Published 2 November 2026 · By Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty
My top five outdoor skating spots in Vaughan and Markham are the Markham Civic Centre rink, Cortellucci Square in the VMC, the Carrville Skate Trail, The Sports Village trail in Concord and the Markham Museum rink. All are free. The Civic Centre rink runs 30 November 2026 to 14 March 2027.
This guide is for families in Vaughan and Markham, and for anyone thinking of moving to York Region, who wants to know where to skate outdoors this winter. You will get five outdoor rinks and skating trails, what each is like, the 2026–27 dates and hours the cities have posted so far, what it costs, and what homes nearby sell for.
How did I choose these five rinks in Vaughan and Markham?
I only used rinks and trails that the City of Vaughan or the City of Markham lists and maintains. I left out private rinks, condo rinks and ponds. Both cities warn residents to stay off ponds and stormwater ponds, because moving water keeps the ice thin and unpredictable.
I picked a mix: Markham’s one refrigerated outdoor rink, three of Vaughan’s newer skating loops and trails, and one of Markham’s park rinks. The order is my judgement, not an official ranking.
Timing is different in each city. Markham has posted its Civic Centre rink season as 30 November 2026 to 14 March 2027. Vaughan’s outdoor rinks open daily from December to March, weather permitting, so check the City’s skating page for this season’s start. Last winter Vaughan listed nine free outdoor rinks and trails.
1. Markham Civic Centre Outdoor Ice Rink
What it’s like
This is the rink behind Markham’s city hall at 101 Town Centre Blvd. It has an artificial refrigeration system that cools the concrete under the ice, so it holds up better than park rinks in mild spells. The City says the 2026–27 season runs from Monday, 30 November 2026 to Sunday, 14 March 2027, weather permitting.
Who it suits
It suits families and casual skaters. The rules are strict on purpose: no sticks or pucks, no figure skating, forward skating only and everyone moving in one direction. That makes it calmer for small children than a shinny rink.
What it costs
Admission is free. Skate rentals by a private operator start on 4 December, on Thursdays and Fridays from 5 to 10 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The City does not list rental prices, so check on site.
What to check
Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. most days and noon to 10 p.m. on Wednesdays. It closes on 25 December and closes early, at 4 p.m., on 24 December. To get to the ice, walk around the north-east side of the Civic Centre and take the stairs or pathway down. There is no access through the building.
2. Cortellucci Square skating loop, Vaughan Metropolitan Centre
What it’s like
Cortellucci Square, at 300 Maplecrete Rd., is the renamed Edgeley Park. The City describes it as the first public park to open in the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre. It has a winter skating loop, a pavilion with accessible washrooms, a community room and a Zamboni garage, plus a splash pad and playgrounds for summer.
Who it suits
This is the skating spot for the condo towers growing around the subway terminus. If you live in or are buying in the VMC, it is likely the closest outdoor ice to your door.
What it costs
Free. Vaughan’s outdoor rinks are unsupervised unless a supervised time is posted on the City’s skate schedule.
What to check
Last season the City listed Cortellucci Square as open daily until 11 p.m., with a maintenance closure on Wednesdays from 8 to 10 a.m. Confirm 2026–27 times on vaughan.ca before you go.
3. Carrville Skate Trail
What it’s like
The Carrville trail is a 600-foot outdoor loop behind the Carrville Community Centre at 655 Thomas Cook Ave. It opened in February 2025, and the City says washrooms and change rooms are available to skaters.
Who it suits
A loop is the friendliest shape for beginners and parents pushing a nervous child along. It suits families in the surrounding subdivisions who want a short drive or walk rather than a trip to a bigger rink.
What it costs
Free.
What to check
Last season it was open daily until 11 p.m., weather permitting, with a maintenance closure on Thursdays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The City also warns that temperature, wind, ice thickness and rain or snow can cause unplanned closures.
Instant Home Valuation
What’s your home
worth today?
Answer six quick questions and get an instant value range built from current Toronto & GTA sale data — property type, size, condition, lot and location all weighted the way a real pricing conversation weighs them. Takes about ninety seconds.
Reading recent GTA sale data…
Building your estimate
Estimated market value
—
$0–$0
Most likely value $0 · roughly $0 per square foot
What moved the number
Starting from the area baseline for your property type, here’s what each answer added or subtracted.
Market context
Recent local averages for comparison.
—
A range is a starting point.
A strategy is what sells.
This model doesn’t know that your neighbour’s identical semi went $80,000 over asking last month, or which two upgrades actually pay back in your area. That conversation is free and takes twenty minutes.
4. The Sports Village skating trail, Concord
What it’s like
The Sports Village at 2600 Rutherford Rd. in Concord added an outdoor skating trail in February 2023, built with funding from the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The City lists it among its free outdoor rinks.
