Toronto Carrying-Place Trail
Encyclopedia
The Toronto Carrying-Place Trail, also known as the Humber Portage and the Toronto Passage, was a major portage
route in Ontario
, Canada, linking Lake Ontario
with Lake Simcoe
and the northern Great Lakes. The name comes from the Mohawk
term toron-ten, meaning "the place where the trees grow over the water", an important landmark on Lake Simcoe through which the trail passed.
Starting with the Toronto end, the trail ran up the eastern bank of the Humber River
. The trail splits at Woodbridge
, with one fork crossing the east branch of the Humber and going up the west side of the river to the vicinity of Kleinburg
where it re-crossed the river. This trail was probably used during the seasons when the water was low enough to ford. The other fork stayed on the east side of the river and angled cross-country to King Creek
, joining the other fork before crossing the river near Nobleton
, some 50 km north of Lake Ontario. From there it runs north over the Oak Ridges Moraine
to the western branch of the Holland River
, and from there north-east into Lake Simcoe some 80 km north.
A second route of the trail runs from Lake Ontario at the Rouge River, following the river north-west to the Oak Ridges Moraine. Crossing the Moraine it met the eastern branch of the Holland River near modern-day Aurora, Ontario
. This arm appears to have been favoured by the French explorers in the area, without ever having seen the Humber arm.
Once into Lake Simcoe, known as Ouentironk among the First Nations
people living in the area, the trail continues north through straits on the north end of the lake into Lake Couchiching
. These straits, an important fishing area, gives rise to the name Toronto, as this is "the place where the trees grow over the water". The First Nations peoples had planted trees in the narrows between the lakes to act as a weir to catch fish. From there the trail follows the Severn River
into Georgian Bay
. Many of the major First Nations tribes lived in the area around and to the north of Lake Simcoe, which were easily reachable via the many rivers leading to the lake.
It is widely stated that the first European to see the Humber arm was Étienne Brûlé
, who traveled it with a group of twelve Huron in 1615. However it is now believed that this is in error, and he actually traveled further west, to Lake Erie
.
Further French settlement used the Humber portion of the trail primarily. Near the mouth of the Humber and along the Toronto Passage was a trading post called Teiaiagon
, where the French and English met with the locals for trading. The site is marked with a plaque and is near the historic Old Mill. This included the construction of three forts on, or near, the trail. The first of these, Fort Douville or Magasin Royale
, was built in 1688 about 2 km north of Lake Ontario on the Humber near what is today Old Mill. The second, Fort Toronto, was built in 1750 only a few hundred metres north of the lake, right on the trail. The final one, Fort Rouillé
, but also known widely as Fort Toronto, was built about 2 km to the east of the river during 1750 and 1751, and today lies near the bandstand at the Exhibition Place
.
The trail was widely used by both French and English fur trade
rs until Toronto started to be permanently settled in the early 19th century, bringing to close its use for over a millennium. The connection north to Lake Simcoe was then made along Yonge Street
, constructed after Simcoe followed the eastern branch into Toronto.
Portage
Portage or portaging refers to the practice of carrying watercraft or cargo over land to avoid river obstacles, or between two bodies of water. A place where this carrying occurs is also called a portage; a person doing the carrying is called a porter.The English word portage is derived from the...
route in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada, linking Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
with Lake Simcoe
Lake Simcoe
Lake Simcoe is a lake in Southern Ontario, Canada, the fourth-largest lake wholly in the province, after Lake Nipigon, Lac Seul, and Lake Nipissing. At the time of the first European contact in the 17th century the lake was called Ouentironk by the Huron natives...
and the northern Great Lakes. The name comes from the Mohawk
Mohawk nation
Mohawk are the most easterly tribe of the Iroquois confederation. They call themselves Kanien'gehaga, people of the place of the flint...
term toron-ten, meaning "the place where the trees grow over the water", an important landmark on Lake Simcoe through which the trail passed.
Starting with the Toronto end, the trail ran up the eastern bank of the Humber River
Humber River (Ontario)
The Humber River is one of two major rivers on either side of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the other being the Don River to the east. It was designated a Canadian Heritage River on September 24, 1999....
. The trail splits at Woodbridge
Woodbridge, Ontario
Woodbridge is a large suburban community in the City of Vaughan, just north of Toronto in Southern Ontario. It was once an independent town before being amalgamated with nearby communities to form the city in 1971. Its traditional downtown core is the Woodbridge Ave...
, with one fork crossing the east branch of the Humber and going up the west side of the river to the vicinity of Kleinburg
Kleinburg, Ontario
-External links:* * *...
where it re-crossed the river. This trail was probably used during the seasons when the water was low enough to ford. The other fork stayed on the east side of the river and angled cross-country to King Creek
King Creek, Ontario
King Creek is a hamlet located in King Township, Ontario, Canada. It is a small area with few homes, located immediately east of Nobleton. To the east is King City.-Environment:...
, joining the other fork before crossing the river near Nobleton
Nobleton, Ontario
Nobleton is an unincorporated village in southwestern King, Ontario, Canada. It is the third-largest community in the township, after King City and Schomberg. Located south of the Oak Ridges Moraine, Nobleton is surrounded by hills and forests...
