Experience Hamilton’s Waterfront
Despite what most people see driving on the QEW highway across the sky bridge, Hamilton, Ontario has a waterfront full of activities, events, tours and more!
Still under development, Pier 8, part of Hamilton’s waterfront just east of Bayfront Park has a lot to offer!

Pier 8 Gantry & HMCS Haida

Pier 8 Promenade
Experience Hamilton’s Waterfront at Pier 8
Location:
Pier 8 is part of Hamilton Waterfront Trust whose mission is for everyone to use and enjoy Hamilton’s waterfront. “Connecting You to the Water’s Edge”
Hamilton’s waterfront is located on Lake Ontario and is connected from Princess Point (part of the Royal Botanical Gardens) to Bayfront Park to Pier 4 to Pier 8. Pier 8 is east of Bayfront Park and north of Downtown Hamilton.

Roller Skating beside Theodore Too
Access:
Parking:
- Free parking lot next to the Outdoor Skating Rink and Discovery Center
- Free street parking on the new roads around Pier 8 development.
Public Transit:
- Route 99 Waterfront – runs for free from the end of June through to labour day weekend in September (dates vary year to year)
- Regular HSR (Hamilton Street Railway) service Route 4 and 20 stop beside Pier 8 close to the Outdoor Skating Rink.
- West Harbour GO station is 1.5km away. A 20-minute walk or a 5-minute bus ride on Route 20 or Route 99, just steps away from the GO station.

HRS Route 20 & Waterfront Trolley
Biking:
- Multiple bike racks to lock your bike. Racks are next to Williams Fresh Cafe.
- See below for bike rental options

Bike Racks at Pier 8
Walking:
- Pathways and sidewalks all along the waterfront from Princess Point through Bayfront Park to Pier 8.
Activities:
Outdoor Skating Rink:
- Free!
- Roller skating in the summer and ice skating in the winter
- Roller skates and ice skates are available for rent as well as helmets and safety gear. Rentals during the week from 5pm-10pm and 12pm-10pm on weekends. Closed in the shoulder seasons.
- DJ Skate nights on Friday and Saturday 7pm-11pm in the summertime. Typically a busy night and can be crowded which makes it more difficult for beginners.
Outdoor Roller Rink
Promenade/Copps Pier Park:
- Located on the north side of Pier 8
- Newly built and launched in the summer of 2022
- Accessible walkway along Lake Ontario.
- Playground, sand area, beach lounge chairs, shaded picnic tables along with other forms of seating, and art sculptures.
- There is a water filling station beside the playground but the closest washrooms are in the Williams Fresh Cafe building.

Pier 8 Promenade
Bike Rentals
- SoBi Hamilton bike share. Bike station on Discovery Driver just before you get to the outdoor skating rink or by the Pier 8 yellow gantry.
- Waterfront Wheels – closed for maintenance summer 2022
HMCS Haida National Historic Site:
- Located on the east edge of Pier 8.
- HMCS Haida is the last of 27 Tribal class destroyers in the world
- The ship’s career included World War 11, The Cold War and the Korean War.
- Open from the end of May to June on weekends 10am-5pm and July to Labour day weekend the site is open Wednesdays to Sunday 10am-5pm
- Adult (18+) $4.25, Seniors (65+) $3.75, ages 17 & under are free. Group, seasonal and Canada Discovery Passes pricing is available too

HMCS Haida
Theodore Too:
- Theodore Too is a full real-life version of Theodore Tugboat from the CBC TV show.
- Built and resided in Nova Scotia until 2021 when Hamilton became his home of residence.
- Theodore is an ambassador for Swim Drink Fish and a Great Lakes Guide travelling around the Great Lakes helping connect people to the water.
- Check his schedule to be sure he will be in Hamilton at Pier 8 when you visit. Usually updated on his Instagram account.

Paddled from Bayfront Park to Theodore Too
Events:
Pier 8 Pop-Ups:
- A series of community events presented by the City of Hamilton on the waterfront during the summer.
- Events range from movie nights, markets, local artists and food
- Most events are free but some do have a cover charge.

DJ and Lewis Mallard at a Pier 8 Pop-Up Event
Music on the Waterfront:
- Free at the Waterfront Stage
- Typically Thursday 6:30pm-8:30pm in the summertime
Fishing Derby:
- Free (Ontario Fishing licence required for ages 18-64)
- Typically held in August
Waterfront Festival of Lights:
- Mid-December to mid-February
Check out Hamilton Waterfront & Pier 8 Pop-Ups for more info and schedule of events.
Tours:
Waterfront Trolley:
- Runs from Pier 8 to Princess Point and back
- Runs daily from the end of June to Labour Day weekend & on weekends only from September to Thanksgiving weekend
- 7 different tour departure times
- $10.75 for adult, Seniors (65 +) & Children/Youth (4-17) $6.75
- Ticket office beside Williams Fresh Cafe at Pier 8
- See their website for up-to-date days, times and pricing
Boat:
- 50-minute narrated boat tour of the Hamilton Harbour
- Runs daily from the end of June to Labour Day weekend & on weekends only from September to Thanksgiving weekend
- 6 departure times during the week and 7 on the weekends
- $21 for adult, Seniors (65 +) & Students (4-17) $19 & Children (4-12) $10.50
- Ticket office beside Williams Fresh Cafe at Pier 8
- See their website for up-to-date days, times and pricing
Food & Drink:
Williams Fresh Cafe:
- Open daily 8am-11pm
- Licenced facility
- Large outdoor patio overlooking the water and skating rink

Williams Fresh Cafe & Patio on the water at Pier 8
Waterfront Grill:
- Fast food with a take-out window
- Open daily 11:30am-8pm
- Located beside the skating rink
Waterfront Scoops Ice Cream Parlour:
- Friday & Saturday 12pm-10pm & Sunday to Thursday 12pm-9pm
- Located behind Williams Fresh Cafe
- Outdoor seating available
Tips:
- Washrooms are next to Williams Fresh Cafe
- Want to try roller skating? Go during a weeknight when it’s less busy
- Take a stroll or ride a bike along the waterfront. You can go as far as Princess Point on paths and sidewalks/roads.
- Looking to go for a paddle? See blog posts on Bayfront Park where you can launch boats, kayaks, paddle boards, canoes etc. See Princess Point and Cootes Paradise for other Hamilton area paddling options.
- Bring a picnic and enjoy it on the Promenade “beach” or sit beside the roller rink and watch the skaters.
- Check activity and location websites for up-to-date pricing and time