Who it suits
It works for families in west and central Vaughan and for anyone who wants to pair a skate with other activities at the complex.
What it costs
Free to skate.
What to check
Last season Vaughan said most of its outdoor rinks close at 11 p.m. Like every outdoor trail, it depends on the weather, so check the City’s status updates after a thaw.
5. Markham Museum outdoor rink
What it’s like
Markham builds and maintains natural, unrefrigerated rinks in five parks: Victoria Square Park, Markham Museum, Milne Dam, Milliken Mills Park and Huntington Park. The museum rink at 9350 Markham Rd. is the one I suggest for a family outing, because you can pair it with the museum grounds.
Who it suits
It suits families in north and east Markham. The City splits the day between pick-up hockey and recreational skating, so check which block you are arriving in.
What it costs
Free. There are no rentals at park rinks.
What to check
These rinks depend completely on cold weather. Markham uses a flag system at each park rink to show when the ice is safe. The Museum and Milne Dam rinks close at dusk, with recreational skating from 10 a.m. to noon and from 2 p.m. to sundown on the posted schedule.
How do these Vaughan and Markham rinks compare?
| Rink | Address | Type | Cost | Hours or season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Markham Civic Centre | 101 Town Centre Blvd., Markham | Refrigerated rink | Free; rentals on site | 30 Nov 2026 to 14 Mar 2027 |
| Cortellucci Square | 300 Maplecrete Rd., Vaughan | Skating loop | Free | Daily to 11 p.m. last season |
| Carrville Skate Trail | 655 Thomas Cook Ave., Vaughan | 600-foot loop | Free | Daily to 11 p.m. last season |
| The Sports Village trail | 2600 Rutherford Rd., Concord | Skating trail | Free | Most Vaughan rinks close 11 p.m. |
| Markham Museum rink | 9350 Markham Rd., Markham | Natural park rink | Free | Weather dependent; closes at dusk |
Source: City of Markham public skating page and news releases; City of Vaughan news releases (Feb 2023, Feb 2025, Dec 2025) and park event page. Checked 10 Nov 2026.
If the weather turns, both cities run indoor public skates. Markham’s drop-in arena fees from 1 September 2026 are $3.10 for children aged 4 to 15 and $5.17 for adults, plus HST, and children three and under skate free.
What do homes cost in Vaughan and Markham in 2027?
A free rink nearby is a small perk, but it adds to the case for family streets in both cities. Here is where prices stand. These are city-wide medians, not prices for the homes next to any rink.
| Home type | Vaughan median, Jan–Oct 2026 | Change vs 2025 | Markham median, Jan–Oct 2026 | Change vs 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detached | $1,415,000 | -5.0% | $1,420,000 | -6.5% |
| Semi-detached | $1,040,000 | -9.2% | $1,025,000 | -12.2% |
| Freehold townhouse | $1,014,500 | -9.3% | $999,990 | -10.9% |
| Condo townhouse | $768,000 | -6.1% | $750,000 | -9.1% |
| Condo apartment | $530,000 | -10.9% | $558,000 | -13.2% |
Source: TRREB MLS data via REALM, January–October 2026 vs the same period of 2025. Median sold prices, municipality level.
Detached homes in both cities sold in about a month on average this year, at 30 days in Vaughan and 29 in Markham. Condo apartments took longer, at 42 and 39 days. For a closer look at how the two cities stack up, read my Vaughan vs Markham comparison for 2027. If the VMC appeals, my VMC condo buildings guide covers the towers around Cortellucci Square.
In the suburbs, a rink rarely sets the price of a house, but the walk to it says a lot about the street. A home on a crescent that connects by path to a park rink or a community centre usually feels more like a neighbourhood than one that backs onto a busy road. When you tour homes in winter, drive to the nearest rink and see who is using it. For a fuller picture of family areas, see my lists of the best neighbourhoods in Markham and the best neighbourhoods in Vaughan.
Is it safe to skate on ponds in Vaughan and Markham?
No. Markham says moving water in its ponds, stormwater ponds and waterways causes thin ice that can crack, and it tells residents to stay off. Stormwater ponds are designed to take in rain and snowmelt all year, so the ice is never reliable, even after a cold week.
Many new subdivisions in both cities are built around stormwater ponds that look like perfect skating spots in January. They are not. If you buy a home that backs onto one, teach your children early that the pond is off-limits in winter and use a City rink instead.
What to do next
- Bookmark Markham’s rink status and Vaughan’s skating page, and check them after any thaw or heavy snow.
- Plan a Civic Centre skate on a Thursday, Friday or weekend from 4 December if your family needs rentals.
