Where to Go Ice Skating in Calgary and Edmonton

A skater pauses under a festively lit arch over an ice skating trail at night.

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Discover scenic skating trails and outdoor ice rinks in Edmonton and Calgary, where you can skate under twinkling lights and warm up at nearby cafés.

All outdoor skating rinks and trails are free (skate rentals are typically paid).
Calgary’s University District rink is refrigerated for skating on warm winter days.
At Edmonton’s Victoria Park Oval, watch speed skaters train.

When winter brings sustained cold temperatures to Alberta's biggest cities, Edmonton and Calgary offer something special: ice skating trails and outdoor rinks.

Frozen pathways wind through trees and iced-over lagoons give you an urban nature experience that’s quintessentially Canadian, but unique to each city. The cities’ outdoor rinks and ice trails are free to use, and many feature festive lights, skate rentals, fire pits and nearby spots to warm up with a hot drink.

Where to skate outdoors in Calgary

Prince’s Island Park Lagoon, Calgary

With downtown Calgary to one side of you and a snowy urban park to the other, skating at Prince’s Island Park Lagoon is an absolute winter treat. When the sun goes down, this rink sparkles with twinkling lights. There are cozy firepits to warm up between laps and Sandy’s Skate Shack is on-site with skate rentals throughout the season.

Free skate rentals and special events at Prince's Island Park Lagoon

On Saturdays in winter 2026, there are free skate rentals for the first 50 skaters (weather dependent) and free, 20-minute skate lessons for beginners from 2:15, 3:15 and 4:15 p.m. And from January 30 to February 16, the area plays host to Chinook Blast, a winter arts, culture and sports festival. Expect music and more at the lagoon and at nearby Eau Claire Plaza.

Because of the location of the natural ice, plan on a short walk from your parking spot to the rink. The City of Calgary recommends parking at one of the following paid parking lots if you want to skate at the Prince's Island Park lagoon in downtown Calgary:

Harmony Parkade (Lot 40) at 112 Fifth Ave. S.W.
Lot 71 (Downtown) at 603 Third Ave. S.W.
Lot 888 (Chinatown) at 109 Riverfront Ave. S.E.
Lot 26 (Chinatown) at 307 First St. S.E.

People skate on an ice trail through Bowness Park in Calgary. — The ice trail at Bowness Park lets you discover more of the park on your friendly skate date.

Bowness Park Skating Trail & Rink, Calgary

Bowness Park is where loads of local Calgarians go to skate. Its frozen lagoon and canal create a winding 1.6-km (1 mi) trail where twinkling lights reflect off the ice at night. Fire pits are available, perfect for warming your toes between frosty excursions. Skate rentals are available on-site Friday through Sunday.

You can also rent an ice bike at Bowness Park and pedal across the ice. These clever contraptions are stable and easy to pedal. Or play a game of crokicurl, a board game-curling hybrid.

When hunger calls, Seasons of Bowness Park is right there with happy hour snacks, dinner or warm drinks.

University District Rink (Central Commons Park), Calgary

This refrigerated outdoor rink in the University District near the University of Calgary keeps ice conditions pretty much perfect from December to late March.

With lots of romantic local restaurants—like Una Pizza + Wine, Charcut and Native Tongues Taqueria—just steps away, this makes a great date night spot. Or bring the kids and hit the movie theatre after.

Surrounded by fire features (turned on with the push of a button), seating areas, and seasonal lights, the rink is a fun, relaxed place for a skate. Helmets are mandatory, and hockey sticks, pucks, and sleds aren’t allowed, so the focus stays on relaxed, recreational skating. The Skate Hut typically offers rentals on-site Thursday through Sunday.

At night, a skater skates an ice trail lit by strings of light between trees. — A leisurely skate around the ice trail at Calgary’s North Glenmore Park is a nice precursor to a casual dinner.

North Glenmore Park Ice Trail, Calgary

If you have your own skates, southwest Calgary offers another local gem: the North Glenmore Park Ice Trail. This 730-metre (0.45 mi) path curves through parkland with sweeping views of the reservoir, and seasonal lights make evening ice skating especially inviting.

There’s also a shinny hockey rink if you want to join a game of pick-up hockey (bring your own stick), plus a curling rink and crokicurl playing area.

A woman skates down an ice trail lit with colourful lights. — Colourful lights make an evening skate just a little extra special at Edmonton’s Victoria Park IceWay.

