Western Canada. While I miss travel SUP adventures, I’ve always said that we are SO LUCKY to have so much waterfront access and the Great Lakes around us. Our province’s name references ‘large lake’ or ‘beautiful water’ depending on the Indigenous dialect!

As a certified SUP instructor, it brings me so much joy to introduce people to a sport that can instantly make them feel calm, refreshed, and closer to nature. Whether you’re totally new to SUP, or you’ve got some experience and you want to put some mileage on your new board, here are some of my recommendations to help you get started and more familiar with the Toronto SUP scene, organized by location:

5 Best Places To SUP In Toronto

1. Kew Balmy Beach

Sandy shorelines and sheltered swim spots make The Beaches THE perfect place to learn SUP and soak in the summer vibes all day by the water.

Take an intro to SUP lesson or rent from SUPGirlz, one of the original stand-up paddleboarding companies in Toronto that’s woman-owned and welcomes everyone! I started my SUP journey right here and one of my fondest SUP moments is watching fireworks and paddling under the super moon at their night SUP sessions.

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They also offer a SUP certification course if you’re an experienced paddler wanting to become an instructor.

Have your own board? There’s plenty of shaded, grassy park space or open sandy beach spots to set up your gear. You can easily walk your board out into the water (watch out for the cyclists when crossing the Martin Goodman Trail). During Toronto’s beach season (June to September), the beach is supervised with lifeguards between 11:30 am to 6:30 pm.

In my opinion, Kew-Balmy Beach is THE dreamiest spot in Toronto to watch the sunrise from the water!

Enjoy a post-paddle brunch on the patio at The Beacher Cafe or a snack at Tori’s Bakeshop, Toronto’s first vegan café (I’m not vegan, but I LOVE this place!)

Location And Tips:

• Google Maps Coordinates
• Designated Blue Flag Beach for meeting water quality test and safety criteria.
• TTC-friendly.
• Ample street parking. 
• Public washrooms available in the summer at Kew Gardens and Woodbine Beach.

2. Toronto Islands  

Explore the meandering waterways along designated Environmentally Significant Areas with breathtaking views of the Toronto skyline.

Whether you’re looking for an intro class, rentals or a paddling adventure right in the city, visit Toronto Island SUP (TISUP), another longstanding paddleboarding company. Their Eco-Tours Adventure introduces you to the history of how the 14 Toronto Islands came to be while you SUP! (Spoiler alert: This paddling paradise and cute Toronto community was a series of sandbars!)

Coordinate a group session with your friends or check out their special events like paddlebirding! If you’re a fan of wildlife like I am, this is THE spot in spring to enjoy birding from the water. Watch the colourful, feathery visitors whiz around in the air, singing their birdsongs while you float along on your SUP.  

If you have your own gear, I’d still suggest going with TISUP. Paddling to the Toronto Islands is for intermediate/advanced paddlers due to the boat traffic around the harbour and water conditions. Let TISUP take care of everything so you can fully enjoy the naturescape of the Toronto Islands.

Location And Tips:

• Google Maps Coordinates
• Book ahead or call TISUP to confirm a lesson, tour, or rental.
• Take the Toronto Island Ferry (book an online ticket) from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal over to Ward’s Island.
• Walk south towards The Riviera – Ward’s Island Cafe, a lovely casual dining spot post-paddle or for pre-adventure snacks and drinks on their Tiki Patio.

3. Cherry Beach

Located minutes from downtown Toronto this fun, choose-your-own-adventure kind of spot offers something for every level of paddler!

Cherry Beach is another beginner-friendly location where you can easily launch your board. It is also a designated Blue Flag Beach for meeting water quality test and safety criteria, including lifeguards on duty during beach season. Paddle along the shoreline of this protected location called Outer Harbour, a popular spot for all types of water recreation. Enjoy the tunes that emanate from the Promise music event and end the evening off with a fantastic view of the sunset.

Local surf shop, Surf The Greats (STG) will often run SUP clinics and special events like their Meet-Up Clean-Ups and Pride Float at this spot. Get to know STG as they can also help you get into surfing (yes, you can surf in Toronto).

Intermediate to advanced level paddler? You can paddle over to Tommy Thompson Park on the Leslie Street Spit (the peninsula across the water) and see the cormorants colony, the largest in North America.

Or, paddle through the Eastern Gap, the Toronto Harbour (watch out for large boats and ships), and visit the Toronto Islands.  

Location And Tips:

• Google Maps Coordinates
• Wear water shoes as it’s a rockier shoreline than The Beaches.
• TTC bus service available in the summer.
• Arrive early – the parking lots fill up in the summer.
• While Mr. J’s Poutine & Deli food truck is almost always there every time I visit in the summer, bring along snacks and drinks.

4. Sunnyside Beach – Budapest Park  

A historic waterfront location in west-end Toronto that connects to the Humber River, a designated Canadian Heritage River.

