10 of the best outdoor skating rinks in Toronto
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Well, it’s officially almost time to dust off your old skates and get ready to hit your nearest rink – skating season is almost here.
This winter, there will be 53 outdoor skating rinks open in the Greater Toronto Area, so regardless of where you live, there’s a rink or two nearby.
Currently, a majority of the city rinks are scheduled to open on November 25, and many more are expected to open by December 2 as temperatures begin to drop.
Here are our top 10 outdoor skating rinks to check out this winter:
Nathan Phillips Square
Skating at Nathan Phillips Square in downtown Toronto is a quintessential winter activity for anyone who lives or is visiting the city. The crowd, the view of city hall, and the fact it’s located in the heart of the city are just a few of the reasons this rink is one of our favourites. Throw in change rooms, washrooms, a snack shop, and skate rentals and you’ve got everything you need for the perfect winter afternoon.
Status: Opening November 25
Where: 100 Queen Street West
Harbourfront Centre’s Natrel Rink
Queen’s Quay is easily one of the most beautiful parts of the city, and skating with a view of the lake and the city skyline is a great way to spend a winter day. Harbourfront Centre’s Natrel Rink offers DJ Skate Nights on Saturdays, and admission is free.
Status: Opening November 17 (with weather permitting)
Where: 235 Queens Quay West
Greenwood Park
For those interested in playing a game of shinny, look no further than Greenwood Park. This large rink is actually the City’s first covered outdoor ice rink. There is also an ice skating trail located beside the ice rink for those who want to skate at their own pace.
Status: Opening November 25
Where: 150 Greenwood Park
Sherbourne Common
This waterfront skating rink is a nice escape from the downtown core and provides skaters with pristine cityscape views. For those looking for a rink that’s not as busy as Nathan Phillips Square, this is a great alternative.
Status: Opening November 25
Where: 61 Dockside Drive
Trinity Bellwoods Park
Toronto’s favourite hipster park is still a hotspot even during the winter months. The park’s outdoor rink is great for a game of pick-up puck or for those looking to unwind with an evening skate. Just make sure to check the rink’s info page to see what days feature public skating or hockey.
Status: Opening November 25
Where: 790 Queen Street West
Dufferin Grove Park Rink
This park comes equipped with two side-by-side skating rinks, which is great for those who want to play a game of puck followed by a leisure skate. The rink schedule features something for everyone, with hockey available for beginners to adults.
Status: Opening November 25
Where: 875 Dufferin Street
Regent Park South
This Corktown rink is equipped with great overhead lights for those looking to end their day with an evening skate. There’s both public skating and pickup for all skill levels with skate times available for beginners, youth, and adults.
Status: Opening November 25
Where: 480 Shuter Street
Mel Lastman Square
For those living in the North York area who don’t want to trek all the way downtown to get their skate on, Mel Lastman Square is the perfect outdoor alternative. Keep in mind that the rink is unsupervised so skaters will need to bring their own skates.
Status: Opening December 2
Where: 5100 Yonge Street
Ryerson Community Rink
The outdoor Ryerson Rink is tucked away from the hustle of the city and is the perfect place to play a late night game of shinny or go for a leisure skate with friends. The rink is unsupervised so make sure to skate at your own risk.
Status: Opening December 2
Where: 50 Gould Street
Ontario Place Skating Rink
Ontario Place is getting its very own outdoor synthetic ice rink this winter. That’s right, Toronto will soon have another outdoor skating venue! While there aren’t many details available on the new rink, just imagine getting to skate along the iconic Cinesphere as you take in the picturesque lake and city skyline views.
Status: Opening in winter
Where: 955 Lake Shore Blvd West
Here is the full list of outdoor skating rinks to check out this winter:
– Broadlands CC
–Buttonwood Park
– Campbell Avenue Playground
– Cedarvale Park
– Christie Pits
– Dufferin Grove
– Dieppe Park
– Giovanni Caboto
– Glen Long CC
– High Park
– Hodgson Public School Grounds
– Humber Valley Rink
– Irving W Chapley CC
– Jimmie Simpson Park
– Joseph Bannon Park
– Kew Gardens
– Lambton-Kingsway Rink
– Ledbury Park
– McCowan District Park
– Mel Lastman Square
– Monarch Park
– Nathan Phillips Square
– North Toronto Memorial CRC/Eglinton Park
– Otter Creek Centre
– Prince of Whales
– Queensway Rink
– Ramsden Park
– Regent Park
– Rennie Park
– Riverdale Park East
– Rivercrest Rink
– Rosedale Park
– Royalcrest Rink
– Ryerson Community Park
– Scarborough Civic Centre/Albert Campbell Square
– Sherbourne Common
– Sir Adam Beck Rink
– Summerlea Rink
– Sunnydale Acres Rink
– Trinity Bellwoods
– Valleyfield Park
– Van Horne Park/Pleasantview Rink
– Wallace Emerson Park
– Wedgewood Park
– West Deane Park/Martingrove
– West Mall Rink
– Westgrove Rink
– Westway Outdoor Rink
– Withrow Park
A full list of rink statuses and rink information, updated by the City of Toronto, can be found here.
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