- Glide on a winding ice trail through evergreen forests at Arrowhead Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada.
- Experience skating on the world’s largest Zamboni-maintained rink under holiday lights at Keystone Lake, Colorado.
- Journey along the Rideau Canal in Ottawa, the world’s largest natural ice skating rink and a UNESCO site.
With the crisp winter air in your lungs and the feel of real ice beneath your blades, there’s nothing quite like the experience of skating outdoors. The winter season offers many opportunities to lace up your skates in some of the world’s most beautiful cold-weather destinations, from quaint rinks high in the French Alps to ice skating trails through Canadian forests. Here are some of our favorite outdoor ice rinks, boasting the best backdrops for practicing your crossovers and backspins.
Arrowhead Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada
A Canadian gem, Ontario’s Arrowhead ice skating trail is a meandering pathway that winds through a thick evergreen forest in an idyllic winter wonderland setting. The park is less than a three-hour drive north of Toronto, and its 0.8-mile ice skating trail is typically open between January and early March, conditions permitting. It’s a good idea to reserve a parking permit in advance online, as spaces can book up, especially on Saturdays. You can also rent skates on-site (subject to availability).
Keystone Lake in Keystone, Colorado
Every Christmas, this picturesque five-acre lake at Colorado’s Keystone Resort is lit up at night with holiday lights. Play pickup hockey or simply glide around the largest Zamboni-maintained outdoor rink in North America, about a 90-minute drive west of Denver. Skates, hockey sticks, and training assistant stands for beginners are available to rent.
Lake Louise in Banff National Park, Canada
The jewel of Canada’s Rockies, Lake Louise is typically frozen over between December and March, providing skaters with one of the world’s most stunning stages. Surrounded by snowy mountains and within sight of the Victoria Glacier, this lake is accessible after a 45-minute drive from the town of Banff (a shuttle is also available). The ice is maintained by the Fairmont Chateau, which keeps this natural rink free of snow and freshly resurfaced.
The Nestaweya River Trail in Winnipeg, Canada
This winding ice expanse that travels through the heart of Winnipeg will take you from the city to the country, all on one smooth track down the river. The length varies from year to year, but you can expect at least five miles of ice, plus warming huts and restaurants along the way. It typically opens for the season in mid-to-late January.
Evergreen Lake in Evergreen, Colorado
Just west of Denver, you’ll find Evergreen Lake, a 40-acre body of water that offers plenty of space for free skaters, hockey enthusiasts, or broomball players (with rentals available), all surrounded by pine-covered mountains. It’s recommended to call before you go to check the latest weather conditions. Parking is limited, but during busy times, shuttles run from Stagecoach Park. Ice fishing is popular on other portions of the lake.
Canyon Ferry Lake in Helena, Montana
A reservoir of the Missouri River, Canyon Ferry Lake is Montana’s third-largest lake and, when frozen, an ideal place to skate. At 28 miles long, there’s plenty of space to cruise on ice under a winter sky. This is wild ice, which means there are no stands renting skates and selling hot chocolate, so you should have a pair of ice skates, a helmet, and some experience in Nordic skating before setting out.
Mirror Lake in Lake Placid, New York
Enjoy a wintry skate in the Adirondacks at Mirror Lake, a busy rink in Lake Placid’s town center. A maintained two-mile-long track borders the pond; it’s open 24 hours a day once the ice gets at least six inches thick. Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, pond hockey, and dog-sledding are also popular on the frozen lake.
Lac de Joux in the Jura Mountains, Switzerland
Switzerland’s Lake Joux is nestled in the Jura Mountains near the country’s western border with France. An hour’s train ride from Lausanne, it is the largest free skating rink in all of Europe when it freezes over in winter. On weekends, vendors set up stalls on the surface of the lake itself, selling hot food to hungry skaters. Ice skating is also available on nearby Lake Ter, accessed via the village of Le Séchey.
Lake Vänern in Vänersborg, Sweden
Lake Vänern is Sweden’s largest lake and the third largest in Europe, meaning it provides an expanse of rugged skating options. Dotted with over 22,000 islands, the ice is totally wild and may not always be smooth—but with dramatic sunsets and wide-open ice stretching to the distance, it’s still worth it. If it’s your first time on wild ice, guide companies like Nordic Tours can help you get geared up and ready to skate.
Canals in Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Ever wondered if you can skate on the canals of Amsterdam? The city’s iconic waterways are only a few yards deep, but winter freezes are rare (and becoming rarer due to climate change). When the weather service predicts a big freeze, the city closes off traffic to certain canals to stop the current and help the freezing process. You will have to be extremely lucky to catch the next deep freeze in Amsterdam, but if you do find yourself gliding under its many bridges, it will probably be one of the most special skates of your life.
Lake Bogstadvannet in Oslo, Norway
Norway has plenty of lakes that will get cold enough to freeze over, and Bogstadvannet is one of the more popular options for ice skaters. Located in the forest just outside Oslo, the lake is a popular spot for swimming in the warmer seasons, while ice skating and cross-country skiing take over in the winter.
Lake Weissensee in Techendorf, Austria
This long, narrow lake in southern Austria provides a spacious environment for a brisk skate. Its eastern portion offers over 15 miles of skating track while dramatic mountains rise up from its shores. Every year, the lake attracts speed skaters who compete in international competitions. You can use the quarter-mile speed skating track if you prefer a shorter skate.
Lake Morey in Fairlee, Vermont
Lake Morey’s 4.5-mile groomed skating loop takes skaters from the edge of the Lake Morey Resort out into the reaches of the lake. With uninterrupted views of the White Mountains, the lake is a 90-minute drive from Burlington and perfect for a day trip. It’s free to use, and you can rent skates at the hotel (overnight guests receive free rentals of hockey or figure skates).
Lake Windermere Whiteway in East Kootenay, Canada
The Whiteway at Lake Windermere is one of the longest skating tracks in the world, offering recreation opportunities for cross-country skiers, skate skiers, and figure skaters alike. Located in British Columbia, three hours west of Calgary and two hours south of Banff, the path is nearly 20 miles long, connecting the towns of Invermere and Windermere.
Rideau Canal in Ottawa, Canada
Race through the heart of Ottawa, from downtown to Dow’s Lake, on the world’s largest natural ice skating rink. At nearly five miles long, the Rideau Canal Skateway is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a major winter attraction. It’s professionally maintained to ensure safety, and there are plenty of rest areas where you can stop for a break and grab a hot chocolate. Restrooms, fire pits, and picnic tables are also available.
Shichahai Lake in Beijing, China
Just north of central Beijing, Shichahai—also referred to as “Houhai”—offers a unique experience during winter, when the city’s residents take to the ice. Originally part of a 700-year-old grand canal, the skating rink is now a bustling scene with lovely views of the waterside temples. If you want a break from skating, try one of the “ice carts,” a half-bike that you can sit on and pedal across the ice.
Lac de Tignes in Tignes, France
The small Alpine ski resort of Tignes, two hours east of Grenoble, is home to a breathtaking natural outdoor rink, ringed by snow-capped peaks. The lively resort town loves to celebrate the season on the ice with dance parties and hot wine and chocolate on standby. If you want to try something different, book an ice diving session where you don a wetsuit and plunge beneath the frozen lake to peek at the underwater ice formations.
Westchester Lagoon in Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage’s picturesque lagoon freezes over in winter, providing an ideal setting enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. The Westchester Lagoon has a family-friendly skate session every Saturday with free hot chocolate and music. Kids learning to skate can borrow one of the skating-assist devices shaped like seals to help keep their balance on the slick ice.