- Pack helmets. Markham strongly recommends helmets and gloves for all skaters at the Civic Centre.
- If you are house hunting in York Region, visit the nearest rink on a winter weekend to see how the area lives.
- If you need to sell first, try the free estimator above for a starting number, then book a call with me.
Need help with this? Talk to me.
I’m Jatin Dua, Broker of Record at RE/MAX Quantum Realty, and I’m the best agent to do this kind of work for you in Toronto and across the GTA. Over $100 million in GTA sales and 100+ families helped sell. Feel free to contact me any time: call or text 833-330-1925 or email [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
Where can I skate outdoors in Vaughan?
Last season, Vaughan listed free outdoor rinks and trails at nine locations, including Cortellucci Square in the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, the Carrville Skate Trail at 655 Thomas Cook Ave. and The Sports Village trail at 2600 Rutherford Rd. They open daily from December to March, weather permitting. Check vaughan.ca for 2026–27 start dates and maintenance closures.
When does the Markham Civic Centre rink open for 2026–27?
The Markham Civic Centre outdoor rink opens on Monday, 30 November 2026 and runs to Sunday, 14 March 2027, weather and ice conditions permitting. It is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. most days and noon to 10 p.m. on Wednesdays. Admission is free, and rentals start on site on 4 December.
Is outdoor skating free in Markham and Vaughan?
Yes. Skating at the Markham Civic Centre rink, Markham’s park rinks and Vaughan’s outdoor rinks and trails is free in the 2026–27 season. You pay only for skate rentals where they exist, such as at the Markham Civic Centre. Indoor public skates in Markham cost $5.17 for adults and $3.10 for children aged 4 to 15, plus HST.
Is there a skating trail in York Region?
Yes. Vaughan has several skating trails and loops, including the 600-foot Carrville Skate Trail at 655 Thomas Cook Ave., the Cortellucci Square skating loop in the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre and The Sports Village trail in Concord. All are free and open in winter, weather permitting. Check the City of Vaughan’s skating page for 2026–27 hours.
Can you rent skates at the Markham Civic Centre rink?
Yes. The City of Markham says skate rentals are available on site at the Civic Centre rink from 4 December, run by a private rental company. Rental hours are Thursdays and Fridays from 5 to 10 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The City does not post rental prices, so check on site.
Are hockey sticks allowed at the Markham Civic Centre rink?
No. Hockey sticks and pucks are not allowed at the Markham Civic Centre outdoor rink, and figure skating, tag and backward skating are not permitted either. The rink is for forward recreational skating in one direction. For pick-up hockey in Markham, use the scheduled hockey blocks at the City’s natural park rinks during the 2026–27 season.
Can you skate on stormwater ponds in Vaughan or Markham?
No. Both cities tell residents to stay off ponds and stormwater ponds in winter. Markham says moving water in its ponds and waterways causes thin ice that can crack, even when it looks solid. In 2026–27, use a maintained City rink or skating trail instead, such as the Markham Civic Centre rink or Vaughan’s Carrville trail.
What are the hours of Vaughan’s outdoor rinks?
Last season, Vaughan’s outdoor rinks were open daily until 11 p.m., weather permitting, except Father E. Bulfon, which closed at 10:30 p.m. Each rink also has a weekly maintenance closure, such as Wednesdays from 8 to 10 a.m. at Cortellucci Square. Check vaughan.ca/skate for confirmed 2026–27 hours before you go.
Which Markham parks have outdoor rinks?
Markham builds natural outdoor rinks at Victoria Square Park, Markham Museum, Milne Dam, Milliken Mills Park and Huntington Park, plus the refrigerated rink at the Markham Civic Centre. The park rinks depend on cold weather, and a flag at each site shows when the ice is safe. The Museum and Milne Dam rinks close at dusk.
Sources
- City of Markham: Public Skating, Lessons and Hockey (Civic Centre rink 2026–27)
- City of Markham: Winter pathways and outdoor skating rinks release
- City of Vaughan: Explore Vaughan’s great outdoors this winter (Dec 2025)
- City of Vaughan: Now open, Carrville Skate Trail (Feb 2025)
- City of Vaughan: Official naming ceremony of Cortellucci Square
- City of Vaughan: Vaughan opens new outdoor skating trail (Feb 2023)
- Markham Museum: location and visitor information
Related reading
- Top 5 Best Neighbourhoods to Live in Mississauga in 2027
- Top 5 Best Neighbourhoods to Live in Brampton in 2027
- Top 5 Best Neighbourhoods to Live in Markham in 2027
- Top 5 Best Neighbourhoods to Live in Oakville in 2027
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.
Reach me at [email protected] or 833-330-1925, or book a call.