Updated: Aug 2026
It towers 553.33 metres (1,815 feet) into the sky and is Canada‘s most recognisable landmark. The CN Tower was once the tallest free-standing structure in the world, a title it held for more than three decades.
And then someone thought: let’s let people walk around the OUTSIDE of it.
Welcome to the CN Tower EdgeWalk.
If you’re unfamiliar with it, the EdgeWalk is a hands-free walk around the outside of the tower’s main pod, 356 metres (1,168 feet) above the ground. The ledge is just 1.5 metres wide, and you’re attached to an overhead safety rail by a harness and trolley system as you walk around the circumference.
I love heights. So when I heard about the world’s highest external walk on a building, it took approximately a split second for me to decide I was going to do it.
Convincing my family that I had made a sensible decision was considerably harder.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Are you REALLY sure?”
“Yes.”
“Because you’re actually going to walk outside the CN Tower?”
“YES.”
And so, with considerably more confidence than common sense, I went to do the CN Tower EdgeWalk.
How high is the CN Tower?
Before we get to the EdgeWalk, let’s get our heads around just how high the CN Tower actually is.
The tower stands 553.33 metres high, making it 181 storeys tall. The main observation level is at approximately 346 metres, while the SkyPod sits much higher at around 447 metres.
The EdgeWalk is at 356 metres, or about 116 storeys above Toronto.
So no, you’re not walking around the very top of the CN Tower. You’re walking around the outside of the main pod.
But when you’re standing on a narrow ledge looking down at Toronto from 356 metres above the ground, I promise you aren’t going to be thinking:
“Oh, well, technically there are another 197 metres above me.”
You’re going to be thinking: WHY AM I DOING THIS?
And possibly: PLEASE DON’T LET ME LOOK DOWN.
The EdgeWalk itself is approximately 1.5 metres wide and forms a complete circle around the top of the tower’s main pod. You’re connected to an overhead rail throughout the walk, leaving your hands free to perform the activities your guide asks you to try.
It is still officially described by the CN Tower as the world’s highest external walk on a building.
CN TOWER EDGEWALK – DO YOU DARE?
I love heights, so the idea didn’t frighten me when I first heard about it.
In fact, I thought it sounded exhilarating. The difficult part wasn’t deciding to do the CN Tower EdgeWalk. It was sticking to that decision while my family continued asking me if I was sure.
Looking back, I think there is a very big difference between liking heights and being comfortable with heights.
I love standing at the top of buildings. I love looking out of aeroplane windows. I love mountain roads with ridiculous drops.
But standing on the edge of a building and deliberately leaning over it? That’s a different matter entirely. And I was about to find that out.
Getting ready for the CN Tower EdgeWalk
An hour later, I was in a room with six other people at the base of the tower, pulling on an orange jumpsuit and neon-yellow harness.
The whole process was much more serious than I had expected.
And I mean serious.
The staff explained what we could and couldn’t take outside. A hair clip, a key, an earring – anything that could potentially come loose and fall to the ground was removed. Even our shoes were inspected to make sure they had a firm grip. A couple of people were asked to change into non-slip shoes provided by the staff.
Then came the breathalyser. For those who need a shot of liquid courage before doing something completely insane. Unfortunately, liquid courage isn’t permitted (not that it matters since I’m a teetotaler).
The harness clasp was checked. Checked again. And again with a wand.
At this point, I remember thinking: This kind of checking probably means some seriously scary stuff is about to happen.
In hindsight, it is one of the things that makes you feel safer with the whole experience. Even if you arrive nervous or genuinely frightened, the thorough the safety checks are and reassuring guides have a big role to play in keeping your fears in check.
So if you’re wondering whether they simply hand you a harness and say, “Good luck!”
Nope!
The elevator ride up
Before I knew it, I was in an elevator with a glass floor, being whooshed upwards in less than a minute.
Whoooooaaaa!
The glass floor is probably not the feature you want in an elevator when you’re already contemplating the fact that you’re about to walk outside a skyscraper. We arrived at a small room where we were connected to two ropes attached to a metal rail above our heads that ran around the circumference of the path outside.
Heavy-duty locking rings were added and secured with a plastic strap to keep nervous, fidgeting fingers away from the locking mechanism.
