The Best Outdoor Skating Rinks in Toronto, Compared: Nathan Phillips Square, The Bentway, Brick Works and More

Skating season is almost here. The details below come from last winter's listings by Destination Toronto and Curiocity, so confirm opening dates, hours and rental availability for this season before you go.

The icon: Nathan Phillips Square

The rink at 100 Queen St. W. is the classic choice, with the city's official tree and the illuminated TORONTO sign as backdrop. Curiocity notes it opens during the Cavalcade of Lights, is free, and ran until March last season. Expect crowds; it is best for first-time visitors who want the postcard experience.

The art-and-trail pick: The Bentway

Under the Gardiner Expressway at 250 Fort York Blvd., The Bentway offers a 220 m figure-eight trail with murals, installations and light displays, per Destination Toronto. Admission was free last season, with a concession stand and rental hours that varied by weekday, so check the schedule. It suits skaters who want something more atmospheric than a plain oval.

The scenic setting: Evergreen Brick Works

At 550 Bayview Ave., the outdoor rink sits among snow-covered gardens and the exposed beams of a former brick factory. Curiocity says free public skating was offered on select dates through the winter. It is the one to choose for ambience and a weekend outing combined with the market and trails.

The quiet neighbourhood options

Colonel Samuel Smith Park in Etobicoke has a figure-eight trail in a peaceful lakeside setting. Mel Lastman Square at 5100 Yonge St. has a frozen pond rink open daily 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. last season, a good way to skate without going downtown. In the east end, Riverdale Park East offers skyline views, and Greenwood Arena is described as Toronto's first covered outdoor rink with a 215 m trail. Sherbourne Common's Paul Quarrington Rink is often quiet and has skyline views, and Christie Pits' Sid Smith rink is a short walk from Koreatown food.

The one with an energy story: College Park

The Barbara Ann Scott Ice Trail at 420 Yonge St. is a 5 m-wide loop that Destination Toronto describes as the first exterior skating path in North America with a refrigeration system producing no net greenhouse gas emissions. It is lit up at night.

Other free options

Ice skating at The Well was free with a booking recommended, and skate rentals there supported the Out of the Cold program. Hangar Skate at 34 Hanover Rd. in the former Downsview Airport lands also offered free admission.

How to choose

Go to Nathan Phillips Square for the iconic backdrop, The Bentway for art and lights, Brick Works for scenery, and Mel Lastman Square or Colonel Samuel Smith Park to avoid downtown crowds. Weekday evenings are quieter than weekends everywhere, and bring your own skates if you want to skip rental lines.