Fancy a swim? Bluffer’s Beach is calling. This beach has earned the prestigious Blue Flag status for the 2024 season.
Bluffer’s Beach gets its name from the Scarborough Bluffs that tower above. These bluffs stretch about 15 kilometers along Lake Ontario’s shoreline and rise 91 metres high. They are a remarkable geological feature dating back to the end of the Great Ice Age. The French once called the bluffs “Les grands Ecores”. Later, Elizabeth Simcoe, named the whole area Scarborough. She named it after the coastal Yorkshire town.
Bluffer’s Park, where Bluffer’s Beach is located, has many facilities. You can find a marina, parkland, swimming spots, fishing areas, and picnic spots. In 2009, a young boy caught a huge Chinook Salmon weighing 35 pounds right off the beach.
Bluffer’s Park was created using fill. Sand was brought in to make a flat area at the base of the clay cliffs. These cliffs are loose and crumbly. So, keep an eye out for falling sand. If you listen closely, you might hear the sand shifting inside the bluffs.
Bluffer’s Beach once had poor water quality. But after a study in 2006 and investment from Toronto, the water quality improved.
Bluffer’s Park officially opened in 1975. But people have been visiting the bluffs for over a century. A breakwater was built to slow erosion. It includes a picnic spot and lookout point. Most photos of the Bluffs are taken here. The sand that washes away from the Bluffs helped to create the Toronto Islands.
You can discover many things to do in the Scarborough Bluffs. Hiking is a popular activity. Enjoy accessible trails with photo opportunities in Bluffer’s Park. Unwind with a picnic lunch by the shores of Bluffer’s Beach. Capture picturesque views with your camera. Fall is especially beautiful when the vibrant colors come alive.
Parking is available at Bluffer’s Park. But it fills up quickly during the summer. Arrive before 10 a.m. to secure a spot.
Remember that the Scarborough Bluffs are always changing. Each visit offers a unique view.