The Beltline Trail is a multi-use trail in mid-town Toronto, popular with dog-walkers, runners, and people on their bikes. Here are some photos along the Kay Gardner Beltline Trail section, starting at the new Chaplin LRT TTC station, east across Avenue Road, Yonge Street, eventually ending at Mount Pleasant and the cemetery. Quick URL to share: wholemap.com/BeltlineYonge
Eglinton Ave West and the Line 5 Chaplin LRT Station
We’ll start along the trail at the bridge down from 649 Eglinton Ave West and the Line 5 TTC LRT station for Chaplin Crescent (second entrance West) at this point.
Across the street from the stairsis a mural of Charlie Chaplin, with the quote “Love like its your last” on the apartment building at 600 Eglinton Avenue West – called The Chaplin. The path runs parallel to Chaplin Crescent along this stretch, named after the Chaplin family – William and James Chaplin formed the Chaplin Realty Company in 1913 to develop the area.
We’ll head west just a bit to start – turn right at the bottom of the stairs. There is a modern bridge that takes Eglinton Avenue West over the trail, with the Eglinton lost Station on the north side of the trail.
You could continue west with Forest Hill Collegiate Institute on the south side of the trail, and the Larry Grossman Forest Hill Memorial Arena, Memorial Park, and North Prep Junior Public school on the north side. Instead we’ll head south/east back under the bridge and past the stairs .
Robert Bateman Parkette
The Canadian artist Robert Bateman spent much of his youth exploring the green spaces that would become the beltline trail. As a child his family lived at 287 Chaplin Crescent. In 2010 a parkette that connects the trail to 281 Chaplain Crescent was renamed in his honour. (It was originally called the Russell Hill Parkette.)
This section of the trail has more green canopy with the backyards of houses on either side and another connection to Chaplin Crescent in the Larratt Parkette.
Upper Canada College Lost Station
Next we come of the Upper Canada College Lost Station installation from 2020, recognizing another station along the original 1890’s steam commuter railway. In the distance you can see the lights to cross Avenue Road.
Always stop to read the plaque!
Forest Hill Road Park
On the south side of the trail is the Forest Hill Road Park, with a kids playground and entrance on the west side to the road itself.
Avenue Road in Forest Hill
Crossing Oriole Parkway
The path continues with a green canopy between apartment buildings and houses, then just south of the light at Chaplin Crescent is a divided crossing of Oriole Parkway.
Once you are safely across Oriole Parkway the path returns into the green space between Frobisher Ave and the apartments on Oriole Cresecent.
Oriole Park at Lascelles Blvd
A short distance from Oriole Parkway the path runs along the south side of Oriole Park which has a children’s playground, pingpong tables, and tennis courts. Bike Route 35 crosses here.
Getting to Davisville subway station
We’re not done walking east, but one way to get to the Davisville Subway station on TTC Line 1 you can head north here through the park, then east (to your right) along Chaplin Crescent, over the bridge over the tracks, to get to the station at Yonge Street.
Cross Lascalles Blvd and continuing east
There is still lots to see, so we’ll continue east. Along this section of the trail you will see the TTC Davisville Yard on the north side of the trail, and Brentwood Towers apartment buildings on the south side, with the sound of fountains along the trail. These were some of the first highrise apartment buildings in Toronto, designed by Harry Kohl, and built between 1958 and 1961.
This section also has a number of outdoor athletic stations under the canopy of trees.
The path then changes dramatically, as you reach the long bridge over the TTC subway tracks.
Bridge over Yonge Street with horses
The section of the bridge over Yonge Street has the sculpture Iron Horse by artist Robert Sprachman, along with views up and down Yonge Street and the bike lanes.
Mount Pleasant Cemetery
The reminder that the trail was originally a railway behind you, the path enters more green space, and runs along the north side of Mount Pleasant Cemetery for the last section towards Mount Pleasant Road.
This point along the trail also contains an installation commemorating the Yonge Street Lost Stations of the original 1891 commuter railway
The last section of the trail runs along the north side of Mount Pleasant Cemetery and has light standards.
Finally we arrive at Mount Pleasant Road, where the trail continues east into Mount Pleasant Cemetery. There are also stairs up to the west side of Mount Pleasant Road just south of Merton Street.
There is a colourful mural painted by the students of Greenwood School.
History of Mount Pleasant and Merton
As the 2014 mural painted by Greenwood School demonstrates, the area was previously the location of the Dominion Coal and Wood company from 1929 through 1999. The distinctive silos were demolished in 2001, replaced with the condo that stands there today.
This section of the trail ends here, but you can see an old section of the trail that goes under a separate part of the bridge along with a small creek. The section is fenced off from the cemetery itself.
You can now enjoy Mount Pleasant Cemetery, or retrace your steps back to Yonge Street, and head north a bit to the TTC Line 1 Davisville subway station.