Great place for a picnic. Relatively less explode and so not that busy. We went on a Monday of a long weekend and there were very few people on the beach. There aren't any equipment or any apparatus on the beach itself, so you can just lay the carpet And relax. There are kayak rentals at some distance. There are public restrooms just as you enter the beach from the parking. The parking is free and there are decent number of spots, so there are a good chance that you will find one. Definitely recommend. read more

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Located downtown, this mid sized beach is a great place to drop by if you're in need for some sand and water. It does get quite busy on the weekends so go early to snag both a parking spot and a spot on the beach. If you can, transit may be a better option. Enjoy the sand and water! read more

Very nice. Great moonlight I felt safe here. Plenty of parking Multi colored rocks read more

The Cherry Beach at first glance does not make a great impression. It looks like the place where dogs and their owners socialise and smell of dog urine is occasionally overwhelming. Beyond dogs heaven, Cherry Beach is a hidden gem for water sports. The tiny access to the lake is a favourite place for kiteboarders. Some of Toronto kiters made this place worldwide famous for the incredible high jumping scores. Stand up paddleboarders use Cherry Beach to travel to the Toronto Island or visit the Tommy Thompson bird sanctuary paddling on usually flat water. The east side of the beach hosts the Toronto Windsurfing Club with a long tradition of popularising windsurfing and lately, also wingsurfing. Long distance swimmers associated with the Cherry Beach Open Water Swimmers are very active throughout the year as long as the water is free of ice. And amazingly, all the groups live in harmony. read more

Cherry Beach is always so much fun, located near Downtown Toronto, it is a great place to relax after shopping. Check out this video that featured this beach: https://youtu.be/ZA6FItYEF9s read more

This was our third time here with our pup, Sylvan. He LOVES it and it is where he first felt confident enough to swim. There's a spot where humans can swim and then as separate off leash dog park but they are connected by a gate. There park is huge and there is plenty of room for the dogs to spread out. We have never had any problems with other dogs. The space makes it easy for dogs to avoid any confrontation. read more

So, what shocks me is that NOBODY has mentioned the beach party that happens here every Sunday evening from 4pm-11pm in the summer. The dj's from Guvernment & other dub,trance events come here every Sunday (weather permitted) to spin some bad ass tracks and spread some love. The cover is $5.oo -giving you a wristband and you can bring in booze as long as it's not in glass bottles. We normally bring a cooler of about 40 beers. They won't check your cooler but opt for cans if you are unsure. They will give you plastic cups at the entrance, if you ask for it. If you are nice, they wont charge you for it. Otherwise its a $1.00. FYI - this is a bit of a love fest so if you are into the bouji scene, this is not for you. If you want to come and hear some good tracks,appreciate some wild spinning and chill by the beach, make friends with randoms that are probably ON something, then this place is DEF for you. Directions to the partayyyy: Once you come up to the entrance of the beach, take a left into the parking lot and keep driving/walking all the way to the end of the parking lot. You will hear the bass pumping and loud music by the time 6pm rolls around. Walk onto the path to the left of the parking and continue onwards. If you get lost, chase the music. You wont be able to miss it, once your past a few trees. I love that they have such a hidden location. When the sun sets, there's colourful lights against the trees and lots of cool glow sticks that are given out for free. **Disclaimer....this is a happy pill sort of party. By no means does that imply that everyone has to partake. Grow some balls and say no to drugs, enjoy the vibes & chill. If you are afraid of coming alone or are unsure etc, then you are more than welcome to find me. Otherwise, let loose, have some beers, appreciate the music & love. This weekend will be the last weekend and it resumes every summer. FYI: there are no bathrooms , don't be surprised if you see a bunch of people running behind big bushes/trees. It's back to basics from the moment you put on those wristbands. xoxo M. read more

