Stand-up Paddleboarding in Toronto, Canada

Toronto Sunset. Photo credit: Berkay Gumustekin on Unsplash

With more than one hundred skyscrapers, the Canadian city of Toronto is blessed with an impressive skyline which dominates the local landscape. Toronto sits on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario, with a sheltered harbour area protected from the elements by the Toronto Islands, which lie just offshore. I have been told that there is no better place in the world for a sunset paddle. 

It had long been a dream of mine to experience a sunset SUP here at Canada’s largest city, but when I visited in June 2026, a storm was forecast and local paddlers advised against paddling on the lake.

I accepted the consensus advice from members of the local Facebook SUP group that I should instead take the number two, Green Line subway train to Old Mill, a 40-minute ride from the city centre, and paddle on the River Humber. A suitable launch point wasn’t immediately obvious, but I walked downhill until I found water and a small rocky beach to set off from. The early summer sun was oppressive, and I was glad to find shelter under an old humpbacked bridge as I manually inflated my paddleboard.

The River Humber, Ontario, Canada

The expected storm didn’t come, and I floated gently downstream for a few kilometres on flat water, surrounded by trees and greenery, before turning back. I spent as much time sitting, basking in the sunshine as I did standing up and paddling. There was very little flow on the Hamble, making for an easy return journey. Close to the end of my adventure, I came across a small pontoon which made for a slightly better egress point; I packed up and was soon back on the train to Toronto.

As a first-time visitor to Toronto, I took the almost compulsory guided tour to Niagara Falls. I also had room in my diary for a FIFA Men’s World Cup match at Toronto Stadium between Ghana and Panama, and to catch up with my friends Neil and Anne. I swear Neil’s beard is longer every time I see him!