Lakeshore Mississauga, 22km of waterfront along Lake Ontario from Toronto to the East and Oakville to the west. Something that many don’t think about when thinking about Mississauga is its lakeshore. In fact, with tons of great beaches, historical sites and beautiful lakeside gardens, Mississauga has really made great use of it. Join us as we explore Lakeshore Mississauga from East to West.
What to see along Lakeshore Mississauga:
Table of Contents:
Marie Curtis Park
Since Mississauga’s eastern border is defined by the Etobicoke Creek, Marie Curtis Park is technically half in Mississauga, although it is considered a Toronto Park. Marie Curtis Park is a large waterfront park, dissected by the Etobicoke Creek.
It has a beach on each side of the creek, the east beach guarded and west, unguarded. There is a large playground, splash pad, dog off-leash area, bike paths and even snack foodstand!
There are tons of things to do for your little ones. There’s no wonder Marie Curtis has become one of our favourite places to bring Celine. Do be warned parking is limited and fills up fast.
Lakeshore Park & Small Arms Inspection Building
Dating back to 1806 when the lands were granted to Colonel Samuel Smith. These lands played a unique role with the Canadian Military throughout history. It originally served as a rifle range for various Canadian militias and cadets. Then an Air Force Headquarters and finally a large small munitions manufacturing plant.
These days the lands are open to the public. The old water tower soars high above the open fields. It was built-in 1941 to serve the needs of the buildings on the site.
Many of the remnants of the land’s history with the military remain. There are several rifle baffles littered throughout the property. While the newly renovated Small Arms Inspection Building serves as a cultural hub for Mississauga.
It hosts tons of great events and acting a meeting place for Mississauga’s creative minds.
Lakeview Park / Sunflower Garden
At the time of writing this article, the City of Mississauga is in the process of developing this area into a large waterfront community. The lands previously serving as a sewage plant for the city required extensive environmental remediation.
As a cost-effective environmentally friendly solution, the city turned to phytoremediation. Using plants’ natural ability to concentrate elements and detoxify various compounds. To do this they planted 100s of thousands of sunflowers.
Not only for their phytoremediation properties but also their role in building a stronger ecology by attracting bees and birds to the area. For the past 2 years, the sunflowers reach peak bloom in late September, creating an amazingly surreal experience.
Lakefront Promenade
Comprised of a series of smaller parks (AE Cookes, RK McMillan and Douglas Kennedy), this sprawling 104-acre space is the largest public waterfront park in Mississauga.
The massive park has several marinas, beaches, splash pads, playgrounds, beach volleyball courts, biking and hiking trails and great views of the lake.
There is no shortage of activities to do in this space. Built along an inlet from Lake Ontario, the beach area is calmer and warmer than the lake, making it a great place to take a dip.
For other great places to explore check out our post on Top places to see in Mississauga!
Adamson Estate
With its Colonial Revival style buildings and beautifully maintained gardens, the Adamson Estate is a favourite of many to take pictures and enjoy the beautiful Flemish mansion and elegantly manicured gardens.
The grounds themselves have a history dating all the way to 1805 and the first settlers of Mississauga. In 1971 the city of Mississauga acquired the land, converting it to a park for public use, with the Royal Conservatory of Music leasing the main house.
Tall Oaks / St Lawrence Park
When entering the main Port Credit area from the east along the lake, you will come through Tall Oaks Park and into St Lawrence park. A small waterfront park, Tall Oaks is a great place to get away from the city and enjoy peaceful views of the lake.
The park also offers great views of The Ridgetown, originally named SS William E. Corey when first launched in 1905. The ship served for several years until 1970, when she was scuttled as a temporary breakwater at Nanticoke, Ontario. Then moved again to its current place as the breakwater for Port Credit in 1974.
Port Credit
A favourite destination for those from and outside of Mississauga. This “Village by the Water” is a great place to spend an afternoon.
With its name literally meaning the Port at the mouth of the Credit River, this area is most famous for Snug Harbor and the Port Credit Lighthouse. It’s current iteration built-in 1991 to replace the original lighthouse destroyed by fire in 1936.
With tons of great shops, restaurants, park space and great events hosted all year, there is no shortage of great things to do in this small waterfront community.
Brueckner Rhododendron Gardens
Less than 1.5km west along the lakeshore Mississauga of the Credit River is a unique garden dedicated to the Rhododendron. A beautiful late spring flower that is native to the area. Due to the park’s location on the northern shore of Lake Ontario and the number of massive White Pines. There is a unique microclimate that the Rhododendron are able to thrive.
The gardens are named after Mississauga resident and master rhododendron hybridizer, the late Dr. Joseph Brueckner, who donated more than 1,000 shrubs to the garden, many of which he hybridized himself. The 18-acres gardens is the largest garden dedicated to Rhododendrons in Canada. Every year from May to June the flowers bloom, creating an amazing display of colours.
Jack Darling
One of the largest and most popular parks on Mississauga’s waterfront front. Jack Darling consists of 2 large picnic areas, a dog off leash area, a playground, splash pad, tennis courts and tons of great trails. Jack Darling also has a small sandy beach. As Jack it Marie Curtis, Jack Darling is so popular, parking quickly gets full in the summer.
Rattray Marsh Conservation Area
Connected to Jack Darling is Rattray Marsh. This unique conservation area is the last remaining marsh between Toronto and Burlington. Feeling like a cottage country getaway, Rattray has beautiful long boardwalks along the marsh. There is also a small cobblestone beach where you can see the Toronto skyline in the distance.
Bradley Museum / Watersedge Park
Similar to the Adamson Estate, the Bradley Museum showcases several buildings from Mississauga’s earliest settlers. What makes the Bradley Museum different is all the buildings on this site, have been transplanted there from somewhere else, much like an actual museum.
The museum sits on Lewis Bradley’s original and grant, nestled in a 70-year old maple grove. After his death in 1846, the land went through several owners. Then in 1959 the British American Oil Company – now known as Suncor purchased the land. Soon after they slated the land for demolition by early 1961.
Luckily, a local newspaper publisher purchased the land and donated it to Township of Toronto Historical Foundation – now known as the Mississauga Heritage Foundation. The property also extends down to Lake Ontario, providing great views of the lake and the Toronto skyline.
Lakeside Park
The last park on Lakeshore Mississauga before heading west to Oakville is Lakeside Park. This 25-acre property was redeveloped in 2010 as part of Mississauga’s Waterfront Parks Strategy. Due to its innovative award-winning design, the park is a showcase site. It allows for municipal staff and future developers to see Low Impact Design (LID) in action.
Features such as pervious concrete, green roofs, bioswale and reclaimed water irrigation carefully balance the natural environment with public recreational opportunities. The park has ample public space with a large dog off-leash area, playground, splash pad and viewing mound.
The park also pays homage to its cultural heritage as a clay pipe manufacturer with eroded clay pipes lining the beach and copper colours and industrial material incorporated into the design of the park