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This review is based on the off leash dog side. This park isn't bad. But it's not amazing. It's pretty much all fenced in, but there is a gap between the human beach, and the dog beach, so if you've got a runner, that's an area you'll want to stay away from. The dog beach stretches right around, which is nice. You can usually find a quiet area to play with your pup in the water if that's more your thing .... Lots of balls, lots of toys floating around. Don't bring anything you don't want stolen by another pup. Not a great place for toy possessive dogs. Or humans who can't understand that balls/toys will go missing, can and probably will get stolen by other overly excited dogs. In other words, don't bring your dogs 'very favourite toy'. I do find this dog park has a collection of lesser-educated dog owners; you will find a larger number in intact males, and young families bringing bags of picnic food and laying on the ground. These idiots are basically just asking for trouble. This isn't an appropriate place to have a picnic on the sand with your small children, as you WILL get an occasional group of playing dogs running over your perfectly placed blanket. And you will get a mouth full of sand. Not to mention, it can be very dangerous for small children who loose their stepping in the sand and get knocked over by overambitious dogs. read more

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This is a piece of dog heaven. It's not the hugest area, but more than enough for a couple dogs to run, and besides you didn't drive all the way there for them just to stay on land. The sandy, more shallow beach is to the left and a rocky area (not really beach) with deeper swimming for the big dogs at the end of the trail. Like any good dog park, it gets busy on a nice weekend. (During the high summer you can smell the honeysuckle) If you are fortunate enough to be self-employed its great to go there during the weekday. You can walk amongst the professional dog walkers and their many charges. There's a handy billboard with spare plastic bags by the parking lot should you find yourself without. And now that there's a T&T up the street you can get two things done on your trip. read more

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Finally had a chance to come here, and it is so fantastic!!! This is a paradise for dogs of all kinds! Luckily, I was able to come on a weekday, so it wasn't too busy, and ample parking was available. There were a few dog walkers, but all had their charges well under control. The area is clean and well kept, and I didn't notice any errant poops waiting to be stepped on by passersby. We really enjoyed walking through the woods as well as the beach. Smaller dogs like mine enjoyed the shallower rocky area near the end of the park, as opposed to the sandy beach at the entrance. Love how there is a chip truck operating even at 10 am! Brilliant! read more

Cherry Beach Clarke Beach Park - Tim and Cymbal - Beaches Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

My dogs love to swim here in the leash free area designated for dogs. If you don't want to be near dogs, stay as far east as you can. For those with dogs, stay west. On weekends in the summer, this place is crazy busy, but my dogs don't mind waiting until after 7pm to go for a swim. As others have mentioned, do not park on the grass, you can get a ticket. Better to wait for a spot or don't go during peak hours on the weekend. A great park and all the regulars are really good about picking up after their dogs... especially compared to other leash free parks. There will always be those who don't do the right thing but at least here, the majority are responsible dog owners/walkers. read more

I live adjacent to the Coronation dog park. I thought that was a pretty amazing dog park until I visited this place. It's amazing Toronto has resources like this for the city's dogs. I go in the early afternoon when it's not too busy. It's just a beautiful place to take a break in the middle of the day. Easy to park at, friendly people, and it's so big that it's like being able to take a walk with your dog off leash, not so much like a playpen as many dog parks are in the city. read more

Cherry Beach Clarke Beach Park - Doggy paradise - Beaches Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Ain't bad but too rocky. Water is cleaner and bit more quite than woodbine. I highly recommend to get aqua shoes to avoid cuts. Rocks under the water can be very sharp. Also avoid sit on those rocks. You will never be able to remove those water moss stain from your bathing suit unless it's time for you to go on bathing suit shopping. read more

Cherry Beach Clarke Beach Park - Beaches Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Backgrounder: Toronto's Cherry Beach at Clarke Beach Park is a Blue Flag beach and often rated as the cleanest and warmest beach in Toronto. It faces Leslie Spit on Lake Ontario and is between the Port Lands on the north-west, a public parking lot and Regatta Road on the east. Summer time activities include beach picnics, a dog off-leash area, swimming, windsurfing and kitesurfing, cycling, photography, socials and BBQ's. The lake bottom consists of pebbles with some algae. Facilities: A TTC bus stop, public parking, washrooms with change rooms, a picturesque lifeguard station, and occasionally a burger food truck. Clarke Beach Park as a name never took hold with locals and so in 2003 Cherry Beach was added to the name by the City of Toronto to be Cherry Beach Clarke Beach Park for the area. Harry Clarke was a Toronto alderman who was responsible for creating the park in the early 1930s. Clarke Beach Park today is the green land beyond Cherry Beach from Cherry Street to beyond Regatta Road. It follows the Martin Goodman Trail which passes Cherry Street, Cherry Beach, the Cherry Beach Sports Fields, to the eight co-operative water-sports clubs looking towards the former Hearn Generating Station. Cherry Beach Clarke Beach Park will eventually become the western arm of Lake Ontario Park. That's a lot of names. The beach may have been a thin body of sand between Lake Ontario and one of largest wetlands in Eastern Canada before Europeans settled here. At different times it joined to the Toronto Islands before being washed away by storms. There's a photo of it as an island in 1915. In the 1920s the polluted area behind, Ashbridge's Bay, was filled in to create the Toronto Port Lands. Then in the 1950s the creation of the Leslie Street Spit breakwater for an Outer Harbour created a bay opposite the beach. Before then the popular with locals beach looked across the lake towards the Canada US border as does the Toronto Beaches by Ashbridge's Bay does today. read more