, some 50 km north of Lake Ontario. From there it runs north over the Oak Ridges Moraine
Oak Ridges Moraine
The Oak Ridges Moraine is an ecologically important geological landform in the Mixedwood Plains of south-central Ontario, Canada. The moraine covers a geographic area of between Caledon and Rice Lake, near Peterborough...
to the western branch of the Holland River
Holland River
The Holland River is a river in Ontario, Canada that drains the Holland River watershed into Cook's Bay, the southern extremity of Lake Simcoe. It is named after Captain Samuel Holland, , Dutch born first Surveyor General of British North America. The river flows generally north, and its...
, and from there north-east into Lake Simcoe some 80 km north.
A second route of the trail runs from Lake Ontario at the Rouge River, following the river north-west to the Oak Ridges Moraine. Crossing the Moraine it met the eastern branch of the Holland River near modern-day Aurora, Ontario
Aurora, Ontario
Aurora is an affluent town in York Region, approximately 20 km north of Toronto. It is partially situated on the Oak Ridges Moraine, and is a part of the Greater Toronto Area and Golden Horseshoe of Southern Ontario.Many Aurora residents commute to Toronto and surrounding communities.In the...
. This arm appears to have been favoured by the French explorers in the area, without ever having seen the Humber arm.
Once into Lake Simcoe, known as Ouentironk among the First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
people living in the area, the trail continues north through straits on the north end of the lake into Lake Couchiching
Lake Couchiching
Lake Couchiching, from the Ojibwe gojijiing meaning "inlet", is a small lake in Central Ontario separated from Lake Simcoe by a narrow channel. The Trent-Severn Waterway enters Lake Simcoe by the Talbot River and exits this lake by the Severn River which empties into Georgian Bay...
. These straits, an important fishing area, gives rise to the name Toronto, as this is "the place where the trees grow over the water". The First Nations peoples had planted trees in the narrows between the lakes to act as a weir to catch fish. From there the trail follows the Severn River
Severn River (central Ontario)
The Severn River is a river in central Ontario, Canada. Its headwaters are located at the north end of Lake Couchiching. It drains Lake Couchiching and Lake Simcoe...
into Georgian Bay
Georgian Bay
Georgian Bay is a large bay of Lake Huron, located entirely within Ontario, Canada...
. Many of the major First Nations tribes lived in the area around and to the north of Lake Simcoe, which were easily reachable via the many rivers leading to the lake.
It is widely stated that the first European to see the Humber arm was Étienne Brûlé
Étienne Brûlé
Étienne Brûlé , was the first of European French explorers to journey along the St. Lawrence River with the Native Americans and to view Georgian Bay and Lake Huron Canada in the 17th century. A rugged outdoorsman, he took to the lifestyle of the First Nations and had a unique contribution to the...
, who traveled it with a group of twelve Huron in 1615. However it is now believed that this is in error, and he actually traveled further west, to Lake Erie
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
.
Further French settlement used the Humber portion of the trail primarily. Near the mouth of the Humber and along the Toronto Passage was a trading post called Teiaiagon
Teiaiagon
Teiaiagon was an Iroquoian village on the east bank of the Humber River in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was located along the Toronto Carrying-Place Trail. The site is currently near the intersection of Jane Street and Annette Street or the community of Baby Point.-History:The establishment of the...
, where the French and English met with the locals for trading. The site is marked with a plaque and is near the historic Old Mill. This included the construction of three forts on, or near, the trail. The first of these, Fort Douville or Magasin Royale
Magasin Royale
Magasin Royale was the name given to a trading station under the purview of the King of France. It also applied specifically to two trading stores built along the Humber River by French fur traders in 18th century Toronto....
, was built in 1688 about 2 km north of Lake Ontario on the Humber near what is today Old Mill. The second, Fort Toronto, was built in 1750 only a few hundred metres north of the lake, right on the trail. The final one, Fort Rouillé
Fort Rouillé
Fort Rouillé or Fort Toronto was a French trading post located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, that was established around 1750 but abandoned in 1759. The fort site is now part of the public lands of Exhibition Place...
, but also known widely as Fort Toronto, was built about 2 km to the east of the river during 1750 and 1751, and today lies near the bandstand at the Exhibition Place
Exhibition Place
Exhibition Place is a mixed-use district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, by the shoreline of Lake Ontario, just west of downtown. The 197–acre area includes expo, trade, and banquet centres, theatre and music buildings, monuments, parkland, sports facilities, and a number of civic, provincial,...
.
The trail was widely used by both French and English fur trade
Fur trade
The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of world market for in the early modern period furs of boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the most valued...
rs until Toronto started to be permanently settled in the early 19th century, bringing to close its use for over a millennium. The connection north to Lake Simcoe was then made along Yonge Street
Yonge Street
Yonge Street is a major arterial route connecting the shores of Lake Ontario in Toronto to Lake Simcoe, a gateway to the Upper Great Lakes. It was formerly listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest street in the world at , and the construction of Yonge Street is designated an "Event of...
, constructed after Simcoe followed the eastern branch into Toronto.
External links
- Richmond Hill History - map showing the western arm as it was when Yonge Street was being laid out.
- The Coming of the French - part of a lengthy article on the Humber, this section contains a map of the southern portions of the trail.
- The real story of how Toronto got its name - Natural Resources Canada website
- The Toronto Carrying-place Nature Conservancy of Canada