Date Completed : February 8, 2026
Total Distance Traveled : 11.6km Total Time : 2:12
The Leslie Street Spit was a popular cycling destination of mine back in the early 2000s. Not only was it scenic, it was conveniently located at the end of the Lower Don Trail, which was accessible from my home near Taylor Creek.
After a near 25 year hiatus, I decided to make a return. But this time, not a bike but on a pair of skis.
During the winter of 2026, I spoke with a few people who mentioned a multi-use trail which would take you from the parking lot at the base of Leslie Street to the lighthouse at the end of the spit. Although it wasn’t groomed, it was track-set by skiers. (skierset?)
Having just bought a new set of skis and boots for light backcountry use, I figured the Spit would make a great destination. It was only 15 min away by car, and since it was an out and back route, I could always turn around if I had an issue with my gear.
For this trip, I brought a pair of Salomon Outpath 60 skis along with a pair of Salomon Escape Outpath boots. Although they use a standard NNN binding, the skis have a 3/4 metal edge while the boots feature an ankle cuff, additional insulation, and an integrated gaiter.
It quickly became apparent that this setup was overkill for the spit but I was grateful for the boots since they were very warm.
The high during the day was -15C so I left nothing to chance. I wore several layers, along with hand warmers in my gloves and heated electric socks. The last time I skied in temperatures below -15C was on Christmas Day 2017 in Yoho National Park. I wasn’t nearly as prepared and came home with frostbitten toes.
Despite the cold, I encountered around 20 people on the trail. Most were on cross country skis, but there were also a few hikers and one fat biker – most of whom turned around before reaching the end.
One unexpected observation was the lack of snow. Having received so much in my driveway just a few kilometers to the north, I expected similar conditions on the Spit. Instead, some sections of the trail were snow free, revealing the pavement underneath. I assumed the wind must have blown the snow away. Ironic since there was almost no wind on this day.
After about an hour of skiing, I finally arrived at the end of the spit where I took a quick break as I took in the views of Lake Ontario and the Toronto skyline. The view was spectacular, but I could feel the cold creeping into my outer layers so it wasn’t long before I was skiing back to the parking lot.
In the end, I was able to test my ski gear which passed with flying colors. If I were to do it again, I’d use the same boots for their warmth, but I’d probably switch to my skin skis. The Salomon RC7 skin skis I currently use are noticeably lighter due to the lack of metal edges and offer a superior glide vs the fish scales on the Salomon Outpath.