I am writing specifically about the leash-free dog area since that's the part I frequent. As far as dog parks go, this is a good one! Unlike many city ones, this place offers lots of space for you and your canine pal to enjoy. The combination of mature trees and lots of waterfront looking out to the Islands and the Leslie Spit is pretty winning. Also, if your dog likes water like my dog, Eli, they can jump right in. The only reasons that it's not a five outta five is firstly because I see a lot of poop left lying around. Seriously, people... stoop and scoop! Secondly, I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but the sand is kinda dirty. My dog always leaves the park covered in a sooty residue like charcoal. I take him to lots of other beaches and don't have this problem, so it must be something in the Cherry Beach sand, well at least in the dog area. Finally, much like T&T, it is hard to get to without a car. BUT, if you have a car, you watch where you step in the park, and you bring a towel to throw on the seat before your dog hops in the car, Cherry Beach dog park rules. read more

Yesterday evening was my first experience at Cherry Beach. How I've stayed away, as a dog-owner and a downtown swimming evangelist, for so long is beyond me. You just hop on your bike and head due south on Parliament. I'm in Cabbagetown, so this is hella convenient pour moi. If you are transferring from the TTC there is a Cherry St bus that leaves from Union Station. They're really making it easy for us, folks. It's a beautiful sprawling beach, much bigger than I had imagined with lifeguards and washrooms. PEPPER POINTS: For the dog park. I know I mentioned it, but a leash-less dog park by a beach? The best! PEPPER'S PISSED: Not much by way of snack-grabbing, pack a picnic. read more

I visit Cherry beach every Saturdays with my 2 dogs, I like to go early 9 am-ish more parking space available. The city recently had some fencing put up. Kinda cuts my beach stroll short but still nice. Swimming Area to play fetch, awesome strolling around to get dry after, most dogs seem to be well behaved under controlled. read more

The off-leash area is a nice size for any dog to enjoy. I come here all year round, yes even during the Jan and Feb. For the most part, people are friendly and most of the dog walkers that use this park keep a close eye on their dogs and pick up after the dogs. My dog is not a swimmer and he's not interested in toys, he's more of a game of chase kinda guy. The east side of the beach is okay but it's a bit isolated and a bit sketchy. On the weekends it's busy but Mon - Fri not so much. During Spring/Summer/Fall there's a chip truck and the washrooms are open. The negatives, broken glass so be mindfull of that. Not a place to walk barefoot. A few times I've found discared needles along the water and other debris, best to keep an eye out while walking with your dog by the water's edge. There have also been dead fish washed up on the sand and the occassional dead raccoon. There are some obnoxious and clueless dog owners, but the area is big enough that they can be avoided. read more

I love this beach! I've been coming here for over 4 years and the beach is always CLEAN! I love how you can bring your small or big dog here. The best part is that you don't see dog poop or trash like the other beaches around here, The only thing they need to fix is the trees that are blocking the signs (which you need to look around for) if you don't you will be ticketed like i have. Also the parking lot might need to be re done up because there is a lot of pot holes where you can easily walk into and break a foot. But over all this beach is Amazing! read more

This is where we buried Mr Mouse. Just under the air landing marker 20 plus years ago. I came to show my respects today. This park still feels undiscovered. The grass is nicely overgrown, the trees own the place instead of the other way around. The path to the beach now has the energy of a thousand waggy tails. The lake laps gently at the shore and reveals the perfect flat skipping stones. AND... thanks to "Mr J's Deli on the Beach" you won't go hungy either. I wonder, can I Yelp a chip truck? :-) read more

