Best Outdoor Skating Rinks in Toronto for Families
Your Guide to Family-Friendly Outdoor Skating in Toronto
Outdoor skating in Toronto doesn’t have to be a big production. Some rinks feel like a pause — quiet loops, park settings, space for kids to find their rhythm. Others feel more like an event, with skyline views, lights, and music.
This guide splits things into two simple buckets — quiet & nature-forward rinks and “experience” rinks — so you can choose the kind of winter day that fits your kids, your energy, and the weather window you’re working with.
One quick reality check: outdoor rinks in Toronto are always weather-dependent. Opening dates, hours, and ice conditions can change quickly, so be sure to confirm details before you go.
Quiet & Nature-Forward Skating Rinks
Colonel Samuel Smith Skating Trail (Etobicoke)
A winding little trail near the lake that feels surprisingly calm for being in the city.
Trees, open sky, and a gentle loop make it a lovely choice for kids who do best when there’s space to wobble.
This trail uses artificial ice, which means more reliable conditions throughout the winter season.
- Best for: Beginners, younger kids, low-pressure skating
- Skate rentals: Not available — bring your own
- Best time to go: Late morning or early afternoon
- Season window: Longer and more predictable than most outdoor rinks
- Ice surface: Artificial ice (more consistent conditions)
Withrow Park Skating Rink
A classic community rink that keeps things simple. No big lights or special effects — just enough space for kids to practice, fall over, and try again.
- Best for: Younger kids, first-time skaters
- Skate rentals: Not available
- Best time to go: Midday or early evening, especially on school days
- Season window: Variable (depends on cold stretches)
- Ice maintenance: Regularly flooded when conditions allow
Kew Gardens Ice Rink (The Beaches)
A relaxed park rink near the waterfront that feels special without being overwhelming. Ideal for “let’s skate for half an hour and see how it goes.”
- Best for: Casual family skates, mixed ages
- Skate rentals: Not available
- Best time to go: Weekday afternoons or early weekend mornings
- Season window: Short; depends heavily on cold snaps
- Ice maintenance: Flooded as weather permits
Greenwood Outdoor Ice Rink
A tucked-away park rink that doesn’t feel performative — a great place for kids to build confidence without the pressure of crowds.
- Best for: Practice skates, kids who prefer space
- Skate rentals: Not available
- Best time to go: Midday (quieter than peak evening times)
- Season window: Weather-dependent
- Ice maintenance: Flooded and maintained when temperatures allow
Riverdale Park East Skating Rink
When conditions line up, this airy park rink offers a nice blend of neighbourhood calm and “Toronto skyline in the distance” charm.
- Best for: Short, low-pressure skates with school-age kids
- Skate rentals: Not available
- Best time to go: Late morning or early afternoon
- Season window: Short and very weather-dependent
- Ice maintenance: Flooded and maintained when conditions allow
“Experience” Skating Rinks
Nathan Phillips Square
The classic Toronto winter experience: bright lights, City Hall as the backdrop, and that “we’re right in the middle of it” energy. Busy — but memorable.
- Best for: Older kids, confident skaters, first-time visitors
- Skate rentals: Available on-site when open
- Best time to go: Weekday mornings or later evenings (less crowded)
- Season window: Often one of the longer-running outdoor rinks
- Ice maintenance: Regularly flooded and well maintained
The Bentway Skate Trail
A uniquely Toronto skate: a winding trail tucked under the Gardiner Expressway. It’s fun, photo-friendly, and a hit with tweens and teens who like something a little different.
- Best for: Tweens, teens, novelty skates
- Skate rentals: Often available when the trail is operating
- Best time to go: Early evenings or off-peak weekdays
- Season window: Short and condition-specific
- Ice maintenance: Flooded and maintained when temperatures cooperate
Evergreen Brick Works Skating Trail
A gentle loop set against the old brick buildings in the Don Valley, with easy warm-up options nearby. It feels like a tiny winter village and works well for mixed-age families.
- Best for: Mixed ages, beginner-friendly outings
- Skate rentals: Typically available on-site
- Best time to go: Weekday afternoons or earlier weekend mornings
- Season window: Typically mid-winter only
- Ice maintenance: Flooded and maintained as long as temperatures stay low enough
Harbourfront Centre – “Skate by the Lake”
A scenic rink right by the water, with big sky and lake views that make even a short skate feel memorable. Great for pairing with a waterfront walk.
- Best for: Short scenic skates, winter walks
- Skate rentals: Typically available on-site
- Best time to go: Daytime (clear winter days are beautiful here)
- Season window: Varies by year; usually mid- to late winter
- Ice maintenance: Flooded and maintained when weather cooperates
Mel Lastman Square
A lively city-square skate that’s easier to reach for many GTA families than downtown, with a classic “winter outing” feel.
- Best for: All ages; families who like a bit of atmosphere
- Skate rentals: Often available on-site
- Best time to go: Weekday afternoons (lighter crowds)
- Season window: Generally reliable when winter stays cold
- Ice maintenance: Flooded and maintained when open
Planning a Toronto Skate That Actually Feels Doable
With kids, the best skates are usually the shortest ones. Aim for “just enough” time on the ice, build in a warm-up plan (thermos, café, or quick ride home), and treat the outing as a win even if you’re only out for twenty minutes.
- Go earlier: Daytime skates are calmer and easier for beginners
- End on a high note: Stop while spirits are still good
- Have a warm-up plan: Hot drink, indoor stop, or quick exit strategy
- Check conditions: Outdoor ice changes fast — confirm before you drive
Winter Memories that Last
It’s rarely the logistics kids remember. It’s the sound of blades cutting across the ice, the sharp cold in their lungs, music drifting across the rink, and cheeks gone pink from the wind. It’s wobbly legs, mittened hands, and the laughter that comes from almost falling — and not quite.
These skates don’t have to be long or perfect to matter. A short loop, a shared grin, a few minutes longer than planned — those are the moments that quietly settle in. The kind that resurface years later as stories, impressions, and a feeling of being there together in the middle of winter.
This counts. Even if it’s brief. Especially because it is.
Where to Go Next
Looking for more low-pressure ways to say yes to winter? Head back to the hub for cold-weather ideas that work with real life — not perfect plans.
← Back to the Winter Adventures Hub
→ Explore the Adventure Hub
If you’re here because you want these years to feel more grounded, more present, and more remembered, the Main Trail is a good place to wander next.
