The Best Dog-Friendly Beaches In & Near Toronto

Best for: Easier parking than Kew, same massive winter beach

📍 1675 Lake Shore Blvd E, The Beaches

Same rules as Kew-Balmy. Off-leash below the snow fence, November through March. Banned in summer. The difference: Woodbine has a big parking lot at Ashbridges Bay (Coxwell Ave entrance), so you don't have to fight for street parking like at Kew. The Ashbridges Bay area next door has extra trails and green space too. If you're driving, Woodbine is the easier play.

Best for: Off-season cliff views, on-leash winter walks

📍 1 Brimley Rd South, Scarborough

The 90-metre cliffs are incredible. The dog rules are not. Dogs are only allowed November through March, and even then it's on-leash only. No off-leash at all. In summer, dogs are completely banned from the beach. Still worth it in the off-season for the views alone. Those bluffs look like they belong on the coast of England, not Scarborough.

Best for: Off-leash, warm water, feels more secluded than Port Burwell

📍 350 Erie Blvd, Long Point, Lake Erie (2 hrs from Toronto)

1.5 km of sandy off-leash dog beach at the far west end of the park (access points 10 and 11 in the New Park area). Same warm Lake Erie water as Port Burwell. The dog area feels more secluded since it's at the far end. Sandy bottom, shallow water, plenty of space. Park at the west end of the day-use lot for direct access. Vehicle permit required. The lot holds 650+ cars so you shouldn't have trouble parking.

Best for: Nervous swimmers and the prettiest sand you'll find

📍 11-22nd Street North, Wasaga Beach, Georgian Bay (1.5 hrs from Toronto)

The world's longest freshwater beach has a designated dog section at Beach Area 3. The sand is white and powdery. The water stays extremely shallow for a long distance, so dogs who are nervous about swimming can just wade. The catch: on-leash only (max 2 metres). No off-leash despite being called "Dog Beach." Dogs are banned from every other section of the beach. Still beautiful. The town has dog-friendly patios and shops too. Ontario Parks vehicle permit required. Buy online in advance to skip the lineup.

Best for: Shoulder season only, 11 km of empty beach in September

📍 Lakeshore Blvd, Sauble Beach, Lake Huron (3 hrs from Toronto)

11 km of soft sand on Lake Huron with gorgeous sunsets. But dogs are completely banned from June 1 through Labour Day. Not on-leash. Banned. Bylaw officers enforce it. The move: go in September after Labour Day, or in spring. You get this massive beautiful beach mostly to yourself. It's the kind of place where they refuse to get back in the car. If you're going in summer, skip Sauble and drive to Port Burwell or Long Point instead.