From frozen mountain lakes to rinks with stunning city views, every region of Canada has ice skating spots known for their own unique beauty. Discover the top places to lace up this winter.

Canada’s climate and landscapes are tailor-made for ice skating. Long, cold winters mean plenty of strong and reliable ice while northern scenery offers the perfect backdrop. Whether you crave the wild lakes under snow-capped peaks or lively city centre locales, there’s an ice surface waiting to offer you that perfect glide.

If you’re after wild ice skating on natural bodies of water, there’s no better introduction than Alberta. Out along the main highway, spots like Lake Louise, Two Jack Lake, and Lake Minnewanka offer premium natural ice surfaces under the towering peaks of the Rockies. Nearby Abraham Lake has also gone viral on social media for mesmerizing methane bubbles trapped beneath the surface. Just remember not to let the thrill of adventure get in the way of safety. Always make sure the ice is thick enough for skating, and consider guided tours to ensure a successful experience.

Next door, British Columbia offers a mix of wilderness adventure and city charm. For those seeking the solitude of nature, Lake Windermere’s Whiteway trail stretches more than 30 kilometres, with the Rockies on one side and the Purcells on the other. For those who prefer a less wild experience, Robson Square in downtown Vancouver provides the perfect urban package with music, city lights, and plenty of atmosphere.

Heading east to the prairies, Winnipeg’s Forks area offers over nine kilometres of skating trails on the Assiniboine and Red Rivers in a good, cold year. Along the way, you’ll encounter warming huts designed by artists and architects from around the world where you can stop and let your toes thaw out.

Continuing on to the nation’s capital, it would be impossible not to mention the Rideau Canal. Ottawa’s crown jewel, it is one of the largest natural frozen skating rinks in the world, stretching nearly eight kilometres through the city. Every winter, it transforms into an icy corridor that some locals even use to commute to work!

Quebec, of course, adds its own charm to Canada’s array of skating spots. In Old Quebec City, Place D’Youville offers a mix of history and romance with its backdrop of 19th-century architecture and the distant glow of the Château Frontenac. Montreal’s Old Port Rink also offers a magical experience with views of the city skyline and the St. Lawrence River. Skaters can enjoy twinkling lights and hot chocolate as they glide past historic buildings.

Finally, skating on the East Coast offers a mix of small-town warmth and authentic winter experiences. In Halifax, Emera Oval, which was built for the 2011 Canada Games, has become a community favourite for free skating in the heart of the city. Over in Saint John, New Brunswick, locals gather at Lily Lake in Rockwood Park to skate beneath snow-dusted trees along forested trails.

There’s no better way to embrace the Canadian winter than lacing up and gliding across a smooth, glassy surface. So, pick a spot and get ready to carve your own path through the ice.