Urban Headwaters

Hey, question for you, have you ever found a good source for historic creek names? TRCA watershed map shows random names for smaller tributaries.

I've already looked at Don River Valley Historical Mapping Project and it is Toronto only.

Yes, for each river I will do three variants, one summer walking, one winter walking, and one for mountain bikers (for example, the Don Valley Golf Course is on public land and is open to walkers, but not bikers).

East Don River -- Headwaters to Don Confluence | 40.1 km Walking Route on Strava East Don River -- Headwaters to Don Confluence is a 40.1 km Walking Route. Discover this route and more at Strava. Visit today!

Here's my current best route, note that this is a summer (no golf courses) route.

www.strava.com/routes/34224...

Have you done the headwaters? Really, really nice stretch north of Major Mackenzie.

Yeah, my path is east bank south of York Mills.

Fortunately for my purposes I don't care which bank it is, I just care that it's not roads :-)

No. I talked to them about access, and they said I can traverse with permission after the golf course closes for the year (scheduled for next week). Then I walked north from Charles Sauriol and confirmed that I can indeed walk from there to the golf course.

Nope, it was getting late, but from what I can see it's a straight shot down to the confluence of the East and West Don.

East Don River from Lawrence to Eglinton | Strava View Scott W's walk on November 8, 2025 | Strava

Today I continued my exploration of the East Don, this between Lawrence and Eglinton. The good news is that there is trail all the way, although the south part is pretty basic. www.strava.com/activities/1...

Walking south from Charles Sauriol Park

Tall trees in autumn foliage on a Toronto residential street lined with brick houses. Overcast sky.

Intersection of a residential street in Toronto with a cafe on the corner. Street lamps illuminating the wet roads and sidewalks. Overcast late afternoon sky.

A small cafe and shop on a residential street in Toronto, surrounded by low rise brick buildings. The warm light from the shop is illuminating the wet sidewalk in front. Overcast late afternoon sky.

Two people walking along a paved path through Christie Pits Park in Toronto. Tall trees in autumn foliage line the path. Overcast late afternoon sky.

November palette.
#Toronto

West Don River -- Rivermede to Glen Shields. | Strava Rivermede to Glen Shields. | Strava

Rivermede to Glen Shields. www.strava.com/activities/1...

West Don River -- Mackenzie Glen Park to North Rivermede. | Strava View Scott W's walk on November 2, 2025 | Strava

Here's the Strava track of Mackenzie Glen Park to Rivermede: www.strava.com/activities/1...

We might want to combine efforts. What are you using for web publishing?

Glen Sheilds and Dufferin. 12.5 km. Done for the day.

Highway 407 bridge over the West Don:

I lied. That was not Rivermede. NOW I am at Rivermede and 7.

9.96 kms from Mackenzie Glen.

Here’s a pretty pic to make up for it.

At Highway 7 & North Rivermede. End of Leg 1. Exactly 9.0 kms from Mackenzie Glen Park. Pressing on.

I’m also recording 360 video to add trail view to Google Maps.

Nope there is a trail. Will publish deets tonight.

I have another side project that generates a crap-ton of data. I found that O365 had the best deal for cloud storage.

Urban explorers must be prepared to forage for food when the opportunity presents!

Ok, it’s a beautiful day, and I’m walking the West Don. Started at Mackenzie Glen park. At Rutherford now.

East Don River Valley, south of Don Mills.

“Donalda” is autocorrected to “Donald’s”!

Looking south over the East Don River on Donalda Golf Course.

I can definitely state that there is a pathway between Charles Sauriol Park and the south end of the Donalda Golf Course. strava.app.link/7OGCgdkUWXb

Looking for paths south from Don Mills, and I spotted these two boys up on the roof of a public school, retrieving their ball. I guessed that any boys who would climb up on a school roof would know about secret trails, and they did!

I’m just south of the southern end of the Donalda Golf Course (which is absolutely beautiful, more later).

And this is looking east, this is the Don Valley Parkway bridge.

Out exploring the next leg of the East Don. Will have lots of updates tonight but here I am at the DVP and Lawrence. This is looking west.