Updating my review after I came back a few more times, in the fall and winter months. It's bigger than a lot of other fenced dog runs in the city, which I like. Previously I complained about the trees and brush everywhere, but upon consideration, I think the foliage is a good thing. There are less dog fights overall when there's places to duck and hide. The big open play-pens lead to more fights when the dogs feel like they can't get away. The dog owner community is actually really good, pretty knowledgeable about dogs behaviour and training. My first impression (in my earlier review) was probably not accurate, because I came on a busy summer day. I've met a lot of friendly owners, willing to chat while the dogs romp. read more

I visited Cherry Beach last night and had a really good time. We set up a blanket on the sand and enjoyed the sandy beach, stars and the moon. It was really nice! Quite a few people had fires and/or barbecues going and it was a really nice experience. I would definitely go back for another BBQ or to walk around in the sand. read more

I drove 4 hours up North to a beach that looked just as identical as Cherry Beach--right in my own city. With the free parking, the food stand and the clean bathrooms I was very impressed. We brought our own BBQ in case the pits were being used (they were) and enjoyed a delicious meal on grassy parklands. Afterward, we took a short 5 minute walk to the off-leash dog beach area where our 2 dogs had a ton of safe, good time frolicking with about 30 other dogs. Owners were friendly, not minding muddy dogs jumping and being, well, dogs. I was impressed with the off-leash dog area as it was huge, and still as nice as the regular beach area. Access to iced water, ice cream and yummy fries was a pleasant surprise. Most people were very friendly, social and there to enjoy the sun and surf. Great beach! read more

This beach is great - we bring our dogs here, they get to run around, and meet other dogs. Even though the girls are little, one of them loves to swim. A great place to visit, particularly in the warmer months. Highly recommended! read more

Cherry Beach is a small but cozy beach. My boyfriend and I went to Cherry Beach last week for my namesake. It sounded stupid, but Cherry Beach turned out to be a nice experience. Summer was almost over and we thought we would hit the beach for the last time before Toronto's long and cold winter months arrive. The beach is reachable by TTC Bus 72B from Union station, though I believe it only operates during the summer. We arrived at around 5pm and it was still sunny on that day. There is a washroom if you need to change right by where you get off the bus. The sand is decent but not what I consider "fine". There are more pebbles as it gets near the water. The beach has a quiet, isolated vibe. It is a good place to take an afternoon nap and get tanned at the same time. The coast line is decently long, meaning you can distant yourself from the crowd easily. On the other hand, if you like more crowded beaches you can always set yourself up in the middle of the beach. There are also trees along the beach so you could easily find a spot under the shade if it gets too hot! As other Yelp reviews point out, Cherry Beach is known as a dog beach. Though the day we went, there weren't that many dogs. But I would say it is a nice place to bring your dogs along too. Don't worry if you are not a dog-lover, the beach is still clean and tidy. read more

This is the worst beach in Toronto. If you're there to just soak up the rays then okie you're good to go. SWIMMING - STAY AWAY! It's the dirtiest part of the lake it seems and you kill your feet just trying to get into the water. Stones and seaweed everywhere - not good at all. May I add that Leslie Spit is across the way - so you can imagine all the bird crap floating around with the seagull nests and swan habitats. I'll take the extra trip to Centre Island and enjoy that beach area. read more

Nice beach, and fond memories with good friends.

I am in Toronto nearly every weekend and my wife and I often take our dog to cherry beach. The parking lot is so poorly maintained that I've seen more than one car get damaged from the size and depth of the pot holes but I am writing you because of another maintenance issue that the parking enforcement is taking full advantage of. There are no defined parking spots due to the condition of the lot forcing people to park wherever they can get a spot so I park where I can where there is an opening. Last Sunday I visited the beach and parking was slim. I parked in a row of vehicles that were spaced correctly and not obstructing other spots or traffic flow. I looked for parking restriction signs, as they were visible in other locations. I saw no such sign so I parked on the row with the other vehicles. When I came back every car on the row, including mine, had a $100 parking ticket. Upon closer inspection, after walking in the overgrown sumacs' I found the hidden sign, completely invisible when parking next to the overgrowth. To fight this ticket I will have to take a day off work, drive 100km's to file the ticket, and when I get my court date, take another day and do it again. It will cost me nearly $1000 to fight a $100 ticket that could have been avoided if the city kept up on it's maintenance. Shame on you. read more

