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The Best Skating Rinks in Toronto (2026)

Toronto’s strongest outdoor ice right now — Nathan Phillips Square under the TORONTO sign, Harbourfront’s Jumpstart-expanded lake rink, the Bentway’s figure-eight (Àdìrẹ on Ice, winter 2026–27), Evergreen Brick Works under the kiln roof, College Park’s Barbara Ann Scott trail, Colonel Sam Smith’s lakeside loop, Mel Lastman Square, High Park’s tennis-court pads, and neighbourhood rinks at Dufferin Grove, Trinity Bellwoods, Christie Pits, Withrow, Kew Gardens, Ramsden, Riverdale East, and Dieppe — verified August 2026. City drop-in leisure skate is free; outdoor rinks typically open late November.

Updated for 2026•16 Destinations

No.1

Ice rink at Nathan Phillips Square in front of Toronto City Hall

Recreation• Downtown / Old Toronto

Nathan Phillips Square Ice Rink

“The postcard skate. Go weekday morning if you actually want ice, not a photo lineup.”

— Very Toronto Editors

Nathan Phillips Square is still the civic skate: Viljo Revell’s City Hall, the Freedom Arches over the reflecting pool, and the three-metre TORONTO sign lighting the ice. City pages treat the pool as a heritage rink, open to the public annually from November to March (toronto.ca NPS features, modified 9 March 2026). Drop-in leisure skate is free if you bring your own; this is the one City outdoor rink that also has on-site rentals in season (toronto.ca Drop-in Skating). The pavilion west of the ice has change rooms, washrooms, and a concession. Last season’s rental shop (nathanphillipssquareskaterentals.com, 647-380-1921) ran 10:00 a.m.–9:45 p.m. daily, kids $10 / adults $15 for two hours, government photo ID as a deposit — no reservations. First-timers: Queen or Osgoode station, weekday mornings if you want space, and a helmet for kids six and under (City rule). 311 for rink status after snow or a thaw.

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No.2

Harbourfront Centre Skate by the Lake rink on the Toronto waterfront

Recreation• Harbourfront

Harbourfront Centre Ice Rink

“The lake skate. Saturday if you need free rentals; a dark weekday if you want the skyline to yourself.”

— Very Toronto Editors

Harbourfront’s community rink — still tagged Natrel in older listings, now Skate by the Lake — is the waterfront pad at 235 Queens Quay West, expanded with Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities. Admission is always free (harbourfrontcentre.com/program/skate/). Last published skate-shop hours: Monday–Thursday 4:00–10:00 p.m., Friday–Sunday 10:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.; child rentals $10, adult $15, helmets $10, all for two hours, and skate rentals are free on Saturdays. The Lugicap Ice Perf wheelchair sled is free, first-come. Last winter the ice typically ran 10:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. (later on Friday/Saturday) from late November into early March, weather permitting; the 2026–27 dates were not posted as of 29 August 2026. First-timers: Saturday for free rentals and DJ Skate Nights, a weekday if you want the lake without the party. Phone (416) 973-4000. Union station plus the 509/510 streetcar.

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No.3

The Bentway figure-eight skate trail under the Gardiner Expressway

Recreation• Fort York / CityPlace

The Bentway Skate Trail

“The architecture skate. Go at night, and this winter it is also an art show.”

— Very Toronto Editors

The Bentway’s 220-metre figure-eight still weaves between Gardiner columns from just east of the Fort York Visitors Centre toward Strachan, at 250 Fort York Boulevard. Winter 2026–27 is the ninth season: Transform the Trail returns with Àdìrẹ on Ice, a Yoruba-textile installation by Odudu Umoessien with Chukwudubem Ukaigwe, launching December 2026 (thebentway.ca). The Bentway describes the trail as a December-through-February destination. Admission has been free in past winters, with on-site rentals and a cashless concession when the container is open — confirm 2026–27 hours and rental prices on thebentway.ca before you go. First-timers: the point is the architecture as much as the ice, so skate at night. 509/511 streetcar or a walk from Fort York. (416) 304-0222.

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No.4

Evergreen Brick Works outdoor skating rink under factory beams

Recreation• Don Valley

Evergreen Brick Works Skating Rink

“The prettiest ice in the city, under the old kiln roof. Weekend public skate; lessons if you want a teacher.”

— Very Toronto Editors

The Brick Works rink sits in Koerner Gardens at 550 Bayview Avenue: ice under the open roof of the old brick factory, ECO CHILL refrigeration, snow on the garden beds. Evergreen’s skating page (closed for summer 2026) treats it as a December-to-early-March outdoor rink, weather dependent. Last season’s free public skate was Saturdays 1:00–6:00 p.m. and Sundays 1:00–5:00 p.m., with longer holiday windows; lessons are ticketed. Skate rentals are a suggested $5; helmets are free and mandatory for children six and under. Shoes, sticks, pucks, strollers, and pets are not allowed on the ice or in Koerner Gardens. First-timers: the Broadview shuttle on market Saturdays beats fighting for paid parking. skating@evergreen.ca, (416) 596-1495. This is a dedicated rink page — the site grounds stay on /places/evergreen-brick-works.

