High Park Zoo
Free animal paddocks along the main road, with bison, llamas, capybaras and peacocks.
Toddler tip: The paddocks are spread out, so start at one end and walk the road downhill.
Park, West end
High Park with a toddler
Free animal paddocks, a giant castle playground, ducks on the pond, and plenty of paved stroller loops.
- Cost
- Free entry
- Best for ages
- All ages
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Stroller
- Paved roads and main paths
- Washrooms
- Near the café, playground and pool
- Getting there
- TTC Line 2: High Park or Keele, or the 506 streetcar
Free · ages 3–6
High Park Explorer booklet
Two pages of stops, counting games, bingo and wow facts, from the High Park Zoo to the Big Oak Trees. Ends with a drawing box and an explorer badge.
Download free (PDF)Visiting with a younger toddler? Try the simpler High Park picture hunt (ages 2–4, PDF).
Toddler highlights
Jamie Bell Adventure Playground
A huge wooden castle playground with towers, bridges and tunnels.
Toddler tip: Little ones do best on the lower sections and the separate toddler areas around the edges.
Grenadier Pond
Ducks, geese and a gentle walk along the water on the park's west side.
Toddler tip: Please don't feed the birds. Bread is bad for them, and the city asks visitors not to.
Cherry blossoms
The spring bloom around Grenadier Pond draws huge crowds for about a week.
Toddler tip: Go early on a weekday, and expect no parking inside the park during peak bloom.
Make a morning of it
Start at the zoo while the animals are active, walk south to the playground for a big run around, then wind down with a stroll by Grenadier Pond. Bring the free explorer booklet above: counting ducks, hugging a giant oak and playing nature bingo keeps little legs moving between stops.
Plan your visit
Getting there
The TTC is easiest. High Park station is on the north edge, and the 506 streetcar runs right into the High Park Loop on the east side. The park is big, so pick your entrance by what you want to see first.
Parking
The park is closed to visitor cars on weekends and holidays. On weekdays there's limited parking near the Grenadier Café and the zoo, and there's always a small lot off Spring Road. Nearby Green P lots are a backup.
Food and snacks
The Grenadier Café sits in the middle of the park, and there's lots of space for picnics. Pack snacks for the walk between the zoo and the playground.
Naps and meltdowns
The car-free West Road and the paths around the pond are quiet and shady, perfect for a stroller nap loop.
High Park through the seasons
spring
Cherry blossoms, baby animals at the zoo, and muddy-boot season. Bring a change of clothes.
summer
Shady trees, busy playground days, and the outdoor pool nearby. Arrive early before the heat.
fall
Leaf piles, quieter paths, and the best time for a scavenger hunt.
winter
Sledding hills, and the zoo animals look extra cozy in the snow.
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