Go on a weekday morning, take the 51 Leslie or park for $4 an hour, and walk the ravine.
Edwards Gardens (755 Lawrence Ave E) is free and open dawn to dusk. The adjacent lot charges $4 per hour, $16 per day maximum, enforced around the clock. Toronto's fall colour generally runs through the second and third weeks of October, so expect the best of it to fade by late October.
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Fall Colour at Edwards Gardens, Right Now
Edwards Gardens is one of North York's easiest fall-colour walks because the paths are short, the ravine is right there, and there is nothing to book. Toronto Tourism puts the city's colour at "generally the second and third weeks of October, with downtown ravines holding into the third week," which is why we'd aim for the next two weekends rather than the last one in October.
"In the fall, these vast gardens near Leslie and Lawrence transform into a display of seasonal colour, where rose gardens, willows, and winding creek paths are enriched with red, orange, and yellow foliage."— blogTO, October 2025
Our pick for colour: start in the upland garden beds near the lot, drop into the valley along Wilket Creek where the rockery and bridges sit, then keep going on the trail if the light is good. For more routes, see our fall hikes in North York guide.
Getting There: Parking and TTC
Edwards Gardens is at 755 Lawrence Ave E, on the southwest corner of Leslie Street and Lawrence Avenue East. The Toronto Botanical Garden next door uses 777 Lawrence Ave E, which is the address most signs and parking apps show.
| Option | What to know |
|---|---|
| Drive | Highway 401 to the Leslie Street exit, south to Lawrence Avenue East. The paid lot is adjacent to the gardens. |
| Parking cost | $4 per hour, maximum $16 per day. Enforced 24 hours a day; no overnight parking. |
| How to pay | At the meter by debit, credit, Apple Pay, Google Pay or cash, or in the TAP2PARK app with site code 6119. |
| Free parking | Toronto Botanical Garden members ($60 a year) park free. Accessible-permit holders still pay unless they are members. |
| Drop-off | A 15-minute drop-off zone sits in front of the Toronto Botanical Garden building. |
| TTC from Line 5 | Laird Station, then the 51 Leslie northbound to Lawrence Avenue East. |
| TTC from Line 1 | Lawrence Station, then the 162 Lawrence-Donway toward Leslie Street. |
| Bike | Reach it via Sunnybrook Park and the Wilket Creek paths. |
One TTC fare covers the subway, LRT and bus transfer, so the bus is the better call on peak colour weekends when the lot fills.
Hours, Washrooms and Food
- Gardens: open dawn to dusk, free.
- Toronto Botanical Garden Visitor Centre: daily 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Garden Shop daily 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Washrooms: City-managed washrooms at Edwards Gardens run 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. from May to October and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. from November to April. Visitor Centre washrooms are open during building hours.
- Food: the Toronto Botanical Garden cafe keeps seasonal hours and closes December through March, so check its hours before you plan lunch around it. We have not verified other food within walking distance.
- Accessibility: the Toronto Botanical Garden publishes an accessibility page and answers questions at 416-397-1341.
The Wilket Creek Trail Connection
Edwards Gardens sits on Wilket Creek, a tributary of the Don River West Branch, and a trail runs from the gardens through the ravine toward Sunnybrook Park. A Komoot-listed Wilket Creek route is 3.82 km, about an hour and rated easy, which makes it a realistic add-on after the garden loop.
The valley holds its canopy longer than open ground, so it is also your best backup if the upland beds look past peak. Pair it with our North York parks guide for the rest of the network.
What you'll see in the gardens themselves, per the City and the Toronto Botanical Garden: perennials and roses on the uplands, and wildflowers, rhododendrons and an extensive rockery in the valley, plus an arboretum beside the children's Teaching Garden. Rupert E. Edwards bought the estate in 1944 and sold it to Metro Toronto in 1955; it became Edwards Gardens in 1956.
Dogs, Photos and Weddings
Can you bring a dog?
The Toronto Botanical Garden says dogs and pets are not permitted in its gardens; service animals are welcome. In City of Toronto parks generally, dogs must be on a leash unless posted otherwise, so follow the signs at each entrance. For places built for dogs, see our North York dog parks guide.
Do you need a permit to take photos?
The City's permit rules cover wedding ceremonies, wedding photography and commercial photography; casual snapshots are not on that list. Wedding photography at Edwards Gardens is $485.47 for two hours (30 people maximum), and commercial shoots need a permit plus $2 million in liability insurance.
Can you get married at Edwards Gardens?
Yes, but not this season. City ceremonies here run May 15 to September 30, for up to 50 people at $260.07 per hour, stand-up only, with no chairs, decorations, confetti, food or drink. Fees are as listed by the City in October 2026.
Edwards Gardens, Answered
Is Edwards Gardens free?
Yes. Admission to Edwards Gardens and the adjacent Toronto Botanical Garden is free. The only cost is parking: the lot next to the gardens charges $4 per hour up to a maximum of $16 per day, enforced 24 hours a day.
What are the hours at Edwards Gardens?
The outdoor gardens are open from dawn until dusk. The Toronto Botanical Garden Visitor Centre is open daily 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and its Garden Shop daily 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. City-managed washrooms at Edwards Gardens are open 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. from May to October and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. from November to April.
Where do you park at Edwards Gardens and what does it cost?
Use the paid lot adjacent to the gardens, accessed from Lawrence Avenue East near Leslie Street. It costs $4 per hour up to $16 per day, payable at the meter by debit, credit, Apple Pay, Google Pay or cash, or through the TAP2PARK app with site code 6119. Overnight parking is not permitted, and Toronto Botanical Garden members park free.
How do you get to Edwards Gardens by TTC?
From Line 5 Eglinton, get off at Laird Station and take the 51 Leslie bus northbound to Lawrence Avenue East. From Line 1, get off at Lawrence Station and take the 162 Lawrence-Donway bus toward Leslie Street. The garden is on the southwest corner of Leslie and Lawrence.
When is the best time to see fall colour at Edwards Gardens?
Toronto's colour generally peaks in the second and third weeks of October, with ravines holding into the third week. At Edwards Gardens, plan to go before the last week of October, when the colour typically fades.
Are dogs allowed at Edwards Gardens?
The Toronto Botanical Garden says dogs and pets are not permitted in its gardens, though service animals are welcome. In City of Toronto parks generally, dogs must be on a leash unless signs say otherwise, so follow the posted signs at each entrance.
Is the Toronto Botanical Garden the same as Edwards Gardens?
No, but they share a site. Edwards Gardens (755 Lawrence Ave E) is the City of Toronto's public park and former estate garden. The Toronto Botanical Garden (777 Lawrence Ave E) is a not-for-profit organization with themed gardens, a Visitor Centre and a Garden Shop next door.
What Should We Read Next?
- Fall hikes in North York — More colour routes once you've done the gardens.
- North York parks guide — Every major park and trail in one place.
- North York dog parks — Where the dogs can actually run.
- Nature hub — Trails, parks and seasonal sights.