Published 30 October 2026 · By Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty
My top five outdoor skating spots in Etobicoke are the Colonel Samuel Smith Park figure-eight skate trail (3145 Lake Shore Blvd. W.), Queensway Park’s rink and skate trail (8 Avon Park Dr.), the rink in West Deane Park’s Mimico Creek ravine (400 Martin Grove Rd.), lakeside Prince of Wales Park (1 Third St.) and Humber Valley Park (54 Anglesey Blvd.). City rinks typically open in late November, and drop-in skating is free. The order is my judgement, not an official ranking.
How I chose these five
Every pick on this list is a City of Toronto outdoor artificial ice rink or skating trail in Etobicoke, taken from the City’s own park listings. I left out private rinks, condo rinks and natural ice rinks, because their seasons depend on volunteers and the weather.
I weighted three things: what makes the ice different (a trail, a waterfront setting, a ravine park), how much else the park offers families the rest of the year, and how easy it is to reach from the residential streets around it. I also tried to spread the picks across south, central and north-central Etobicoke so most buyers have one within a short drive.
On timing, the City says outdoor artificial ice rinks typically open in late November and close for the season in March. The City had not posted 2026–27 opening dates for individual rinks when I checked on 30 October 2026, so treat any date as provisional until the rink’s page shows drop-in times. Last season the City said most of its more than 50 outdoor rinks and trails were scheduled to open by Saturday, 6 December 2025, and its free Skate Lending Library van starts visiting rinks on 20 November 2026.
1. Colonel Samuel Smith Park Skate Trail
What it offers
This is the one most people outside Etobicoke have heard of. The City describes it as the city’s first ice skating trail, laid out in a figure-eight, inside a park on a wooded stretch of shoreline in the Kipling and Lakeshore area.
A trail skates differently from a rink. There are no boards and no hockey nets, so it suits families, new skaters and anyone who wants a loop rather than laps. The park around it has a network of paths and an unfenced dogs off-leash area, so it works as a full winter outing.
What it means for buyers and renters
For buyers comparing south Etobicoke streets, this trail is a real lifestyle anchor. Living within walking distance means you can skate on a weeknight without loading the car, which matters more than it sounds once you have young kids.
It is also a regional draw, so expect more weekend traffic and parking pressure on the streets closest to the park than on quieter blocks further away. If you are viewing a home nearby, drive past on a winter Saturday afternoon.
Practical notes
- Address: 3145 Lake Shore Blvd. W. The trail sits next to the Power House Recreation Centre, 65 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Dr.
- Hours: the City’s park page says to check its Drop-In Programs tab for winter rink hours.
- Cost: drop-in skating at outdoor artificial rinks is free. Skate rentals are only offered at Nathan Phillips Square, so bring skates or catch the lending van, which lends skates, helmets and skating aids with no reservation.
2. Queensway Park
What it offers
Queensway Park is a neighbourhood park that lists both an outdoor rink and a skate trail in the City’s facility inventory. The City describes it as a 3.1-hectare park near Royal York Road and The Queensway.
The same listing includes a change room facility, washroom facility, parking lot, playground, lit ball diamonds and tennis and pickleball courts. That mix means the park is busy in every season, not only in winter.
What it means for buyers and renters
Having a rink and a trail side by side is useful for mixed-age families. Older kids can play shinny while younger ones stay on the trail, and nobody needs to drive to a second location.
The park sits close to the Queensway retail corridor, so it suits buyers who want a walkable neighbourhood park without giving up quick access to shopping. Check how close a listing is to the park entrance rather than the park boundary, since that is what decides whether you will actually walk.
Practical notes
- Address: 8 Avon Park Dr.
- Facilities listed by the City: outdoor rink, skate trail, change room facility, washroom facility, parking lot.
- Hours: posted under drop-in programs on the City’s location page once the season starts.
3. West Deane Park (Martin Grove Road)
What it offers
West Deane Park is the big-park option on this list. The City describes it as a 54.8-hectare park near Martin Grove Road and Rathburn Road that follows the Mimico Creek ravine from Eglinton Avenue West south to Rathburn Road.
The West Deane Artificial Ice Rink is inside the park, along with two ball diamonds, four tennis courts, three playgrounds, allotment gardens, a picnic area and the West Deane Outdoor Pool at 19 Sedgebrook Cres. Paths connect the ravine to the surrounding neighbourhoods.
What it means for buyers and renters
This is the pick for families who want a rink, a pool and a ravine trail system all in one place. A home that backs onto or walks into the ravine path network gives you a year-round amenity, not just a winter one.
If you are looking at ravine-adjacent lots, ask about Toronto and Region Conservation Authority regulated areas before you plan an addition or a pool. That check belongs in any offer conditions on a ravine property.
Practical notes
- Address: 400 Martin Grove Rd.
- Hours: the City’s park page says to check the Drop-In Programs tab for outdoor rink hours in winter.
- Cost: free drop-in leisure skating. The City says sledges for people with disabilities can be booked 10 days ahead through its Adapted and Inclusive Recreation hotline at 416-395-6128, and wheelchairs can be used on the ice during leisure skates after checking in with staff.
4. Prince of Wales Park
What it offers
Prince of Wales Park is the waterfront rink. The City says the park offers year-round views of the Toronto skyline and that its outdoor ice rink is a popular neighbourhood spot for a leisure skate or a pickup game of hockey.
In the warmer months the same park has tennis and pickleball courts, a children’s playground and a wading pool. It is a small, local park rather than a destination, and that is part of its appeal.
