LAKE ONTARIO FOREVER: Ten spots to enjoy the great lake in Canada

Aside from the renaming controversy, the smallest of the Great Lakes remains stunning sight to behold

Published Sep 13, 2026  •  4 minute read

A Canadian flag flies along the waterfront of Lake Ontario, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on August 27, 2026. Photo by Cole Burston/AFP /Getty Images

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Ontario may be yours to discover, but so is Lake Ontario.

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The Great Lake has been in the news quite a bit of late (thanks, Donald Trump!) And while Canada and the United States continue to disagree over the name, the water doesn’t know any better.

The lake is just innocently sitting in the same spot where it’s always been, long before it appeared on maps of North America as early as 1656 and even decades earlier in 1615, when French explorer Etienne Brule became the first recorded European to reach and see it.

But aside from the renaming controversy (it will always and forever be Lake Ontario), the smallest of the Great Lakes remains a stunning sight to behold.

Here are 10 cities, towns and regions where you can take it all in.

A water taxi on Lake Ontario at Toronto’s waterfront. (Cynthia McLeod/Toronto Sun)

Toronto

Canada’s largest city, which sits on the northwest part of the lake, is the obvious. With a number of parks and beaches downtown (including Ashbridge’s Bay, Woodbine Beach, Tommy Thompson Park, Cherry Beach, Sunnyside Park and Trillium Park), then stretching out to Etobicoke in the west and Scarborough in the east (including Humber Bay Park, Colonel Samuel Smith Park, Marie Curtis Park, Bluffer’s Park and Rouge Beach), lake lovers will get their fill.

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Of course, let’s not forget the vistas of Toronto Islands, a destination in its own right, where you can also take in the city skyline from Centre Island Beach, Hanlan’s Point, Ward’s Island and Gibraltar Point Beach. Soak it all in.

Burlington

Burlington Beach has become a hot spot for those who want to stay within the confines of the GTA, while the city’s downtown waterfront offers museums, theatres, restaurants, shops and, of course, the Brant Street Pier, which extends nearly 140 m over Lake Ontario.

Oakville

Despite how much it has grown, Oakville is still considered a town (albeit, the largest in the province by population — more than 230,000 residents). A number of beaches and parks sit along the lake, notably Coronation Park, Bronte Beach, Sonnet Beach, Oakville Tannery Park and the not-so-secret gem South Shell Park that has become more popular thanks to its peaceful shoreline, shell-covered sandy cove and beautiful views.

Lake Ontario as seen from Port Credit. (Joe Warmington/Toronto Sun)

Mississauga

Several parks dot the lake along Mississauga’s shoreline, from Lakefront Promenade Park, Jack Darling Park, Rhododendron Gardens, Rattray Marsh Conservation Area and Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area.

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Weekends can be a bit overwhelming with people enjoying the great trails, gardens, playgrounds and facilities, but the proximity to Toronto make the vistas a must-see.

Prince Edward County

The eastern Ontario region has its share of beautiful small towns, spectacular wineries and exceptional places to stay, whether it’s a boutique hotel, cabin, B&B or campground.

There are also tons of great beaches and other locales to admire the lake, including Sandbanks Provincial Park, which has massive sand dunes, a quiet bay for swimming and a long stretch of sand in Outlet Beach. Wellington has a fun park and playground, Picton offers outstanding views of the Bay of Quinte or enjoy a picnic at North Beach Provincial Park.

Niagara-on-the-Lake

It goes without saying how stunning NOTL is and has the tourism to prove it. But aside from the 19th-century buildings, there are horse-drawn carriages, gorgeous gardens, renowned restaurants, famous wineries (Konzelmann Estate Winery is the region’s only lakefront winery) and, of course, the Shaw Festival in the summer.

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Notably, you can relax by the water at Queen’s Royal Park, where the Niagara River empties into Lake Ontario, or even play a round at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Club along the shoreline. Aside from less people, who could ask for more?

View of Lake Ontario from Grimsby-on-the-Lake waterfront trail. (Denette Wilford/Toronto Sun) Photo by Denette Wilford /Toronto Sun

Grimsby

Located between Hamilton and St. Catharines, you might blink and miss the first Niagara Region town you encounter while travelling from the GTA. But Grimsby offers three spots with picturesque lakefront views: Casablanca Beach Park, Grimsby Beach and Nelles Beach Park. It even has its own Grimsby-on-the-Lake that boasts a waterfront trail, cute shops, restaurants, cafes and other local businesses.

And you can’t forget the colourful “Painted Ladies” cottages and nearby conservation areas (Fifty Point, Beamer Memorial, Woolverton and Forty Mile Creek Park) that provide stunning views of the lake.

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Brighton

Right along the north shore of Lake Ontario in Northumberland County, Presqu’ile Provincial Park offers sandy beaches (though dog are not allowed), hiking trails, a marsh boardwalk and the second-oldest operating lighthouse in the province. Birdwatchers will be in their glory as it’s a migration hot spot in the spring and fall with hundreds of bird species having been recorded.

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Cobourg

Technically, there are two sandy locales in the town west of Brighton — Victoria Park Beach and West Beach, just west of the main beach and the slightly quieter option where the locals tend to gravitate toward. It boasts a mix of rocks and sand, a naturalized grass area and a boardwalk.

There’s also an ecology garden nearby, which is maintained by local residents.

The view of Lake Ontario in Kingston. (Samantha Thewlis/Supplied) Photo by Samantha Thewlis /Supplied

Kingston

The Limestone City, which sits at the starting point of the St. Lawrence River and the Thousand Islands, features 19th-century stone architecture and a rich military history.

There are a number of wonderful waterfront parks and swimming spots, including Breakwater Park, where the popular Gord Edgar Downie Pier is located, Macdonald Memorial Park near downtown, offering easy swimming access and a historic setting close to the Kingston General Hospital, and Crerar Park, a quiet sandy and rocky beach.

It’s also home to the city’s largest urban waterfront park, the one and only — you guessed it — Lake Ontario Park.

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