Logbook entry № 7 · Duncan Macleod
The covered SkyWalk, the UP Express, and the baggage line
First noted
A practical route from Union Station and Pearson to the base of the tower, with notes on the security check, strollers, and the SkyWalk’s covered corridor.
Most visitors reach the base of the tower on foot through the covered SkyWalk from Union Station. The route avoids traffic lights, keeps you out of the weather, and passes through the Air Canada Centre concourse with its posted schedules of game-day crowds. The walk from the Union concourse to the ticket hall takes between ten and fifteen minutes at an unhurried pace. If you have a child in a stroller, the SkyWalk is the easier of the two main approaches because its ramps replace the staircases at the Front Street exit.
From the airport the most direct route is the UP Express train. The train leaves Pearson on a frequent cycle, runs non-stop to Union Station, and deposits you inside the Union concourse within easy reach of the SkyWalk entrance. Buy a return ticket at the Pearson terminal and keep the receipt. The train is slightly more expensive than the subway chain from Kipling, but the time saved on a single trip usually justifies it for a visitor with luggage.
If you arrive by subway, use the Union station exit and follow the SkyWalk signs through the main concourse. From Queen Station on the Yonge line there is a reasonable walk down John Street, but you lose the covered corridor and in winter that is a measurable difference.
At the base of the tower there is a security check for bags. The queue moves briskly except on Saturday afternoons and on the days when a game is scheduled next door. Reduce the number of bags you carry. If you have a stroller, staff will direct you to a separate lane where the chassis can be opened and checked without disassembly. Keep passports, tickets, and any folded printouts in a jacket pocket rather than at the bottom of a backpack.
Dress code is simple. Shoulders and knees covered is a good baseline. Comfortable shoes matter more than formal clothes; the floors at the base are stone, and you will probably stand for a longer total time than you expect. If you plan to use the outdoor terrace, bring a light jacket even in summer. The wind at 356 metres is almost always stronger than the wind on the pavement at Union Station.
A note about audio guides. The staff offer a short audio guide in multiple languages. It is useful for a first visit, less useful for a return. If you choose to use it, download the application on reliable Wi-Fi before you leave your hotel. Mobile data in a crowded lobby can be slow. Bring compact earphones. The lobby acoustics are not kind to open speakers, and other visitors appreciate the courtesy.
If you plan to eat at the revolving dining floor, your approach is slightly different. The dining entrance has its own queue line and your name on the reservation list is checked before you reach the general lift lobby. Arrive ten minutes early rather than exactly on time; the lifts tend to run on a deliberately spaced schedule at peak hours and a slightly early arrival avoids the risk of losing a dinner slot. If you have arrived by UP Express and the train was delayed, call the dining room from Union Station rather than running down the SkyWalk; the staff can usually hold the table a few minutes if they know in advance.
— D.M.