Looking for hills in Toronto?

[BJH]

This article is aimed at cyclists, but these are all runnable, too.

http://www.blogto.com/sports_play/2009/ ... n_toronto/

[dgrant]

Good list, but I don't know if I'd agree that Brimley South is the toughest climb in the city. It's neither crazy long or crazy steep. Good workout though for sure.

Another one not on the list is Beechwood, which runs down from O'Connor to (and beneath) the DVP.

dg

[Trailer]

Rattlesnake Point !

I like the fact that they added this little 'hill' into the mix... if you start considering outside TO there are a lot more hills to run in the GTA...

we could have a fun creating this list - any nominations?

My local favs are any of the Bruce Trail loops around the hockley valley.

[Robbie-T]

we could have a fun creating this list - any nominations?

don't get me started...

The Grange Hill - probably more of a mountain
The Egg Nog Jog Hill
The reverse Egg Nog Jog - coming up Winston Churchill from Terra Cotta

[tgilpin]

Rattlesnake Point
Although not in Toronto, whenever I'm looking to test my mettle (or kill myself!), I'll head out to Milton to climb this monster. Used for the Provincial Road Championships a few years back, this is as close as it gets to an alpine climb in the GTA. Sure, it's not as long, but with multiple switchbacks and a crazy gradient, this is an absolute leg-breaker!

Yup...as a fellow Miltonian I can attest to this! I have run here and it is KILLER! There is no way I could cycle up this hill...but when I see other's doing it I am just amazed!

[Run26.2]

Hogg's Hollow
Commuters in the north end know all too well that at Yonge and Wilson/York Mills all roads point up. For my money, I think the east side is the toughest to go up, and the most fun to go down.

Used to be km 22 or so in the Toronto International Marathon......now with a route change around km 5 perhaps?? Correct me if I'm wrong please.

Ran Toronto International Marathon twice......when they take that hill out I might go back!

[BJH]

Hogg's Hollow
Commuters in the north end know all too well that at Yonge and Wilson/York Mills all roads point up. For my money, I think the east side is the toughest to go up, and the most fun to go down.

Used to be km 22 or so in the Toronto International Marathon......now with a route change around km 5 perhaps?? Correct me if I'm wrong please.

Ran Toronto International Marathon twice......when they take that hill out I might go back!

About km 4, so the same spot you hit it in the half marathon. It looks worse than it is since you approach it coming downhill.

[Doonst]

we could have a fun creating this list - any nominations?

don't get me started...

The Grange Hill - probably more of a mountain
The Egg Nog Jog Hill
The reverse Egg Nog Jog - coming up Winston Churchill from Terra Cotta

Anywhere you add the Credit River valley to the escarpment, you get a good workout. Spread over 6 K up Creditview or 1.5 up Grange, there is up to 195 M of elevation to play with. http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3028305 That's almost twice the Rattlesnake Appleby Road area, that is steep though.

[purdy65]

Hogg's Hollow
Commuters in the north end know all too well that at Yonge and Wilson/York Mills all roads point up. For my money, I think the east side is the toughest to go up, and the most fun to go down.

Used to be km 22 or so in the Toronto International Marathon......now with a route change around km 5 perhaps?? Correct me if I'm wrong please.

Ran Toronto International Marathon twice......when they take that hill out I might go back!

About km 4, so the same spot you hit it in the half marathon. It looks worse than it is since you approach it coming downhill.

This is true.

I just ran it on my way to work this morning. I've done it so often now, that I'm kind of used to it!

Changing the route and putting at 4K was the best thing the Toronto marathon did.

Lisa

[turd ferguson]

Talking west GTA, I'd vote either Twiss Road or Snake Road up there with Appleby Line.

[La]

With all due respect, Milton, Oakville, Mississauga, Terra Cotta, Bruce Trail, Hockley Valley, etc. are NOT in Toronto.

I've cycled Brimley and I think it's a pretty darned tough and long hill. It's a scary descent, too - with a nasty speed bump at the bottom that can toss you if you're not paying attention and go over it too quickly.

Also in Sunnybrook is a path that runs up to the parking lot at the Hugh MacMillan rehab hospital that is quite steep. It lets you out in Leaside at Sutherland and Glenvale.

And, a vote here for any of the streets that run north of Queen in the Beach, especially Fallingbrook as it's the longest.

[jonovision_man]

Toronto, this little but steep hill from Don Mills to Thorncliffe:
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3029703

Ajax/Pickering: (Westney & 6th concession)
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3029707

Oshawa: Columbus & Old Scucog:
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3029719

Yup...as a fellow Miltonian I can attest to this! I have run here and it is KILLER! There is no way I could cycle up this hill...but when I see other's doing it I am just amazed!

You'll love this 100k route, then!
http://www.cyclecanada.com/HHH.html

It goes down Rattlesnake instead of up it, but the other 5 escarpment climbs over 100k are a hoot!!! I've done it twice, the second time it was single digit temperatures in the rain... weee!

jono

[The Joggler]

With all due respect, Milton, Oakville, Mississauga, Terra Cotta, Bruce Trail, Hockley Valley, etc. are NOT in Toronto.

I've cycled Brimley and I think it's a pretty darned tough and long hill. It's a scary descent, too - with a nasty speed bump at the bottom that can toss you if you're not paying attention and go over it too quickly.

Also in Sunnybrook is a path that runs up to the parking lot at the Hugh MacMillan rehab hospital that is quite steep. It lets you out in Leaside at Sutherland and Glenvale.

And, a vote here for any of the streets that run north of Queen in the Beach, especially Fallingbrook as it's the longest.

Fallingbrook is a good one. My personal favourite is Glen Manor, as it snakes up along the ravine and has a couple of good curves and different gradients. In fact, I've run this hill so many times that in some circles it is known as Michal Hill (those circles are pretty much in my own head).

[Endurimil]

There are a few others to consider as well. There are a few other options of the beaten path of the regular routes.

Ben Trash in the Rouge
Ravine Dr of Bellehaven Crescent
The beach access of Guildwood Pkwy and Navarre Cres

[spaff]

Treadmill!!!

Seriously. I just run trails, but of course in Ontario we don't have any really long hills/mountains for sustained climbing. I do uphill tempo runs on the treadmill and find it works great, gradually increasing the time. In the early season I'll throw in some short recoveries on the flat and treat them like cruise intervals too. I hate treadmills with a passion, but this is the one time that they seem to make sense...to me.