Skating is so much fun but even better when you know where to enjoy 5 Awesome Outdoor Skating Rinks in Alberta. These skating rinks are found in Edmonton, Calgary, Lake Louise, and Jasper. They offer different environments depending on what you’re looking for and where you are located. Some sites offer after-skating activities if you feel ambitious. You could go for a walk or sit around a fire cooking hot dogs and roasting marshmallows.
All the skating rinks are free as long as you bring your own pair of skates. If you want to rent skates, find out if the facilities provide rentals or if you’ll need to acquire them elsewhere before arriving at your skating destination. The awesome thing about skating is that you can skate with your partner even if you’re at different skating levels, adjust to the same pace and have fun!
Table of Contents
1. 5 Awesome Outdoor Skating Rinks: Hawrelak Park
Hawrelak Park is currently closed for renovations until 2026. Skating isn’t currently available.
Price
It’s free if you have your own pair of skates. If you need to rent, you can do so on-site.
Hours of Operation
The rink is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Check this site for opening and closure notifications.
Parking
There is a massive free parking lot that is relatively close to the skating area. If you need to carry many items to the skating rink, you might consider bringing a backpack or a sled. Otherwise, you could be making repeated trips back and forth, which isn’t ideal.
Skating
Lacing up your skates can be done inside the building. If you’re looking for fun outdoor date ideas, skating is an excellent choice. Hawrelak Park offers a vast area to skate without bumping into people even if it gets busy, which is awesome! There are various directions you can take to skate. Go around one way and meet your partner on the other side.
Additional Activities
Hawrelak Park offers cross-country skiing tracks on the outskirts of the park. It’s a beginner track that is mostly flat, but it offers some exercise. It’s just nice to be outside sometimes, right? Many picnic sites are set up around the park, available for making fires and cooking hot dogs. Bring marshmallows to roast as well. You and your partner can be kids at heart!
2. Victoria Park
Victoria Park is an awesome place to go skating!
Price
It’s free to skate here as long as you have your own pair of skates. Unfortunately, you can’t rent skates at Victoria Park. You can rent skates at Totem and bring them with you.
Heated Building
There is an indoor heated building for you to lace up your skates and leave your boots while you skate.
Hours of Operation
You can skate on the oval and the parkway from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day of the week. Victoria Park offers lights overlooking the rink if you visit past dusk.
Parking
The parking is free but there are limited spaces. You might need to check a few times.
Tip: If you can’t find parking, I suggest parking at the Victoria Golf Course and walking over. It’s roughly a ten-minute walk and when you’re going skating, what’s a bit more exercise?
Skating
Victoria Park located at 12030 River Valley Rd NW is a wonderful place to skate in Edmonton, just south of downtown and north of the University of Alberta. It’s a central location to meet up with friends, spend time outdoors, and catch up with your lives. You can skate multiple times around the oval. It can get crowded when there are many people; keep that in mind. There aren’t many other options of places to skate to escape the mass of people, but you can take the pathway to the south of the oval that branches further east.
Decorative lanterns light up the pathway which gives it a cool effect and a neat feeling while skating at dusk. The lantern patterns reflect on the snow to create some extra light. It makes for some cool pictures!
At different times, I’ve also experienced skating to music which can create a wonderful atmosphere.
Walking Paths
Many paths run along the river right beside the skating oval. It creates easy access if you live close by and want to walk to this destination.
3. Bowness Park
Price
Skates can be rented from the U of C outdoor center, (off-site from Bowness Park) during the weekends, until mid-March (weather permitting). You can rend them on Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. It costs $12 to rent skates for one hour and $20 for three hours. If you own your own skates, it’s free to skate on the pond.
Hours of Operation
Bowness Park is open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Parking
There is plenty of free parking for skaters, but it can get busy.
Skating
Bowness Park located at 8900 48 Ave NW in Calgary, AB is a spacious place to skate. Hockey is not allowed on this pond, only skating. There is a lot of room and different ways you can explore the pond. You can head north on the narrow path for a few minutes or skate on the big pond. If the conditions are good, you might also be able to skate on pathways underneath bridges.
It can be a wonderful place to skate and meet up with friends and family. It’s a very pleasant environment to skate. During the Christmas season, they tend to play Christmas music which is nice to listen to while skating.
I wore my Chaos multi-tubular headwear to keep my head warm while skating. It allowed my head to mostly air out while accommodating a ponytail. My ears can be covered and don’t get affected by a light wind.
