Best Skating Spots in Ottawa

Ottawa is one of the coldest national capitals in the world, and it leans into it. The city has the world's largest naturally frozen skating rink, over 250 community outdoor rinks, refrigerated rinks that open as early as late November, and forest skating trails in the surrounding countryside. Most outdoor skating is free.

The season runs roughly December through March, with refrigerated rinks extending on both ends.

Rideau Canal Skateway

The Rideau Canal Skateway is Ottawa's signature winter experience — 7.8 km of skateable ice on a UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest naturally frozen ice rink. In the 2025–2026 season, the Skateway opened December 31 and closed March 4, drawing over one million visitors.

• Cost: Free — no admission, no tickets
• Hours: 24/7 when ice conditions permit
• Season: Weather-dependent, typically late December/January to early March
• Access: ~30 staircases and 5 universal access ramps along the route

Skate Rentals

Capital Skates operates two rental locations directly on the ice:

A $50 deposit is required on all rentals. Reservation and payment online only.

• Rideau location: Daily 10 AM–10 PM (no rentals after 8 PM)
• Fifth Avenue location: Thu–Mon 10 AM–10 PM (opens daily when Rideau segment closes)

Skate rentals are also available at Dow's Lake Pavilion, which serves as the western gateway to the Skateway.

Food and Rest Areas

Four main rest areas along the Skateway, all with washrooms, fire pits (Fri–Sun), and food vendors:

• Rideau — BeaverTails, change rooms
• Concord — BeaverTails, Dunrobin Distillery, Brown Bag Coffee Roasters
• Fifth — BeaverTails, Guylaine Café, Snack O'Shack, Dominion City Brewing
• Bronson — BeaverTails, Dunrobin Distillery

A packed-snow walking lane operates alongside the Skateway between Waverley and Bank and between Lakeview and Dow's Lake when snow conditions allow.

Tip: The Skateway is free and open 24/7, but the best atmosphere is in the evening when the lights are on and the food vendors are open.

Refrigerated Outdoor Rinks

These rinks don't depend on weather, so they open weeks earlier and close weeks later than the Skateway.

Rink of Dreams

The Rink of Dreams sits on Marion Dewar Plaza at Ottawa City Hall, directly across from Confederation Park. The 12,500-square-foot refrigerated surface is lit up at night with music — one of the most scenic urban rinks in Canada.

• Season: Early December to late March (2025–26: December 6 – March 29)
• Hours: 7 AM–11 PM daily
• Cost: Free
• Skate rental: $20 / 1.5 hours (Final Pass Skate Shop, on site)
• Sharpening: $10

Lansdowne Skating Court

A refrigerated rink at Lansdowne, next to the historic Aberdeen Pavilion. A nice option after visiting the farmers' market or grabbing a meal at Lansdowne's restaurants.

• Season: Late November to late March (2025–26: November 23 – March 31)
• Hours: 6 AM–11 PM daily
• Cost: Free
• Skate rental: $20 / 1.5 hours (Final Pass Skate Shop, Fri–Sun)
• Sharpening: $10

Jim Tubman Chevrolet Sens Rink

A covered, refrigerated outdoor rink at Canterbury Recreation Complex (2185 Arch Street) with authentic hockey boards. Covered overhead so it stays open in most weather.

• Season: Approximately November to April
• Cost: Free
• Reservations: Required — can be made up to 2 days in advance. New spots open at 6 PM daily
• Contact: 613-580-3600 / JTCrink@ottawa.ca

Ben Franklin Place Rink

A refrigerated rink at Ben Franklin Place (101 Centrepointe Drive) in Nepean.

• Hours: 11 AM–8 PM daily
• Cost: Free
• Facilities: Skate-changing huts on site

Rideau Hall

The grounds of Rideau Hall — the Governor General's official residence — have had an outdoor skating rink since 1872. As of 2025, the rink is newly refrigerated, extending the season by up to three months compared to natural ice.

• Season: Late November to late March (2025–26: November 22 – March 29)
• Hours: Mon–Fri 5 PM–8:30 PM, Sat–Sun 1 PM–8:30 PM (last entry 7:45 PM)
• Cost: Free
• Skate rental: Not available — bring your own skates
• Facilities: Winter Pavilion (heritage warming building), fire pit, picnic tables
• Access: Princess Gate (101 Princess Avenue) during skating hours
• Rules: Leisure skating only — no hockey, pucks, or figure skating

The setting is unique — skating on the grounds of the Governor General's residence, surrounded by 32 hectares of forest and gardens. One of the quietest skating spots in the city.

Skating Trails

For something different from a flat rink, two skating trails operate in the Ottawa area:

Icelynd Skating Trails (Stittsville)

Over 2 km of natural ice trails through dense forest, lit with string lights for evening skating. Co-owned by former Ottawa Senator Chris Neil.

• Location: 6865 Fernbank Road, Stittsville
• Season: Late December to early March (2025–26: December 27 – March 8)
• Hours: Thu 4–9 PM, Fri 2–9 PM, Sat 10 AM–9 PM, Sun 10 AM–7 PM. Closed Mon–Wed
• Cost: Adults $19, Seniors/Youth$14, Under 5 free, Family (2+2) $60
• Features: Bonfires, vendors, benches along the trail

RiverOak Skating Trail (Metcalfe)

A 3.5 km frozen pathway through old-growth orchards, meadows, and forests — partially lit. About 30 minutes from downtown.

• Location: 2900 York's Corners Road, Metcalfe
• Season: Mid-December to early March (2025–26: December 13 – March 8)
• Cost: Adults $19 + HST, Youth/Seniors$15 + HST
• Note: Weather-dependent. Call 613-212-0077 before visiting

Community Rinks

Ottawa has over 250 community outdoor rinks maintained by local volunteers across the city. These are free, natural-ice rinks that operate when temperatures are cold enough — typically late December through February.

Check conditions at ottawarinks.ca or call 311.

Brewer Park Oval

Worth a special mention: the Brewer Park Oval (100 Brewer Way) is the only natural long-track speed skating oval in Eastern North America — a 400-metre lighted oval with heated change rooms. Maintained by volunteers from local speed skating clubs. Check their social media for ice conditions.

Tips

• Best free skating: Rideau Canal Skateway, Rink of Dreams, Lansdowne, and Rideau Hall are all free. The community rinks are free too
• Best for beginners: Rink of Dreams and Lansdowne — flat refrigerated surfaces with rental skates available on site
• Best atmosphere: Rideau Canal Skateway in the evening (lights, BeaverTails, fire pits) or Icelynd's lit forest trails
• Best for families: Rink of Dreams has a warming station on evenings and weekends. Rideau Hall has a fire pit and warming pavilion
• Rental skates: Rideau Canal ($33/2hr), Rink of Dreams ($20/1.5hr), Lansdowne ($20/1.5hr). Rideau Hall has no rentals — bring your own
• Check conditions: The Rideau Canal Skateway is weather-dependent. Check the NCC website for daily ice conditions before heading out
• Avoid crowds: The Skateway is busiest on sunny weekend afternoons. Early mornings and weekday evenings are quieter. The Fifth Avenue section tends to be less crowded than the downtown Rideau section