If life in the urban jungle has you yearning for vast expanses of land, lush foliage, and trees as far as the eye can see, you’ll be relieved to know that Toronto offers many opportunities to get back to nature without leaving the city limits. In fact, you can get to almost all of these spots on the TTC…

The Leslie Street Spit
The Spit is a man-made headland that stretches out into Lake Ontario. Nature Canada designated it an Important Bird Area as it’s home to more than 300 species. The 5-kilometre stretch of the spit is perfect for a bike ride or a leisurely stroll, and it offers gorgeous views of the Toronto skyline.

Sun Valley
It used to be a landfill in a former life, but you’d never guess that garbage is compacted 25 meters deep underneath this picturesque area, which has been allowed to return to its natural state.

The Scarborough Bluffs
An escarpment that stretches for 14 kilometres along the shore of Lake Ontario in Toronto’s east end, the Bluffs offer stunning views of the waterfront. And if you follow the trail below the bluffs you’ll reach the peaceful Bluffers Park.

Crothers Woods
The Crothers Woods is a 52-hectare mature maple-beech-oak woodland located in the Don River Valley. Parts of the area have remained relatively unchanged since before the European settlement, and many of the forest’s trees are more than a century old.

The Humber Arboretum
Located behind Humber College’s north campus and offering 250 hectares of wilderness to explore, it is recognized as Canada’s most diverse ecosystem and is home to more than 1,700 species of plants and animals.

Milkman’s Lane
A much-loved forested trail by the area’s dog-walkers, cyclists, and joggers; they use the trail to connect with the Don Valley trail network and Brick Works.

Glen Stewart Ravine
This is an 11-hectare ravine where hikers can enjoy a wide variety of plant and bird life. The City of Toronto has designated it an Environmentally Significant Area due to the presence of plant and bird species that are not common in southwestern Ontario.

Where is your go-to spot to get away from the bustling city? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us @ViewTheVibe.