Nordic walking in Toronto’s Mount Pleasant Cemetery is spectacular in any season. It’s peaceful, tree-filled, and full of blooming flowers, fountains, wildlife, historical plaques, art, and stunning sculpture. It’s one of the city’s best places to walk, whether you’re a Nordic walker, regular walker, or dog walker.
But here’s the catch: it’s easy to get lost. The winding, tree-lined roads twist in all directions. The cemetery spans almost 200 acres, and maps are few and far between.
I know some walkers who stick to the same familiar route every visit, while others avoid exploring more deeply for fear of not finding their way out. (If you do get lost, just ask any of the gardening staff for directions.)
In winter, the absence of leaves reveals nearby landmarks—tall buildings on Merton Street to the north and the backs of homes on Moore Avenue to the south—which can help if you’re familiar with the area.
But there's a secret that even many regulars to the cemetery don’t know about: a hidden navigation system.
Painted on each of the main roads are lane dividers—some are solid white lines while othera are broken white, yellow or blue.
At first glance, they seem like ordinary road markings. And they are. But they also act as built-in directional guides. If you follow any one of them, it will eventually lead you to a cemetery entrance.
Knowing this trick can transform your exercise experience. You can wander and enjoy the tranquility of the setting without constantly worrying about exactly where you are. In spring and summer, when the lush canopy closes in and some of the roads feel almost like forest trails, this guidance becomes even more useful.
So next time you’re in Mount Pleasant, try venturing a little farther. Enjoy the birdsong, admire the headstones and sculptures, chat away with your Nordic walking companion, and trust that the painted lines will get you where you need to go.