4. 5 Awesome Outdoor Skating Rinks: Lake Louise
Price
If you have your own skates, hockey sticks and puck, it’s free to skate on Lake Louise. If you need to rent skates, it costs $23 for adults and $13 for children for two hours. For eight hours, it costs $33 for adults and $23 for children. Rentals are available from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sticks and pucks can also be rented, if you’d like to play hockey. You can find more information, here.
Hours of Operation
You can skate twenty-four hours a day but note that the floodlights will only stay on until 11 p.m. Afterwards, you’ll require your own light. You can start skating as soon as there is daylight.
Parking
Parking is first come first served. The parking lot is about a ten-minute walk from the skating rink. Bring a backpack if you need to carry things, as your items won’t be easily accessible.
Skating
Lake Louise is number four on the list of 5 Awesome Outdoor Skating Rinks in Alberta. The skating rink is located in front of the Fairmont Château, at the end of the road called Lake Louise Drive. The front portion of the ice castle sculpture is constructed directly on the ice. They change the castle every year; you’ll have something new and exciting to skate around when you go.
The skating rink is an oval shape around the ice castle. There isn’t a ton of room for skating, especially if there are many people. Keep in mind if you go during peak season at Christmas, it tends to be busy! But you do get to skate in the mountains, on the gorgeous Lake Louise surrounded by stunning views and glaciers. If you’re lucky enough to be there on a beautiful day, the snow from the glaciers shimmering in the sun makes for spectacular pictures!
If you get cold, they often have a fire pit to lace up your skates and warm up!
Play Hockey
People play hockey on an adjacent rink. If you’re into pick-up hockey, it’s the perfect place to have fun with strangers and get some exercise. Nets are provided and can be found on the rink. Bring your skates, your stick and a puck and have fun!
Walk
You can walk around the grounds past Château Lake Louise and along the lake to the far end where you might get a chance to see some ice climbers.
Cross-Country Skiing
If you love to cross-country ski like I do, there are many trails of varying difficulty around Le Château. I love to spend the day cross-country skiing and then finish off the day by exercising my muscles differently and going for a short skate on the lake.
Ice Sculptures
Depending on the time of year, you might also be able to see ice sculptures between the Château and Lake Louise. The next world-class ice carving competition is happening from January 26 to February 4, 2024. The sculptures are quite impressive, and they showcase artists from around the world! Be sure to check them out! It costs $14 to attend.
5. Pyramid Lake
Price
Skates are available to rent at Pyramid Lake Resort for $10 an hour. Skating is free if you have your own skates.
Hours of Operation
You can skate as long as there is daylight.
Parking
There is a parking lot near the lake that allows approximately ten vehicles to park. If you’re staying at the resort, you’ll be able to park closer to your room.
Skating
Pyramid Lake is located off Pyramid Lake Road, in Jasper. The skating oval is maintained by Pyramid Lake Resort. If the lake is free of snow, you can also travel much further. Once, we were able to skate around Pyramid Island to the end of the lake. In shallow areas, it’s really neat to see the bottom of the lake while skating. If you feel inclined and it’s safe to do so, I highly recommend it. Note that you are skating at your own risk. Keep that in mind.
If you’re a hockey fan, there are dedicated rinks for you to play a game. The nets are set up and ready to go. Bring your puck and hockey stick and you’re all set to play.
They have benches for you to sit on to lace up your skates, which is much better than having to sit on snow and then having to lift yourself off the ground while wearing skates. That’s a tricky balancing experience!
Clothing to Wear
If you’re looking for appropriate clothing for skating when it’s cold, I recommend a Merino 250 top base layer. Mine did wonders to keep me warm! You’ll also want to put on warm socks to keep your feet warm. They tend to get cold quickly in skates, especially if it’s cold outside. Often on ponds, whether it’s sunny or cloudy, it can be cold. A windbreaker coat is a fantastic idea!
Final Thoughts
These 5 Awesome Outdoor Skating Rinks in Alberta are awaiting your presence! They all offer unique features. A variety of activities are available at these locations depending on what you’d like to do with your partner. Cook those hot dogs and roast marshmallows at Hawrelak Park at your outdoor picnic, experience ice sculptures and the ice castle at Lake Louise. Enjoy the decorative lights on the pathway at Victoria Park Oval. There are so many fantastic options for you! It’s a great way to get exercise and be happy outside! What are you waiting for? Go have some fun!
Additional Links
- Places to Skate Near Me
- Review: K2 F.I.T Men’s Ice Skates
- 9 Extraordinary Winter Wonderland Banff National Park Activities
- The Best Winter Activities Near Me for a Marvelous Season
- Nice Weekend Getaway Near Me
- Romantic Winter Jasper Hikes
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