When we think of wild places, we tend to think of trees. What should you do to heal the earth? Plant a tree. But walking in the wide-open meadows that make up most of East Point Park in Scarborough, Ontario, you can quickly see why such natural open spaces are important. If your timing is correct, on a sunny day’s walk-in September, you’ll be joined by hundreds of monarch butterflies sipping nectar from the profusion of asters that grow here.
Home to breathtaking views of Lake Ontario, the dramatic cliff faces of the Scarborough Bluffs, a bird sanctuary, and wide-open meadows of undeveloped land, East Point is nothing short of a natural gem. There are access points to the trails at both the western and eastern ends of the park, with a large parking lot located at the east entrance just south of the train tracks.
You might see birds such as bobolinks, meadowlarks, and savannah sparrows that prefer open meadows to woodland. East Point consists of 55 hectares of available undeveloped land wedged between a water treatment plant to the west and a sewage treatment plant to the east. Walking along the beach, you can study the patterns of the cliff faces and watch the bank swallows entering and leaving their holes just under the top edge.
Once you’ve reached the park’s eastern edge, turn south and pick your way down the gully at the end of the road to the beach. There’s lots of driftwood, and on a warm day, the beach can be an excellent launching spot. East Point is the perfect place to bring your wildflower and bird guides. Walking is not strenuous, and the distance depends on how much you want to wander; keep your senses open. A1 Bed Bug Exterminator Scarborough
You can get to the beach by walking from the end of Beechgrove and Copperfield Road, located toward the east end of the park. The diverse landscape ranges from meadow, bluff, shrub thicket, forest, and wetland throughout the trail. The forest and shrub portions are full of vibrant reds and whites this time of the year.
The park wasn’t always the natural area that it is today. During the 1800s, the land was privately owned and undeveloped. Industrial companies then purchased it before being transferred to Toronto and Region Conservation in the 1970s, at which time it was restored to its more natural state.
Today, plenty of life can be found in the park. The area is a migratory staging area for monarch butterflies in the summer, with the best time to spot them in September. It’s also home to over 170 species of birds.
Address: 101 Copperfield Rd, Scarborough, ON
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