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Toronto Beneath The Surface Walking Tour

By Hidden Rivers Tours
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Activity location

  • Philosopher's Walk
    • 78 Queen's Park Cres W
    • M5S 2C5, Toronto, Canada

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • 2 Hoskin Ave
    • 2 Hoskin Avenue
    • M5S 1H7, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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Sorry this activity isn't available on Mon, 4 Aug
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What's included, what's not

  • What's includedWhat's includedMaps, hand-outs

Know before you book

  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transport options are available nearby
  • Travellers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • This is a pay-what-you-can tour. You pay on TripAdvisor to book your spot, and tip your guide at the end. Most guests tip between $20-$40.

What you can expect

Toronto is not what it first appears. Look below the surface, and you will see buried waterways, ancient cliffs, the world's largest ravine system, and centuries of waterfront transformations. Hidden Rivers Tours is led by a professional historian and is the only tour company in Toronto dedicated to sharing these subterranean stories.

The tour lasts 3 hours. Please arrive at least 10 minutes prior to the tour's start time. We begin right on time.

This is a three-hour walking tour up and down many hills. Make sure to wear appropriate footwear, apply sun cream, and hydrate. There will a stop en-route to purchase snacks and use the washroom.

At the end of the tour, you are encouraged to tip your guide. The price you pay on TripAdvisor is a booking fee, not the actual price of this pay-what-you-can tour.

Activity itinerary

Philosopher's Walk
  • 20m
We'll walk the course of old Taddle Creek, now the Philosopher's Walk through U of T campus.
Taddle Creek Park
  • 20m
We'll talk about the Annex, the river that used to run through here, and all the notable Torontonians who have lived in this area.
Rathnelly
  • 15m
The "Republic of Rathnelly" is a tight-knit community that seceded from Toronto to protest the building of the Spadina motorway.
High Level Pumping Station
  • 15m
We'll talk about the history of water in Toronto, how Toronto gets its water, and the city's impressive infrastructure for getting water from Lake Ontario to millions of residents.
Nordheimer Ravine
  • 20m
Toronto has the largest ravine system of any city on Earth. We'll talk about the geology of the city, how it was formed after the last ice age 12,000 years ago, and how this ravine was nearly threatened by a highway.
Casa Loma
  • 15m
We'll discuss the historic Casa Loma, one of Toronto's most unique attractions. We'll talk about Toronto's political history and the era of the "family compact" versus "responsible government".
Baldwin Steps
  • 15m
12,000 years ago, all of city centre Toronto was underwater, with the shorefront elevated by giant glaciers. When the glaciers melted, the shoreline receded, and left behind enormous cliffs. We'll see the legacy of that geological history on the Baldwin Steps.
The Tollkeeper's Cottage
  • 15m
Before we had paved streets for cars, roads for horses used to cost money. At this stop, we'll also talk about the history of transit in Toronto.
Wychwood
  • 15m
Wychwood is a secluded, private, idyllic area modelled off the tiny towns of Oxfordshire, England. It's one of Toronto's best-kept secrets, and has been home to many iconic Toronto residents.
Wychwood Barns Park
  • 20m
We'll explore this transit facility-turned-art barn.

Location

Activity location

  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIESPhilosopher's Walk
    • 78 Queen's Park Cres W
    • M5S 2C5, Toronto, Canada

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • PEOPLEPEOPLE2 Hoskin Ave
    • 2 Hoskin Avenue
    • M5S 1H7, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
This activity is not accompanied by a Hong Kong licensed tour escort.