Cherry Beach Clarke Beach Park - $100 parking ticket for not obey this sign in their " parking lot " - Beaches Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Back when Lake Ontario was pretty dirty, Cherry Beach was (as I recall) one of the cleaner beaches in Toronto, tucked away in a bay. But it was pretty sparse in its amenities. It's only in the last few years that the city has been trying to spruce it up, making it a nicer enclave from the industrial/portland areas that surround it. The park/picnic area around the beach is nice, along the Martin Goodman Trail. But the parking area has still been under construction; there have been delays thanks to all the rain this summer. There've been horror stories about the $100+ parking tickets given out on weekends to beachgoers who can't find a legal spot--so transit or bikes are a good alternative if possible. Once the improvements are finished and the landscaping grows in, Cherry Beach will definitely rate four stars here. read more

Cherry Beach Park is a pooches paradise. Go for a stroll, play in the water, make new friends...and the dogs have a good time too. Our dog Shaemus (really my sister's baby) is a nervous little dog. He hates loud noises, he hates water and he won't socialize with other dogs. He thinks he's human. So when we decided to take him to the Dog Park at Cherry Beach Park, we were a little hesitant on how much he'd enjoy it. But once we got there and saw other dogs frolicking, we wanted our pup to get the full experience. So we let him off the leash. Now this is a big thing, as he's a runner. As in run away from us. Surprisingly, he took it all in stride. But more likely was intimidated by the other care free dogs living it up, so he stayed close for protection. The gated off leash area is quite big and includes an area full of trees, paths, and access to the beach and waterfront. Most dogs were having a good 'ol time in the water but Shaemus happily sniffed on the beach. Even the humans were having a good time including "celebrity" Gregory Smith from the tv shows "Everwood" and "Rookie Blue" playing frisbee sans dog. He's very skinny by the way. In the end, we had a bit of a walk in the sunshine and to our shock and delight, Shaemus actually went into the water. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks. Tip: There's lots of stories out there about $100 parking tickets given out on weekends to beachgoers who can't find a legal spot read more

As you will notice, the people giving this beach 5 stars, all have dogs. As a dog park, this park is great but for people, it's actually pretty bad. The beach is probably the worst in Toronto and it's not like Toronto is known for beautiful beaches. If you don't have a dog, I'd say skip this beach and head over to the Beaches or the Toronto Islands. read more

This beach was a little small and there wasn't much life on the beach. There are a bunch of residential homes nearby and one food stand on the beach. The beach was also very plain. there aren't any puers, art sculptures or boats. We walked there from the distillery district, and it was really far. I suggest you take a bus here. read more

As a dog-park, this place is great. As a people-park, it's a bit lacking: it's lovely to be able to swim in the lake, but the shore's too pebbly to go in without water shoes unless you're careful, and there's a lot of algae as you go deeper in that's going to get caught in your hair. The depth right here is good, though--you don't have to go out too far to completely immerse yourself, and the beach is long enough that you can find some relatively secluded spots if you want. read more

We only go there because our dog absolutely loves it, but if it weren't for him we never put up with the crappiest parking lot in the GTA and the hidden parking signs. This is an awful way to treat Torontonians and visitors. read more

This is such a great off leash park for dogs! Love the variety of beach, water, and forest trails. It's so big that even when it's busy, there's TONS of room. Definitely my favourite dog park in the city. (also helpful that there are bathrooms for owners right beside the park) read more

I was expecting a beach like the ones in Chicago and was sorely disappointed. Beach was pretty dirty, the algae was very stinky, and worst of all, there are so many rocks in the water that it's uncomfortable to walk. there were also numerous pieces of glass on beach and in water. do not recommend if you are expecting a Great Lakes beach like in Presque Isle (Erie) or Lake Michigan (Chicago or Michigan side). read more

Un-groomed sand, algae all through the water, rocky shore, $105 parking tickets when you can't figure out what is a parking spot vs what is. Toronto could make it better very easily. Use the money from the thousands of dollars of parking tickets you make every weekend to improve this beach! You owe it to the patrons that attempted to enjoy the summer. read more

Cherry beach is heaven for dogs!! Lots of dogs running free, swimming, playing together. It is also a nice place to socialize for both human and dog. read more