Gibraltar Beach is Toronto's best-kept secret. Nestled between Hanlan’s Point and Centre Island, this stretch of sand that faces out on Lake Ontario, seemingly a million miles away from the city over your shoulder. The sandy beach here is what remains of the Gibraltar Beach Sand Dunes. They once coated the entire south shore of the island. These dunes are actually runoff from the Scarborough Bluffs to the east. It’s still classified as an Environmentally Significant Area due to the rare species that exist here. Don’t forget to check out the woven fence at the sand dune entrance – made specifically to help prevent erosion. Take the Centre Island Ferry from the Mainland Ferry Terminal. Follow signs to Centre Beach, then walk west. You can also take the smaller, quieter Hanlan's Point Ferry to avoid the throngs of tourists. As you travel to the beach, be sure to stop by Gibraltar Point Lighthouse. It's said to be haunted by the spirit of one of its first keepers.

Find the ferry schedule and purchase tickets at: http://www.toronto.ca/ferry

The description above was copied from or heavily based on Swim Guide, with permission.

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