Toronto Islands - Winter @ Wards Island

Wards Island named after the local fisherman family who settled there in 1830 is the eastern part of Toronto Island. We planned to visit the Wards Island in winter! 

A 10-15 minute ferry ride took us to the Wards Island from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal in downtown Toronto. The ferry services are only to Wards Island and back during the winters. It was chilly and shivery but had an enjoyable ride to the island. Despite the lake being frozen, it was a pleasure to see the ferry cut through the thick layer frozen ice to reach its destination.

Wards Island is pretty small and it connects the Centre island and Hanlan’s point. The bicycle renting options are not available during the winters though it has so many paths for cycling as well as broad walk for walking. The eateries and other options are also unavailable during the winters. 

We walked around the island for 2-3 hrs exploring different corners. The green grass everywhere was covered with snow. We saw the hidden cafe and the small lovely houses, most of them covered in snow again. It was a totally different experience to visit this island in winter. The lake was frozen completely and we could see lot of youngsters skating on the layer of ice absolutely fearless. We did step on to the lake and walked some distance to understand how it feels to be on a layer of ice.

Since it was very cold we couldn’t walk down to the Centre Island and Hanlan’s point. It was a peaceful place since the crowd was almost non-existent unlike summers. We sat on the shore for a while trying to seep in the beautiful view of the business district of Toronto. We met a few localites, they were extremely friendly and cheerful. 

The extreme cold weather and snow held us back from staying there for a long time. Warming shelter at the ferry dock kept us warm till the ferry arrived.

Undoubtedly it is a well-known spot for photographers since it offers sensational skyline views. I can say it is a photographers’ paradise! It is an amazing place where you can enjoy the stunning views of Toronto skyline from a distance. The island looked gorgeous and it was a remarkable experience!