Woodbine Beach is the largest of the four beaches in the Beaches in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Located along Lake Shore Boulevard at the foot of Woodbine Avenue, it is next to Ashbridge’s Bay and Kew-Balmy Beach.
Woodbine is the westernmost beach in the Beaches, and the series of beaches extend east until the RC Harris Water Treatment Plant. The beach runs parallel to the boardwalk and the Martin Goodman Trail and is part of Woodbine Park.
Woodbine Beach Toronto
The area around Woodbine was once a cottage community in a similar style to the communities on the Toronto Island, today it is a popular beach. Until Lake Shore Boulevard was extended to Woodbine Avenue in the 1950s, Woodbine was not a bathing beach, but rather a wooded area known as ‘The Cut’. Woodbine and neighboring Ashbridge’s Bay are a popular place to visit to see the fireworks for Victoria Day.
There are over 90 volleyball courts, and various outdoor leisure activity rentals, such as bicycles, canoes, kayaks, and standup paddleboards. Next to the beach is the Donald D. Summerville Outdoor Olympic Pool, an outdoor elevated Olympic-sized swimming pool, overlooking the beach. Construction for the pool started in 1961, and it was designed to add temporary scaffolding for the spectator seats in the event Toronto was to ever host the Olympics. The Martin Goodman Trail runs along the boardwalk.
Woodbine Beach Weather
Woodbine and Kew-Balmy Beach are Blue Flag certified for cleanliness and are suitable for swimming, with this distinction being awarded to Woodbine since 2005. The beach is maintained by Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation. Since 1990, the quality of the water and sand has improved dramatically. The water quality at the beach is tested daily and is clean to swim on most days, including after storms. In addition, the sand is machine groomed daily. Besides, the terrain is gentle to far offshore, and there is not much seaweed, which is ideal for swimming. However, the water temperature can be highly unpredictable.
Woodbine Beach Parking
In By 5pm
Mon-Fri; 5pm-9pm
Sat-Sun; 9am-11:59pm
A broad and beautiful curve of sand at the foot of Woodbine Avenue, this popular 15.2-hectare park is one of the city’s many beaches and the gateway to three kilometers of sandy waterfront stretching eastward along the Lake Ontario shoreline. Woodbine is a popular spot for picnics, sunbathing, and swimming with wide stretches of sand, summer lifeguards, a bathing station, and the Donald D. Summerville Outdoor Olympic Pool nearby. The recently renovated bathing station features upgraded ventilation and lighting, a new roof, an enlarged patio, change rooms, accessible washrooms, water bottle filling stations, and a beach shower with a foot wash. The Ashbridges Bay and Martin Goodman trails run through this park, which also includes a playground, outdoor fitness equipment, beach volleyball courts, picnic shelters, snack bar, full-service restaurant, and parking at Ashbridges Bay Park.
ACCESSIBILITY – A plastic Mobi mat system leads from the base of the Summerville Pool to the shoreline, enabling mobility devices to access the sand and water. A beach wheelchair is available in summer – call 392-7688 to book.
LOCATION – In the historic Beach neighborhood south of Queen Street East, a vibrant street with an eclectic mix of shops, cafes, pubs, and restaurants.
WASHROOMS – Accessible washrooms open daily from morning to evening, from April/May to October.
Woodbine Beach Pool
Donald D. Summerville Outdoor Olympic Pool complex is located on the beach, at Woodbine Park. This facility features a 50 meter Olympic size pool, 25 meter training pool, and a separate diving pool. The diving pool features 5 and 10 meter diving platforms.
Woodbine Beach Fireworks
Fireworks at Ashbridges Bay and a party at Woodbine Park are slated to help Beach residents celebrate Canada Day (and our country’s 152nd birthday) on Monday, July 1.
The Q107 Canada Day Picnic runs from noon until dusk at Woodbine Park (1695 Queen St. E.) on July 1.
Admission is free to the event which will feature tribute bands, a beer garden, food vendors, and more. The Q107 Rock & Roll Tributes will honor Neil Young, Santana, Radiohead, U2, Foo Fighters, Chicago, and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
The night will be capped off with the annual Canada Day fireworks display set for Ashbridges Bay beginning at approximately 9:45 p.m.
As always, those planning on attending the Ashbridges Bay fireworks are reminded that the event draws huge crowds and its best to stake a viewing spot early, and to take public transit.