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No.5

Barbara Ann Scott Ice Trail at College Park, Downtown Yonge

Recreation• Downtown Yonge / College Park

Barbara Ann Scott Ice Trail

“The office-tower oval. Bring skates; Fridays in February if you want a DJ.”

— Very Toronto Editors

College Park’s five-metre oval at 420 Yonge Street is named for Canada’s 1948 Olympic champion, a downtown loop between the towers rather than a full pad. Drop-in is free on City outdoor ice (toronto.ca); there are no regular on-site rentals, so bring skates. Washrooms are inside College Park. Downtown Yonge BIA has the 2026–27 opening celebration on Saturday 5 December 2026, 2:00–6:00 p.m., with free skate lending while supplies last (downtownyonge.com/basit2025/). Skates & Sounds — DJ Friday nights on this ice — is posted for February 2027, 4:00–8:00 p.m., with free rentals those nights. Last season the trail typically ran daily into March, weather permitting. First-timers: College station, own skates, and a weekday lunch hour if you work nearby. 311 for ice status.

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No.6

Colonel Samuel Smith Park refrigerated skating trail in Etobicoke

Recreation• New Toronto / Etobicoke

Colonel Samuel Smith Park Skating Trail

“Cottage-country ice without leaving the city. Bring skates and a thermos; no rental kiosk.”

— Very Toronto Editors

Colonel Sam Smith is Toronto’s original refrigerated skating trail: a 250-metre figure-eight through shoreline woods in Etobicoke, next to the Power House Recreation Centre at 65 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Road. City drop-in leisure skate is free; there are typically no on-site rentals, so come with your own. The Power House has been the heated change-room play in past winters. Outdoor artificial ice citywide usually opens late November and closes in March; as of 29 August 2026 the trail is closed for the season (toronto.ca Drop-in Skating). First-timers: this is the anti-NPS skate — quieter, lakeside, and you will be sorry without a thermos. Tatsu’s Bread on Lake Shore is the post-skate bakery (closed Sundays). 311, or (416) 392-9715 for the park complex.

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No.7

Mel Lastman Square civic plaza in North York, Toronto

Recreation• North York Centre

Mel Lastman Square Rink

“North York’s downtown skate. Subway-level convenient; bring skates unless a rental hut is posted.”

— Very Toronto Editors

Mel Lastman Square is North York’s civic pool that becomes a rink: 5100 Yonge Street, Civic Centre plaza, North York Centre station at the door. City drop-in leisure skate is free. Third-party rentals have operated on site in past winters — confirm on mlsquare.ca or the City map before you show up without skates. Evening lighting and a Zamboni keep it a real neighbourhood destination rather than a leftover pad. Outdoor rinks typically run late November to March; closed for summer as of August 2026. First-timers: weekday evenings beat the weekend family crush, and Yonge Street is the après-skate strip (the square itself has no permanent food stall). (416) 395-7584 or 311.

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No.8

High Park outdoor skating rink in west-end Toronto

Recreation• High Park

High Park Skating Rink

“The west-end neighbourhood pad. Bring skates; the pond is not the rink.”

— Very Toronto Editors

High Park’s rink is the winter conversion of the north-side tennis courts, near the outdoor pool at 1873 Bloor Street West — a double-pad City artificial ice surface, not Grenadier Pond (the City forbids skating on open water). Drop-in leisure skate is free; there are no on-site rentals, so sharpen before you come. Change-room benches fill after school. Typical outdoor season is late November to March; closed for summer as of August 2026 (toronto.ca). First-timers: High Park or Keele station, weekday mornings for ice that has been flooded, and Bloor West Village for the hot chocolate after. Do not treat the pond as a backup rink. (416) 392-7807 or 311.

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No.9

Dufferin Grove Park in west-end Toronto, home of the community rink

Recreation• Dufferin Grove

Dufferin Grove Park Rink

“The classic park rink. One pad to cruise, one to play shinny — bring your own steel.”

— Very Toronto Editors

Dufferin Grove is the west-end community rink people mean when they say “the park rink”: 875 Dufferin Street, across from Dufferin Mall, two pads that have long split pleasure skating and shinny. City drop-in leisure skate and shinny are free; helmets are required for shinny. There is usually no rental kiosk — the Desjardins Skate Lending Library van visits select outdoor rinks through the season (toronto.ca), but do not count on it being here the hour you arrive. Typical season late November to March; closed for summer 2026. First-timers: Dufferin station, mall parking if you must drive, and the park’s own snack-bar culture when it is running. 311.