Where to skate outdoors in Edmonton

Victoria Park IceWay and Oval, Edmonton

Victoria Park IceWay is a favourite for its lantern-lit loops that twist through the river valley. At night, the glow of hanging lights makes the ice skating trail serene.

There are no skate rentals on-site, so bring your own skates or stop at Totem Outdoor Outfitters before you go. If you go for a morning skate, plan to warm up afterward at local gem Stopgap Coffee, a cozy spot in a brick heritage home just minutes away. Going skating later in the day? Linger over French-inspired comfort food a short drive away at Café Bicyclette.

A line of speed skaters circle the outdoor rink at sunset in Edmonton. — You can watch local speed skaters train at the Victoria Park Oval in Edmonton.

Right nearby the trails, the Victoria Park Oval offers a classic outdoor skating experience—think holding hands with your sweetheart as you skate circles around the ice. If you visit in the late afternoon or early evening, you might see speed skating teams in training. (Check out the City of Edmonton website to see when they’re scheduled to hit the ice. You’ll have to stick to the ice trail while they’re training on the oval.)

Rundle Park IceWay, Edmonton

At Rundle Park IceWay, nearly 2 km (1.2 mi) of frozen trails curve through open fields and wooded sections along the North Saskatchewan River. It’s peaceful and spacious, great for families or anyone who wants a little more space to get their ice skating skills up to scratch. My Lakehouse Edmonton offers skate rentals here Thursday and Friday evenings and on the weekends.

When you’re ready to refuel after skating, drive a few minutes to Fox Burger, a locally loved burger joint with plenty for carnivores and vegetarians alike.

A couple have fun while ice skating on the outdoor ice rink at Sir Winston Churchill Square in Edmonton. — The rink at Edmonton’s City Hall Plaza hosts free skate rentals on evenings and weekends in January and February.

Sir Winston Churchill Square & City Hall Plaza Ice Rink, Edmonton

Right in the heart of downtown Edmonton, the ice rink at Sir Winston Churchill Square and City Hall Plaza offers a lively skating experience surrounded by city lights. This spacious rink is perfect for a fun skate before exploring downtown attractions or grabbing a bite nearby.

Free skate rentals and special events at City Hall Plaza in Edmonton

Skating here is free, and there are free skate rentals in the evening and on weekends in January and February 2026. Or you can bring your own skates or rent from local shops before heading over.

Check out the Edmonton Arts Council website for special skate and dance events, including live DJs on the ice on Fridays and Saturdays in January, plus swing and salsa music on Sundays in January and February.

Two kids and their parents skate indoors under a huge glass skylight at the Ice Palace in Edmonton. — The glittering dome above the rink at West Edmonton Mall gives you a taste of the outdoors without a nippy cold at your cheeks. You can skate here year-round.

Ice Palace at West Edmonton Mall

Prefer to skate indoors? The Ice Palace at West Edmonton Mall delivers an NHL-sized rink under a glittering glass dome where you can skate year-round. Rentals are available on-site, and the mall’s many cafés and food joints make it easy to fuel up again after skating and before exploring the shops.

Check the rink’s hours ahead of time to make sure there is a public skating session available.

Tips for ice skating outdoors

When can I skate outside in Calgary and Edmonton?

Outdoor skating season in Calgary and Edmonton depends on how long it’s been cold enough to maintain quality ice. Typically, outdoor skating season runs from December through February, but rinks may open earlier or later each year.

When the weather is warm, rinks may be temporarily closed, especially if they’re on natural bodies of water.

What should I wear for outdoor ice skating in Alberta’s winter?

Outdoor skating can be chilly, so dress in warm layers. Wear gloves or mittens, a toque or knitted hat, and long johns or snowpants. Consider a helmet for safety, especially if you’re just learning (or for kids). On especially cold days, consider bringing hand warmers that you can add to your mittens or inside your skates so you can stay out on the ice longer.

Is outdoor ice skating different from indoor ice skating?

When you’re skating outdoors in Alberta, the ice conditions are affected by weather changes. A string of warm, Chinook days in Calgary, for example, can mean the ice has melted and refrozen with a few extra lumps and bumps. Ice trails sometimes have sections that go slightly uphill or downhill compared to a completely flat indoor hockey rink.

Lots of outdoor skating surfaces in Calgary and Edmonton are regularly smoothed over by ice resurfacing machines for a glossy skating surface or have the snow cleared off them. However, at busy times, the ice can develop grooves or snow from other skaters.

It’s always important to be aware of your surroundings, know your skill limitations on the ice and dress for the weather.