Ice-skating, winter, and Toronto just go hand in hand (in hand). We have an abundance of free, family-friendly skating facilities across the city and skating in Toronto is the best type of fun. Not all rinks are city-run, but the City of Toronto has 50 free outdoor artificial skating rinks (find all public skating rinks), open from late November until March.
Only a few rinks offer rentals, so you will have to bring your own gear in most cases. Exceptions are noted below. CSA-approved hockey helmets are required for kids under age 6.
Following are our favourite outdoor rinks in Toronto for kids and families.
COVID-19 Updates
This year, some of the staple rinks we expect to see in Toronto have been cancelled for the season. The Harbourfront Natrel Rink won’t be opening this year and skating at Grenadier Pond will also be closed for the season. But there are so many more that remain open and ready to host safely skaters.
Leisure skating time slots at city-run outdoor rinks can be reserved in advance online, though some spots are reserved for walk-ins. Arrive on the hour for 45 minutes of skating time.
Greenwood Park
Toronto got its first-ever covered outdoor ice-skating rink, Greenwood Park, in November 2013. That’s right, an outdoor skating rink with a roof over it. That means the Leslieville park is ideal if it rains on the one day you promised you the kids you would take them skating. Experienced rink skaters in your family will also appreciate the novelty of an attached outdoor skating path.
150 Greenwood Ave. (at Gerrard St. E.), TorontoPublic skate daily 9 am–10 pm
Colonel Samuel Smith Park
This is the first rink in the city to offer an ice skating trail (in the a figure of eight). Near a stretch of wooded shoreline at Lake Shore Boulevard and Kipling Avenue, Colonel Samuel Smith Park‘s skating trail doesn’t offer skate rentals, so be sure to bring your own. It does, however, offer an indoor change room and washroom, and an area to the side of the trail for beginners to skate around. The park also has a dog off-leash area.
3145 Lakeshore Blvd. W. (near Kipling Ave.), Etobicoke
Public skate daily 9 am–10 pm
Nathan Phillips Square
Nathan Phillips Square is one of Toronto’s most magical places to skate, especially leading up to Christmas at dusk or after dark. Don’t count out the skating rink at City Hall after the holidays are over, though. The festive decorations might be gone, but so are the Christmas crowds. With the Queen Street subway stop and the Eaton Centre (and its bright new food court with lots of better-than-usual dining options) next door, this skating locale can make for a memorable half-day outing with the kids.
You will need reserve a time slot to skate in advance, so be sure to book your time early.
100 Queen St. W., Toronto
Daily 9 am–10 pm
Skate rentals $10 adults, $5 kids; helmet rentals $5 kids
Dufferin Grove Park
Across the street from Dufferin Mall, Dufferin Grove Park has two modest-sized but welcoming rinks, one dedicated to shinny hockey and one to leisure skating. Another draw is the comfortable, family-friendly rink-house and the Zamboni Café snack bar with yummy light meals. If you can make it there on a Thursday before 7 pm, you can pick up a few groceries at the winter farmer’s market.
875 Dufferin St. (at Bloor St. W.), TorontoSkate times vary by week; see website
Ledbury Park
This long, rectangular skating rink is between Avenue and Bathurst streets, north of Lawrence Avenue. What make Ledbury Park’s rink great are the spaciousness and the relaxed environs, both of which can be in short supply in the city. Plus, parents and guardians not out on the ice can still watch all the action from the floor-to-ceiling windows in the heated change area.
Ledbury Park, 160 Ledbury St., Toronto
Skate times vary by week; see website
Christie Pits Park
Not only is there a great rink to play some hockey or work on your figure skating technique at Christie Pits Park, but there’s also huge hills around the perimeter of the large park that make it a popular spot for tobogganing.
750 Bloor St. W., TorontoSkate times vary by week; see website
High Park
The gorgeous High Park has plenty of wildlife, beautiful gardens and paths, the High Park Zoo and “castle” playground and an artificial rink. But it also has natural skating on Grenadier Pond. Check the ice report to see if it’s safe, and skate on a real pond, just like Canadians did a century ago!
1873 Bloor St. W., TorontoPublic skate daily but artificial rink times vary; check schedule
Rosedale Park
Rosedale Park features a large artificial rink surrounded by a large field with a baseball diamond, a playground, and street parking around the neighbourhood.
20 Scholfield Ave, TorontoPublic skate daily but times vary; check schedule
Albert Campbell Square
Check out the skating rink located between the Scarborough Civic Centre and Scarborough Town Centre. There’s lots of room to practice your skating and play some hockey with friends. The rink opens Saturday December 5, 2020.
150 Borough Dr., ScarboroughPublic skate daily 10 am–9:45 pm
Trinity Bellwoods Park
The main attraction through the winter at the ever-popular Trinity Bellwoods Park is an ice rink. The rink is located on the south of Dundas St. West on Gore Vale Avenue.
Dundas St. W. at Gore Vale Ave.Skate times vary by week; see online schedule
West Mall Rink
Located across the street from the Etobicoke Civic Centre, it has a double padded ice rink with one leisure skate pad and one shinny pad—with lots of space for all levels of skaters to enjoy themselves.
370 The West Mall, EtobicokeSkate times vary; see online schedule
Rinks Set To Open This Year
Evergreen Brick Works
With plans to still open this season when gathering limits increase in the city, The Brick Works skating rink opening is currently on hold.
The Brick Works have quickly become a beloved destination for Torontonians with children. While summer brings a delight of sunny activities at this community environmental centre accessed from Bayview Avenue, the winter brings fantastic recreational fun here too. The rink is covered by a roof supported by wooden beams from the old brick factory. There are chairs for toddler skaters to borrow to steady themselves as they take baby steps on the ice and a scenic ice trail cooled by eco-friendly technology.
550 Bayview Ave., Toronto
Skate rentals $5, helmet loans free for kids under 18
Skate the Sky
With plans to still open this season when gathering limits increase in the city, Skate the Sky has closed their roof top skating rink until further notice.
Located on the rooftop patio of The Porch, Skate the Sky gives you amazing views of the city as you skate on Power Ice—a synthetic resin that you can skate on just like ice! They have a variety of packages available some that even include food from The Porch menu and they are family friendly as well.
250 Adelaide St. W, Toronto
Skate & helmet rentals $15