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No.10

Trinity Bellwoods Park in west-end Toronto

Recreation• Trinity Bellwoods / Queen West

Trinity Bellwoods Park Rink

“Queen West’s park pad. No rentals, no TORONTO sign — just the neighbourhood on ice.”

— Very Toronto Editors

Trinity Bellwoods’ outdoor pad is the Queen West neighbourhood rink at 790 Queen Street West: leisure skate and shinny on City artificial ice, free drop-in, no tourist lighting. Typical season late November to March; closed for summer as of August 2026. There are no on-site rentals. First-timers: 501 Queen or Osgoode plus a walk, weekday evenings if you live nearby, and do not expect Nathan Phillips Square polish — this is a park pad next to the dog bowl and the lawn. Helmets for kids six and under on leisure skate; shinny needs a CSA hockey helmet. 311.

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No.11

Christie Pits Park in winter, Toronto

Recreation• Christie Pits / Seaton Village

Christie Pits Park Rink

“The Bloor-and-Christie pad. Subway-close, no rentals, hill for the non-skaters.”

— Very Toronto Editors

Christie Pits puts a City outdoor rink on the same grounds as Dominico Field and the south-facing hill: 750 Bloor Street West, Christie station. Drop-in leisure skate is free; shinny runs on posted City hours. No on-site rentals. Typical outdoor season late November to March; closed for summer 2026. First-timers: this is the midtown community skate, not a destination trail — come with skates, use the hill as the warming spectacle, and grab Bloor Street after. Kids six and under need a helmet on leisure skate. 311.

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No.12

Withrow Park in Riverdale, Toronto

Recreation• Riverdale

Withrow Park Rink

“Riverdale’s park pad. Saturday is market day — skate a weekday if you want room.”

— Very Toronto Editors

Withrow’s rink is the Riverdale neighbourhood pad at 725 Logan Avenue: City artificial ice in the same park as the Saturday farmers market, free drop-in leisure and shinny on posted hours. Typical season late November to March; closed for summer 2026. No on-site rentals. First-timers: 505 Dundas or a walk from Pape, weekday late afternoon if you want ice without the Saturday market spillover, and Danforth or Logan for the post-skate. 311.

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No.13

Kew Gardens in Toronto’s Beaches neighbourhood

Recreation• The Beaches

Kew Gardens Rink

“The Beaches pad. Skate, then walk the boardwalk — not a downtown spectacle.”

— Very Toronto Editors

Kew Gardens’ rink is the Beaches civic pad at 2075 Queen Street East: outdoor City ice beside the gazebo lawn, a short walk from Kew Beach. Drop-in leisure skate is free; bring skates. Typical season late November to March; closed for summer 2026. First-timers: 501 Queen to the Beaches, weekday mornings for quieter ice, and Queen Street East for the cocoa after. This is a neighbourhood rink with a lake nearby, not a refrigerated trail. 311.

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No.14

Ramsden Park in winter, midtown Toronto

Recreation• Summerhill / Yorkville

Ramsden Park Rink

“Yorkville’s park pad. Rosedale station, own skates, no tourist lighting.”

— Very Toronto Editors

Ramsden Park’s rink sits in the drop from Yonge Street toward the ravine at 1020 Yonge Street — Yorkville / Summerhill’s outdoor pad, free City drop-in, no on-site rentals. Typical season late November to March; closed for summer 2026. First-timers: Rosedale or Summerhill station, own skates, and a weekday if you want to avoid the dog-park traffic on the rest of the grounds. 311.

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No.15

Riverdale Park East in Toronto

Recreation• Riverdale

Riverdale Park East Rink

“Skate at the bottom, skyline at the top. The east-end pairing that still works.”

— Very Toronto Editors

Riverdale Park East’s rink is the Broadview-side neighbourhood pad at 550 Broadview Avenue, below the skyline hill. City drop-in leisure skate is free; bring skates. Typical outdoor season late November to March; closed for summer 2026. First-timers: Broadview station, skate first, then walk the hill for the downtown view — that pairing is why this park belongs on a citywide list. 311.

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No.16

Dieppe Park outdoor rink in East York, Toronto

Recreation• East York

Dieppe Park Rink

“East York’s packed community pad. Come for shinny energy, not a skyline photo.”

— Very Toronto Editors

Dieppe Park is East York’s outdoor destination pad at 455 Cosburn Avenue: a busy community rink (leisure plus shinny) that regularly shows up on City opening-week lists. Drop-in is free; bring skates. Typical season late November to March; closed for summer 2026. First-timers: 25 Don Mills or a Cosburn bus, weekday evenings if you want ice, weekend if you want the full neighbourhood scene. (416) 396-2862 or 311.

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