What it means for buyers and renters
For buyers looking at the older blocks of south Etobicoke near the lake, a rink like this is the sort of everyday amenity that shapes a street’s character. Kids who can walk to a rink tend to use it.
Because it is described as a neighbourhood spot, expect a more local crowd and more pickup hockey than a destination trail. If you want quieter public skates, look at the drop-in schedule for leisure-only time slots before assuming the ice suits you.
Practical notes
- Address: 1 Third St.
- Ward: Etobicoke-Lakeshore.
- Hours: check the City’s location page for drop-in times once the 2026–27 season opens.
5. Humber Valley Park
What it offers
Humber Valley Park is a compact neighbourhood park with a winter rink. The City describes it as a 3.2-hectare park near Islington Avenue and Rathburn Road with a children’s playground and four lit tennis courts, and an outdoor ice rink in winter.
The City’s facility list for the park also includes outdoor fitness equipment, pickleball courts, a parking lot and a washroom facility. It is a practical, everyday rink rather than a showpiece.
What it means for buyers and renters
This pick suits buyers in central Etobicoke who want a rink close to home rather than a drive to the lake. A rink you can reach in five minutes gets used far more often than a better one twenty minutes away.
When you view homes in this part of Etobicoke, map the walk to the park, not just the distance. Crossing a major road with skates and small children is a different trip from a walk along residential streets.
Practical notes
- Address: 54 Anglesey Blvd.
- Ward: Etobicoke Centre.
- Hours: posted on the City’s location page under drop-in programs during the season.
The five at a glance
| Rink | Address | Type of ice | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colonel Samuel Smith Park | 3145 Lake Shore Blvd. W. | Figure-eight skate trail | Families and new skaters |
| Queensway Park | 8 Avon Park Dr. | Outdoor rink and skate trail | Mixed-age families |
| West Deane Park | 400 Martin Grove Rd. | Outdoor artificial rink | A rink inside a large ravine park |
| Prince of Wales Park | 1 Third St. | Outdoor rink | Lakeside neighbourhood skating and shinny |
| Humber Valley Park | 54 Anglesey Blvd. | Outdoor rink | Central Etobicoke, close-to-home skating |
What this means if you’re buying or selling in Etobicoke
Outdoor rinks are a small line item in a home search, but they say a lot about how a neighbourhood lives in winter. A street within walking distance of a City rink gives families a free, weekly routine from roughly December to March.
In south Etobicoke, Colonel Samuel Smith Park and Prince of Wales Park are the lake-side anchors. Further north, Queensway Park, Humber Valley Park and West Deane Park serve the streets around Royal York and The Queensway, Islington and Rathburn, and Martin Grove and Rathburn. When you short-list homes, plot each one against the nearest rink and check the actual walking route.
If you are selling a home near one of these parks, mention the rink in your listing description and photograph the park in winter if you can. Buyers with children often search by amenity, and a rink within a few minutes’ walk is a concrete, checkable selling point.
Before you rely on any rink, confirm on the City’s location page that it is operating this season, since rinks can close for repairs or weather. The City posts rink status and closures on its service alerts page.
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Frequently asked questions
When do outdoor rinks open in Etobicoke for 2026–27?
The City of Toronto says outdoor artificial ice rinks typically open in late November and close in March. It had not posted 2026–27 dates for individual rinks as of 30 October 2026. Last season, the City said most rinks were scheduled to open by 6 December 2025. Check each rink’s City location page for drop-in times.
Is skating at City of Toronto outdoor rinks free?
Yes. The City says all drop-in programs at indoor rinks and outdoor artificial ice rinks are free. Some permits for rink time carry a fee, but leisure skating does not. Skate rentals are only offered at Nathan Phillips Square, so bring your own skates or use the free Skate Lending Library.
Where is the figure-eight skating trail in Etobicoke?
It is in Colonel Samuel Smith Park, 3145 Lake Shore Blvd. W., in the Kipling and Lakeshore area. The City describes it as the city’s first ice skating trail, laid out in a figure-eight, next to the Power House Recreation Centre at 65 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Dr.
Can I borrow skates for free in Toronto this winter?
Yes. The City’s Skate Lending Library lends skates, helmets and skating aids free for all ages with no reservation. For 2026–27, the City says its van will begin visiting rinks on 20 November 2026, with the full stop schedule to be posted on its Skate Lending Library page.
Which Etobicoke park has both a rink and a skate trail?
Queensway Park, at 8 Avon Park Dr. near Royal York Road and The Queensway, lists both an outdoor rink and a skate trail in the City’s facility inventory, along with a change room facility, washrooms, a parking lot and a playground.
Sources
- Public Leisure Skating — City of Toronto
- Skate Lending Library — City of Toronto
- City of Toronto kicks off the winter season as it begins to open outdoor ice rinks (29 Nov 2025) — City of Toronto
- Colonel Samuel Smith Park — City of Toronto
- Queensway Park — City of Toronto
- West Deane Park — City of Toronto
- Prince of Wales Park — City of Toronto
- Humber Valley Park — City of Toronto
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About the author — Jatin Dua, Toronto and GTA real estate broker
I am Jatin Dua, Broker of Record and co-founder of RE/MAX Quantum Realty Inc., Brokerage, Unit 101, 799 The Queensway, Toronto. I work with buyers and sellers across Toronto and the GTA and have helped more than 100 families sell. Four-plus years of active GTA transactions and over $100 million in sales volume. Every figure here comes from a published table, regulator or statute linked in the sources, so you can check all of it without asking me.
Reach me at [email protected] or 833-330-1925, or book a call.