Everything was checked. Again. Then we were ready. Or at least, they were ready.
I was still trying to convince my brain that this was a sensible thing to do.
Toes Over Toronto
For a minute, I forgot how to walk. You know how walking works. One foot in front of the other. Simple.
Except when the next step involves moving your toes towards the edge of a building 356 metres above the ground.
Suddenly, your brain develops a very long list of questions.
What if this rope, tested for 15,000 pounds, gives way?
What if my harness breaks?
What if I lean out too far?
What if –
THIS IS A BAD IDEA. YOU CANNOT FLY.
The walkway is secure. The harness is attached. The equipment has been checked approximately seventeen times.
Your brain doesn’t care.
It sees empty space.
The EdgeWalk guides encourage participants to try a series of activities that take you beyond simply walking around the ledge.
The first was ‘Toes Over Toronto.’
You move your feet towards the edge and lean out over the city.
The harness allows you to push your limits much further than you would ever dare if you were standing there unaided. You can lean forward over the edge and, later, lean backwards with the arches of your feet resting on the rim.
I struggled with the backward lean.
And what is funny now is that one of the girls in our group, Lindsey, chose that exact moment to say:
“If I was to fall off and die, I’d rather go back first than face forward.”
My mind was screaming:
THIS IS A BAD IDEA. YOU CANNOT FLY!!!
What does the CN Tower EdgeWalk actually feel like?
The strangest thing about the EdgeWalk is that the fear changes.
At first, you’re terrified. Then you take a few steps Then a few more. Then you realise you’re still standing.
And gradually, the fear starts making room for something else.
Excitement.
The guide walks alongside you, pointing out buildings and landmarks around Toronto and encouraging everyone to try the different activities.
“If you can walk on the pavement, you’re fine up here,” she told us.
Easy for her to say. But she was right.
Once I stopped concentrating on the fact that I was technically walking around the outside of a skyscraper, I could actually start enjoying myself.
The view is extraordinary. You can see Toronto from every angle as you circle the tower. The high-rises below catch the sunlight. The roads look like tiny lines. Planes take off and land in the distance. Helicopters seem ridiculously close.
And if visibility is good, you can see a remarkable distance across the landscape.
There is a point where your brain finally seems to accept:
Okay. We’re doing this.
And that’s when the fun begins.
The part nobody tells you about the EdgeWalk
You don’t have to be fearless. And you don’t necessarily have to do every single activity.
This is worth mentioning because I’m sure there are many people who got to the edge and simply can’t make themselves do the forward or backward lean. Even so, it is still a completely worthwhile experience. There are some who are terrified at the beginning and eventually become comfortable enough to hang over the edge.
The point isn’t to prove that you’re fearless. It’s to find out what your limit is.
You might happily lean over backwards. You might stand on the edge but refuse to let go. You might take one look down and decide that walking around the tower is plenty of adventure for one day.
All of those count.
And if you’re the sort of person who needs encouragement, the guide is a huge part of the experience. Their energy, patience and ability to make nervous people feel safe without pressuring them into something they aren’t comfortable doing is remarkable.
How safe is the CN Tower EdgeWalk?
This was probably the question my family was really asking when they kept saying:
“Are you sure?”
And yes, the EdgeWalk is designed as a controlled adventure experience with extensive safety procedures. You’re connected to an overhead rail throughout the outdoor walk, and your equipment is checked before you go outside.
The CN Tower says safety is incorporated into every aspect of EdgeWalk’s design and operation, with trained staff securing participants and regular safety reviews and maintenance. The walk does not operate during electrical storms, dangerously high winds or other extreme weather.
The current eligibility rules are also worth knowing before you book. You must be at least 13 years old, weigh between 34 kg and 140 kg, be able to walk independently and meet the required health and physical criteria. There are restrictions relating to pregnancy, recent surgery, certain medical conditions, alcohol/drug use and other circumstances that could make the experience unsafe.
So yes, the EdgeWalk is terrifying. But the equipment and procedures are not improvised. In fact, I found the sheer number of checks oddly comforting. When you’re 356 metres above the ground, boring is good.
What happens if you’re scared on the EdgeWalk?