Another beginner-friendly spot where you can easily spend a whole day paddling along the shoreline. Take a relaxing SUP yoga class or rent from Oceah Oceah, First Nations women-owned, mobile SUP company. They also offer a Reset & Restore Active Women’s Retreat!

Park your SUP on the beach and enjoy lunch on the patio of the Sunnyside Pavilion.

Paddlers with experience can sign up for the Humber River Paddle Tour, another great escape from the city and wildlife viewing spot with Oceah Oceah. Toronto Adventures is another option, especially if you’ve got friends who prefer canoeing or kayaking but you want to SUP.

Location And Tips:

• Google Maps Coordinates
• While it is possible to launch upriver, paddling experience is required as the river’s water levels and conditions can impact safety.

5. Scarborough Bluffs – Bluffers Park

Take in the views of towering white cliffs formed by the natural process of wind and water erosion from Lake Ontario 12,000 years ago! And when the light shines right, the turquoise water lined with the soft sandy beaches gives off major tropical island vibes.

Scarborough Bluffs, AKA The Bluffs, is a 15km stretch of 15 different parks (some do not have any water access!) Paddlers, head down to Bluffers Park. For beginners, head over to the east end parking lot, where the sandy beach is just steps away.

Oceah Oceah will be launching their 2^nd location here with intro lessons, rentals and SUP yoga sessions starting in June!

Location And Tips:

• Google Maps Coordinates
• Keep a safe distance from the bluffs while on the water or on land. The area is unstable due to erosion, and water damage and large chunks fall off without warning.
• While there is a boat launch by the main parking lot located at the foot of Brimley Road, the beach is recommended for people with less paddling experience.
• TTC bus service available.

Other Places To SUP In Ontario

Looking to SUP outside of Toronto? Here are some additional paddling spot ideas in Ontario.

Before You SUP…

• Check the weather, water levels and wind conditions. If you are taking a lesson or renting, the companies I’ve recommended have certified instructors and advise on whether a class or rental session is cancelled due to weather conditions.
• If you have your own gear, awesome! I’d still suggest going out with a professional company (ask them for bring-your-own-board rates). They can help familiarize you with the paddling spots and improve your paddling technique. Paddle with a buddy and always wear a lifejacket and SUP leash. Review Transport Canada’s Safe Boating Guide, which includes info for us SUP-ers.
• Note that some companies and facilities may be closed due to the ever changing COVID-19 pandemic. Follow public health advice by wearing a face mask, practice physical distancing, and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Call or check ahead online with each business or attraction to ensure you have the most up-to-date information available.

What to Wear

• Swimwear – bikinis, wetsuit, board shorts, rash guards.
• Yoga wear – shorts, capris.
• Sandals, flipflops or neoprene booties.
• Avoid cotton.
• Sunscreen.

What to Bring

• A full change of clothes + towel (in case you fall in).
• Optional items to bring on-water depending on the weather – hat, windbreaker, sunglasses that float or a tether to help prevent them from unanticipated dives into the lake.
• Waterproof case for your phone if you will be taking photos on the water. This is optional as most of the recommended companies mentioned here will take pictures for you or even offer a waterproof bag you can use onboard!
• Water to avoid dehydration.
• Snacks.

Tips For Getting Your Own Gear

• SUP Boards – when renting, take note of the board you used. This will help when you’re looking to get your own. Try a bunch from the different companies and ask questions!
• Learn about and feel out the differences between racing or touring boards, SUP surf boards, inflatables, etc.
• Local Shops – check out Surf Ontario, Surf The Greats, and The Complete Paddler. You can also ask the places I recommended above as they will sometimes sell their boards and gear!

The SUP Community

• Join a community – Lake Surfistas is a volunteer-run, women’s surf and SUP community on the Great Lakes. There is a dedicated women’s-only Facebook Discussion Group. 
• Beach or waterfront clean-ups – almost all the companies I recommended above host a clean-up or environmental-focused event. Or, host your own! Need inspiration? Meet Rochelle Byrne of @agreenerfuture who paddled 430 km across Lake Ontario to raise awareness about plastic pollution in the lake. 
• Dinged your board? It’s not over! Larry, Keana and Nailani Cavero of Surf Dreams Canada can bring your damaged hard and inflatable SUPs back to life! They’ve also hosted community events like Waves For Warmth to provide winter essentials for people experiencing homelessness.

Want more ideas for where to SUP? Got gear questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out! This is just the beginning!

Diana Lee lives for adventure, the great outdoors and SUP! She is a certified International Surfing Association (ISA) and World Paddling Association (WPA) SUP Instructor with swift water and ice rescue training. She’s also a librarian and a reporter for Get Out There Magazine. Find out what she’SUP to @only1phoenixx on Instagram and Twitter.