Does anyone know of any places to practice open water swimming close to Toronto? I’d rather not drive to Barrie or Muskoka to practice. Can you swim safely in Guelph Lake or the big pond at Kelso in Milton?
Thanks,
Ken
Ps. I do realise I can’t do it right now but I want to be ready.
It might be a little cold for a while.
There are two lakes in York region where people swim. Lake Wilcox in Oak Ridges (no motorized boats, Bloomington & Bayview), Mussellman Lake in Aurora (Ninth Line and Aurora Road). Both are small lakes so water quality can be affected by rain, esp. Mussellman.
Also, Lake Ontario isn’t really that bad. Just watch the beach water quality advisories and make sure you are with a group and very visible as the boat traffic can be a little irresponsible.
Both Guelph Lake and Kelso host races, but I don’t know about swimming there on a regular basis.
My preferred location is Lake Wilcox. You will find a group of triathletes there most weekend mornings in the summer as it is also a good place to start a ride from. Drive up, park, swim, ride, drive home.
Kelso for sure, there are also a few places in Hamilton, Caledon, some are like trailer parks but may not open for a little while
Kelso is the swim site for the Milton tri in the Subaru series
Andrew
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Indeed, Wilcox and Musselman are great choices, just north of Toronto. However, if you are going in the next week or so, you will need an axe! I cycled by both lakes on Sunday’s ride and both where still covered in ice!! 
Kelso’s a great place to swim if you want nice, calm water. It will be frigid in early June and more bearable come end of June. It’s quite small so it warms up fast. I did an open water swim at the Beaches (Lake Ontario) in early July and it was still chilly (but then, I’m a complete wimp when it comes to the cold). I did the Oly race at Guelph Lake in late June and it was very warm. That would also be a great place to swim.
Thanks for all the great information. It’s nice to know that Toronto has a lively Triathlon community!
Ken
Another place you can check out is Gulliver’s Lake which is just north of Hamilton (Hwy 6/Safari Rd). It is a small lake which is about 1k or so if you swim the outside. You have to pay to get into the park ($5) but we often park there do a 2 or 3k swim and then there is a 30k loop which is a decent ride.
I’ll echo all of the above, but add another vote for Lake Ontario. Yes, the big blue thing downtown.
If you swim off Cherry Beach, the water is significantly shallower than out at the Beaches. It’s always warmer there, and because it’s a blue flag beach you can check the water quality almost daily. Despite rumours to the contrary, it’s very, very good and I swam there exclusively for most of the latter half of June and July in prep for IMLP, two to three times a week. Obviously, a wetsuit is advisable. Several other swim groups swim there, too, including a weekly free swim group from Endurosport Beaches.
There’s no boat traffic, and the only traffic you do have to keep an eye out for is windsurfers and kitesurfers.
If you swim off Cherry Beach, the water is significantly shallower than out at the Beaches. It’s always warmer there, and because it’s a blue flag beach you can check the water quality almost daily. Despite rumours to the contrary, it’s very, very good and I swam there exclusively for most of the latter half of June and July in prep for IMLP, two to three times a week. Obviously, a wetsuit is advisable. Several other swim groups swim there, too, including a weekly free swim group from Endurosport Beaches.
There’s no boat traffic, and the only traffic you do have to keep an eye out for is windsurfers and kitesurfers.
And if you arent’ in a group, one of the 10 lifeguards who hang out at the beech will paddle behind you in a kayak, despite the water being shallow enough to stand in. Which always makes me feel good about how my tax dollars are being used.
Guess you’re lucky, that only happened to me once when a storm was coming in. Little waif of a thing behind the oars of an old rowboat, I thought I was going to have to tow her in myself.
But they do get nervous when you swim alone.
Is it alright to swim in a swimsuit in July/August at Cherry Beach. I’m training for my first triathlon. I’m doing a mini one at Island Lake Michigan in August. Also are there any good bike courses that are quite hilly in Toronto? I ran the Island lake course last week and the 20k bike ride is all up and downhill.
Is it alright to swim in a swimsuit in July/August at Cherry Beach. I’m training for my first triathlon. I’m doing a mini one at Island Lake Michigan in August. Also are there any good bike courses that are quite hilly in Toronto? I ran the Island lake course last week and the 20k bike ride is all up and downhill.
Head out to Milton and ride up and down the escarpment. Well worth the drive.
Does anyone swim in Lake Simcoe? I was thinking it might be a good place to go up for a weekend or even an afternoon. How is the water?
I do it, family loves to go to Sibbald Point for picnic and fun. I always find the water clearer/cleaner than Lake Ontario (yeah doh!)
You have to watch out for jetskis and boats if you swim anytime other than first thing in the morning, but I am ordering a Safer Swimmer for that purpose
If you’ve a wetsuit any of the lakes mentioned are great. Even without a wetsuit some of the smaller lakes are very swimmable. I highly recommend Gulliver’s Lake near Hamilton (clean and warm).
This season I’ve been swimming in Little Lake for about a month. Its located just east of Colborne of Hwy401, about 70minutes east of Toronto.
P.S. Toronto is the 4rd largest city in North America (after Mexico City, NY & LA) so its not really necessary to give the full geographical titel: Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Is it alright to swim in a swimsuit in July/August at Cherry Beach. I’m training for my first triathlon. I’m doing a mini one at Island Lake Michigan in August. Also are there any good bike courses that are quite hilly in Toronto? I ran the Island lake course last week and the 20k bike ride is all up and downhill.
Head out to Milton and ride up and down the escarpment. Well worth the drive.
Can you share a gps file for a good route up the escarpment? I train in the Caledon hills myself, happy to reciprocate if you are interested
If it keeps raining like that you may not even need a lake.
On a serious note, heavy rains might elevate the risk of E. Coli and other swim spoilers.
Be careful.
Some folks from Absolute Endurance do a Friday 6am swim at Cherry Beach. Check out their Facebook page for particulars - those guys are alright!
Indeed, Wilcox and Musselman are great choices, just north of Toronto. However, if you are going in the next week or so, you will need an axe! I cycled by both lakes on Sunday’s ride and both where still covered in ice!!
These seem to be closed now.
Other options rather than Simcoe and Cherry Beach?
Check out Lostswimming.com
Saturday morning OWS from Oakville in Lake Ontario. Water was 62 last weekend – Just fine in a wetsuit.