Ajax on Lake Ontario: Waterfront Trails, Parks and History

When planning a hotel stay in Ajax, you can first decide whether the Lake Ontario waterfront, cycling, or culture and local history should shape your stay. The town offers distinct starting points for each: parkland and trails by the water, a municipal cycling network, and named heritage and cultural sites. The places and trails below can help you explore these themes according to your interests.

Waterfront and trails on Lake Ontario

Ajax’s waterfront includes six kilometres of parkland along Lake Ontario, with bridges over streams as well as natural and landscaped areas. The six kilometres refer to the parkland; a paved trail along the waterfront is more than seven kilometres long. These are two different measures: parkland and trail distance.

If you want to explore the waterfront actively, the multi-use trail is suitable for walking, jogging, cycling and inline skating. It accommodates activities both on foot and on wheels.

Rotary Park is a key focal point of the Waterfront Trail. At the park, you can play by the water; fishing is possible along the shores of Lake Ontario. Lion’s Point offers a different perspective: it sits 20 metres above the rocky shore of Lake Ontario and is a lookout where you can see parts of Toronto’s distant shoreline. This offers distinct ways to enjoy the lake, from specific activities by the water to views across it.

Cycling in Ajax

Ajax is designated a bicycle-friendly community and has a safe, connected 140-kilometre cycling network. The network includes off-road trails, dedicated bike lanes and shared lanes. Dedicated and shared lanes differ in whether they are reserved for cyclists or shared with others. Municipal infrastructure details may change over time; check the current information before your ride.

Historic and cultural sites

Veterans’ Point Garden commemorates Ajax’s history and is dedicated to HMS Ajax, the Defense Industries Limited plant, and the workers who lived in the area during the Second World War. Information panels in the garden recognize Ajax’s cultural heritage and history, as well as the history of the Second World War. The garden’s specific dedication and broader historical context come together here.

The Pickering Village Heritage Conservation District in Ajax represents another form of local history. Designated in 2013, it includes 58 commercial and residential properties in the central part of the community.

The former St. Francis de Sales Church is part of the area’s architectural history; it was built by Henry Langley in 1871.

The Ajax Centre for the Arts offers concerts, variety shows, film screenings and family programs. The program varies by season and event. If you want to include a performance in your stay, check the specific dates in advance.

Discover more destinations: Beaverton, Hampton, Whitby, Oshawa, Clarington, Scugog, Bowmanville, Pickering

For the broader travel overview: Regional Municipality Of Durham.