The best family-friendly hikes and walks in First Lake Regional Park

This small waterfront park sits on the shores of Bedford Basin, with open views across the water toward the hills on the opposite side of the harbour. Benches, picnic tables, and a playground make it a pleasant place to pause, while the adjacent Bedford Outdoor Pool adds to the park's community feel during the summer months.

Named after the historic stagecoach routes that once crossed this area, Old Stage Coach trail offers a quieter section of the McDonald Sports Park trail network. The path winds through mature forest with a gentle grade, making it a comfortable walk for most abilities. It's part of a larger network of interconnected trails around Lake Thomas, and the surrounding woodland provides good opportunities for birdwatching and spotting local wildlife throughout the year.

Despite its name, this area offers more than just sports fields. Trails wind through open green space, small wooded sections, and wetland habitat, creating an easy and family-friendly walk. Benches and picnic areas provide plenty of places to stop along the way, while the wide paths are popular with walkers, runners, and cyclists. It's a good option when you're looking for a shorter outing close to the city without venturing far from amenities.

Lake Thomas brings a scenic stretch of shoreline to McDonald Sports Park, with several trails weaving through mature forest beside the water. Openings in the trees provide views across the lake, while benches and picnic tables offer quiet spots to stop along the way. The lake is a popular destination for paddling and wildlife watching, and the combination of wooded trails and lakeside scenery makes this one of the most picturesque sections of the park.

Stretching along the harbour and Lake Ontario shoreline, Admiral Harry DeWolf Park combines waterfront paths, marina views, and open green space. The park is named after Vice Admiral Harry DeWolf, one of Canada's most decorated naval officers and a key figure in the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. Benches along the shoreline provide a place to watch sailboats moving through the harbour, while the mostly level paths make this an easy stop on a longer waterfront walk.

Sheltered from the open waters of Lake Ontario, Mill Cove offers a quieter stretch of shoreline where sailboats, marina traffic, and waterfowl are often found. The cove sits at the mouth of Sixteen Mile Creek and provides pleasant views across Oakville Harbour and the surrounding waterfront parks. Benches and lakeside paths make it a good place to pause during a walk, especially when boats are moving through the harbour or the sun is setting over the water.

Jack Lake is a quiet spot tucked within the forest of Sandy Lake Park, reached by a short trail through mixed woodland and wetlands. Surrounded by mature trees and marshy shoreline habitat, it’s an ideal setting for birdwatching, and the water often reflects the surrounding forest on calm days. There is a small clearing near the shore that’s a great place to pause and enjoy this beautiful natural setting.

This trail is a flat route that follows an old logging road through pockets of mature Acadian forest and wetlands to the quiet shoreline of Jack Lake. The trail is generally easy to follow but can be muddy and uneven, with rocks, roots, and wet sections, so plan accordingly before you head out. Along the way, you’ll see plenty of birds and other wildlife, making it an ideal path for a peaceful walk to immerse yourself in nature.