This is another reason I wouldn’t describe the EdgeWalk as simply “walking around a building.”
Your guide is there for the entire experience. They explain how the harness works, show you what you’re going to do, and gradually get you comfortable with being outside.
If you freeze, you aren’t simply abandoned on the ledge. The guides are patient when people become nervous or can’t bring themselves to do a particular lean.
And that’s important. Because there is a difference between encouraging someone to push their limits and making them feel stupid for having one.
The best EdgeWalk experience seems to be one where you’re allowed to be scared – and then decide what you’re willing to do about it.
Can you take photos on the CN Tower EdgeWalk?
This was one of my biggest disappointments.
No phones. No cameras. No loose personal belongings.
And therefore no casually turning around and saying: “Hey, take a picture of me while I hang off the CN Tower!”
Which would obviously have been fantastic. But there is a very good reason for the rule. Anything that comes loose at 356 metres doesn’t simply disappear into the grass.
The current CN Tower rules allow only clothing and eyewear on the EdgeWalk. Phones, wallets, keys and removable jewellery stay behind in lockers. Guides carry cameras and provide the official photographs and video.
When I did it, the package included a CD of the walk taken from the guide’s GoPro and two photographs.
Today, the package includes a keepsake video, two printed photographs and a certificate of achievement, along with access to the rest of the CN Tower experience.
So you aren’t coming home empty-handed. You just don’t get to control the camera. Which, given how busy we are up there, trying not to die, was probably for the best.
What should you wear for the CN Tower EdgeWalk?
Think practical. You need comfortable clothing and secure footwear with good grip. Your shoes are checked before you go outside, and unsuitable footwear may mean changing into shoes provided by the EdgeWalk team.
Leave unnecessary jewellery and loose accessories at home. The current rules are particularly strict about personal belongings because nothing can be allowed to become a falling object. And if you’re wearing glasses or sunglasses, don’t panic. Eyewear is permitted and the CN Tower provides a lanyard to secure it.
How long does the CN Tower EdgeWalk take?
The complete EdgeWalk experience takes approximately 90 minutes from start to finish.
But you’ll spend roughly 30 minutes actually walking outside.
The rest includes orientation, getting suited up, safety procedures, travelling up to the EdgeWalk level and getting connected to the rail. So don’t make the mistake of looking at “30-minute walk” and squeezing another attraction into the same half-hour.
The anticipation is part of it anyway. And when you’re standing at the base of the CN Tower knowing what you’re about to do, you’ll probably appreciate having nowhere else you need to be.
When is the best time to do the EdgeWalk?
If you have some flexibility, think about what kind of view you want.
A clear daytime slot gives you the best chance of seeing Toronto and Lake Ontario stretching into the distance. A later slot can give you sunset and, eventually, the city lighting up after dark.
But don’t choose a time purely for Instagram. Weather matters enormously. Wind is much more noticeable when you’re standing outside the tower, and poor visibility can change the experience considerably. The CN Tower can cancel EdgeWalk during electrical storms, dangerously high winds or other extreme weather.
If I had to choose, I’d take good visibility over a particular time of day because when you’re 356 metres above Toronto, you want to actually see Toronto.
Once you’ve had enough of looking down at Toronto from above, there is plenty to explore at street level too. Kensington Market is one of the places I’d add to a Toronto itinerary if you want something much less polished and touristy.
Does the CN Tower EdgeWalk operate in rain?
It can operate in many weather conditions, but extreme weather can result in cancellation. Rain can make the walkway wet (and frightening), while wind can make the experience feel considerably more intense.
Personally, I think a little weather could add to the story.
A thunderstorm? No. There are limits to my adventurous spirit.
If you are in Toronto when it’s snowing, here’s my list of things to to in Toronto in the winter!
How much does the CN Tower EdgeWalk cost?
The current EdgeWalk ticket starts at CAD 199 (surprisingly the same as it was when I did the experience over 10 years ago), with pricing subject to change. The current ticket includes the EdgeWalk, keepsake video, two printed photographs, certificate of achievement and access to the rest of the Tower, including The Top.
So yes. It isn’t cheap. But I have a slightly different way of looking at the price.
