Outdoor Skating in Oakville, Burlington & Hamilton

Looking for some Winter fun?

We're showcasing some of Oakville, Burlington + Hamilton's best outdoor skating options!

Welcome to Princess Point - a part of the Royal Botanical Gardens!

In the summer this is a shallow wetlands home to many amazing animals & flora, but come winter, the water freezes over creating an expanse of ice to explore!

The RBG takes it a step further creating an experience unlike any other… To keep the fun going longer, they’ve brought in lights, a fire pit & teamed up with a local brewery to create the ultimate winter wonderland experience! 


To check the safety of the ice or for event details,

visit the Royal Botanical Gardens website. 

Bonus, PARKING IS FREE for RBG members!

Fun Fact - Princess Point has some of the BEST sunset views in Hamilton!

We did cover the 5 Best Sunset Locations in Hamilton if you'd like to see some of the others 😍

 Now the other side of McQueston Bridge is home to Carroll’s Bay Marsh in Burlington,

just below the Royal Botanical’s Laking Garden.

This side is a bit more protected as the bay is surrounded on 3 sides by the high slopes. Adults & kids alike love this location for watching trains as the tracks run parallel.



Bring your net for an open ice game of hockey, or your own skating assist for novice skaters.

Heading back into Hamilton, Pier 8 is an iconic location in the city!

Known for year round fun, in the Summer this rink is for skating on wheels, but come winter & the ice freezing, it becomes an amazing place to enjoy a waterfront skate.

With the facilities on the pier (like washrooms, coffee, some food, etc) & skate rentals on site, this is a great option if some people in your group aren’t overly interested in skating, but would rather hang out & watch. 

Downtown Burlington has something similar with the Rotary Pond in Spencer Smith Park.

In this case, it’s a hobby pool in the summer, but come winter, it’s another waterfront skating opportunity! With rentals, assists to help new skaters & a low edge all the way around to take a break whenever you need, this is a great spot to get skating!

Warm up inside or make it a date with a meal in picturesque downtown!

In Waterdown (one of Hamilton's many communities) there is a different kind of skating experience - the Waterdown Loop at Memorial Park in the heart of the community is a winter gem.

Opening in 2016, this 230m or 755ft loop has a beautiful shape & is maintained ice, so again that smooth surface to skate across. There are also great hills here for some tobogganing fun as well!

On top of the escarpment, Valens Conservation Area in Flamborough (a Hamilton community) is home to a lake perfect for another outdoor option!

Valens Lake is around 140 acres & was created in 1968 to help prevent flooding in the surrounding watershed & has become a local favourite for camping, fishing, swimming, hiking & more.

Today we’re not talking about winter camping though… we’re talking about skating on the beautiful frozen lake.

Bring your skates, a net & sticks if you'd like as well as any skating assists your novice skaters might need.

To find out if it’s safe to skate, check out the Hamilton Conservation Authority website. 

Oakville is home to a few neighbourhood rinks run by local volunteers (as are the other cities), but if you're on the hunt for an outdoor rink that is maintained, Trafalgar Park Recreation Centre has what you're looking for! 

 So grab your skates, any assists your novice skater needs & head to the community centre at the corner of Kerr & Rebecca to enjoy the manicured ice!

Just over a quarter acre in size, the Bernie Morelli Recreation Center has all the fun of skating outdoors with the convenience of being easily accessible in Hamilton’s east end.



Heading a bit further east into Stoney Creek - known for their marina, long beach & easy access to Lake Ontario, Fifty Point Conservation Area also offers outdoor skating when the ice freezes on the pond! 

Binbrook Conservation Area just outside of Hamilton’s community of Binbrook is another reservoir built to help prevent flooding down at the base of the escarpment.

It makes for great swimming in the summer & of course, skating in the winter!

Heading over to Dundas for our last spot of the day - Dundas Driving Park is rich with history since the town’s founding in 1847.

With fields, playground, lawn bowling, tennis & more, it’s a hub of summer fun.

But come the colder months, it’s the skating rink that brings people together!

There is also a city authorized tobogganing hill here, so you could make a full day of fun in one stop.

If you have any questions about the area or are thinking about a move - please don't hesitate to reach out!