You’re not paying CAD 199 to walk around a ledge for 30 minutes. You’re paying for the equipment, trained staff, safety procedures, the entire experience and the fact that there aren’t many places in the world where you can do something remotely similar. And, if you’re the person who values experiences over souvenirs, it’s one you’ll remember.
Is the CN Tower EdgeWalk worth the money?
This is where I think it depends on what you’re looking for.
If you simply want a great view of Toronto, don’t do the EdgeWalk. Go to the observation deck.
You can stand behind glass. You can take photographs. You can have a drink. You can admire the view without your stomach attempting to leave your body.
But if you want an experience? That’s different. The EdgeWalk gives you something the observation decks can’t.
You’re outside. You’re exposed to the wind. You’re looking directly down. You’re walking around the circumference of one of Canada’s most recognisable buildings. And you have to trust the equipment, the staff and, eventually, yourself.
I completely understand the very common hesitation about the price.
For me, it was worth every penny. As a 20-something-year old tourist in Canada, I was given CAD 200 by my uncle to spend on shopping or eating out and I spent every last penny on the EdgeWalk. No regrets!
Can you do the EdgeWalk if you’re afraid of heights?
You can, provided you meet the eligibility requirements, but you should expect it to be genuinely scary. You don’t have to perform every lean or activity if you’re uncomfortable.
CN Tower EdgeWalk vs the regular CN Tower experience
If you’re visiting Toronto and wondering which CN Tower experience to choose, here’s how I’d look at it.
Go to the observation deck if: you mainly want the views, you’re travelling with children or people who don’t want an adrenaline activity, or you’re not comfortable with heights.
Do the EdgeWalk if: you’re looking for an adventure, enjoy pushing yourself, want a completely different perspective of Toronto or simply want to be able to say, “Yes, I actually walked around the outside of the CN Tower.”
And there’s no reason you can’t do both. In fact, your EdgeWalk ticket currently includes access to the rest of the Tower, so you can go back and enjoy the observation levels afterwards. That’s a pretty good way to decompress.
A few things you may like to know before doing the EdgeWalk
Arrive early. The current CN Tower recommends arriving 30 minutes before your scheduled EdgeWalk. You’ll need time for screening, paperwork and preparation.
Don’t wear lots of jewellery. You’ll have to remove it anyway, and loose items aren’t permitted on the walk.
Wear proper shoes. Secure, comfortable footwear with good grip is important.
Don’t expect to take your own photographs. You can’t take phones or cameras onto the EdgeWalk. The guides photograph and film you instead.
Don’t panic if you can’t do the lean. The experience is about pushing your own limits.
Expect wind. Even if Toronto feels perfectly pleasant at street level, being outside 356 metres up is another story.
Book ahead. EdgeWalk has limited group sizes and specific time slots so book in advance, particularly around busy weekends and holidays.
Leave room in your itinerary afterwards. Your ticket includes access to the rest of the CN Tower, and I think it’s worth taking some time to enjoy the view without a harness attached to you.
Who can do the CN Tower EdgeWalk?
There are eligibility requirements, so don’t wait until you’re standing at the CN Tower to discover that you can’t participate.
Participants must currently be at least 13 years old and weigh between 34 kg and 140 kg. You need to be able to walk independently and have sufficient physical coordination and control for the experience. There are also restrictions relating to pregnancy, recent surgery, certain heart and respiratory conditions, vertigo and balance problems, alcohol or drug use and other medical circumstances. The CN Tower advises anyone with concerns to check the current requirements before booking.
There is also an accessible CN Tower EdgeWalk option using a specially designed wheelchair for eligible participants, which needs to be arranged in advance by telephone.
So… is the CN Tower EdgeWalk worth doing?
If you can handle this vertigo-inducing walk, trust me, it is one of the most exhilarating things I’ve ever experienced.
I love heights. But that doesn’t mean my brain suddenly forgot that I was standing 356 metres above the ground.
There were moments when I was genuinely terrified. There were moments when I thought:
THIS IS A TERRIBLE IDEA.
There were moments when I looked down and wondered what possessed me.
And then there were moments when I looked out across Toronto and thought: “wow, this is absolutely incredible!”
If I could do it again, I’d jump back into that orange jumpsuit in a heartbeat!
