Imagine ice skating in a picturesque outdoor setting, where you're surrounded by the bustling streets of downtown Ottawa and Canadian historical landmarks like Parliament Hill.
Nothing speaks of a true Canadian Winter experience at the beginning of the year like ice skating on the famous Rideau Canal in Ottawa — the world's largest natural ice skating rink as designated by the Guinness Book Of World Records.
In this article, we will delve into the elements that make the Rideau Canal so special, from its rich history and stunning surroundings to the vibrant Winter activities and happenings that come alive on its ice each season.
The Birth of The Rideau Canal Skateway
While the Rideau Canal was opened in 1832 for transportation purposes, it was not until 1971 that it began to officially operate as a skating rink for public use.
This whole idea came to fruition under the leadership of Doug Fullerton, who was then the chairman of the National Capital Commission (NCC).
To facilitate the skating area, a recreational corridor was created alongside a skateway near the Confederation Park (a national historic site) and Carleton University. Additionally, several sections of ice near the National Arts Centre were also cleared.
A national body that oversees the transformation of the Rideau Canal to the Rideau Canal Skateway each Winter through ice monitoring, safety protocols and access points coordination of the rink for a safe and enjoyable skating adventure.
The skateway continued to garner attention and visits over the years. It eventually became a hot tourist spot when the NCC launched the Winterlude, an annual Winter festival in Ottawa in 1979 to promote the city as a desirable Winter destination. The Rideau Canal soon became synonymous with outdoor Winter recreation for families.
Currently, it runs over 7.8km, extending from downtown Ottawa to the Hartwells Locks and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site leading many people to travel from afar to have a magical memory.
Maintaining Skating Conditions and Season Timing
The Rideau Canal skateway is open to the public for free throughout the Winter season (January to early March). However, it can depend also on the weather and ice conditions.
For the first time, the skateway faced a historical closure in 2023 since its opening due to climate change — resulting in unsatisfactory temperatures and thickness of ice. That said, the NCC undertakes many steps of maintenance work to ensure a safe and enjoyable skating experience for local and international skate lovers each year.
The process of turning water into ice begins way before the skating season. First and foremost, the river water of the canal will be drained out.
The NCC monitors the temperature to reach between -15 to -25 degrees Celcius for several days. Then, the surface of the skateway is flooded to build up the ice thickness. The water under the ice is then pumped onto to surface to dissolve the snow into ice.
For the canal to be open for skating, the ice must be at least 30cm thick. This is checked by drilling ice carrots. The moment the ice is thick enough, the NCC team will start to smoothen the surface if there are rough spots and hidden cracks.
Before the opening of the skateway, access points are set up alongside basic amenities such as washrooms, change rooms, skate rentals, kiosks, lost-and-found, and warming huts.
Some of the recommended universal access points are accessible through public transportation and offer parking spaces as follows:
Attractions & Activities Near The Rideau Canal
You certainly cannot miss out on the main highlight at the canal — ice skating. This place is open 7 days a week and 24 hours a day as long as the weather and temperature permit.
The skating equipment rental sites are set up at various access points of the skateway such as Capital Skates and Dow Lakes, where visitors can rent ice skates, sleighs, and kicksleds, as well as get sharpening or boot check services.
Here's the pricing of the equipment rental:
Capital Skates
- Skates: $30
- Sleigh: $46
- Kicksled: $38
- Sharpening: $14
- Bootcheck: $7
Dow Lakes
- Skates: $26 (Adult), $20 (Child)
- Sleigh: $35
- Kicksled: $26
- Sharpening: $12
- Restoration: $18
The above-listed rates are for 2 hours and the final payment requires a deposit. For the latest details, be sure to check their official website.
Additionally, the annual Winterlude Festival is something you shouldn't miss. Every January, the skateway becomes a hub for the festival — offering many family-friendly activities such as live music performances, ice sculpture exhibitions, and games.
Remember to look out for discounts for rentals when the season opens if you plan to visit the skateway as a big group (25 people or more).
After a wholesome skating session, it's time to treat yourself to a warm, hearty, meal. Be sure to visit the Beavertails, the canal's go-to spot for hot beverages, fast food, and pastries through different access points of the rink.
Besides ice skating, you can also enjoy snowshoeing and Winter hiking near the Rideau Winter Trail, which is a 12-minute drive from the canal.
For non-skaters, you can either walk along the edges of the skateway or the ploughed multi-use pathways near the canal.
Safety Tips To Follow While You Skate At The Canal
Before you begin skating, it's essential to check the flag system. A green flag means good ice conditions, while a red flag indicates that it is unsafe to skate and therefore the canal is closed.
Visitors are highly encouraged to visit during the day or afternoon as most of the nighttime is usually scheduled for maintenance.
As you skate, observe if there are any cracks and avoid the areas and edges that are covered with snow.
Another tip is to get the necessary equipment for skating from head to toe. For absolute beginners, we strongly advise you to get a fitting ski helmet, wrist guard, knee and arm protection to avoid injury in case you lose your balance (which is pretty normal for first-timers).
Make sure to don warm clothing, wear gloves, and monitor your own temperature as you skate. If the cold is starting to bother you, you can head to the heated changing rooms at a certain access point near the canal to keep warm. Also, choose to wear normal skates instead of figure skates to have a seamless skating experience on the surface.
Activities like snowshoeing, dogsledding, cycling, ice hockey and skiing are absolutely prohibited on the skateway. Dogs and other pets are also not allowed except for service dogs. Smoking and drinking are also forbidden.
If you require any first-aid assistance, there is a first-aid trailer at the Fifth Avenue rest area. Additionally, there are also skate patrollers who are trained to perform CPR or basic first aid on the skateway.
⛸️ Skate Confidently With A Superprof Tutor
Whether you're a beginner or looking to improve your skating skills, getting the right guidance can make all the difference in your skating experience. With a Superprof tutor, you can develop the confidence, technique, and balance needed to glide smoothly on the ice.
Through personalized skating lessons, you can tailor the lessons according to your age, learning needs, and pace. For example, your tutor can come out with different exercises and drills that can help you build a strong foundation. This also means that your lessons are more flexible, especially in terms of schedule and learning location at your local rink or online.
At Superprof, you can choose your skating tutor based on your preferences in terms of location (like Ontario and Quebec), teaching experience, teaching methodology, and hourly rates.
Having an experienced tutor guide you from the start can help improve your form and technique, allowing you to correct mistakes early. Furthermore, you will receive immediate feedback on how to improve your overall balance and coordination. As you progress, you'll gain more confidence in your skating.
Picking the perfect skating tutor is easy with Superprof - All you need to do is visit the Superprof Canada homepage and start browsing the tutors' profiles.
From there, you can review their basic information and also read the online reviews by their former students to get a glimpse of their teaching style — are they patient and fun, for instance?
Once you have compared the profiles, you can proceed to contact your desired tutor via the messaging feature. The tutors will get back to you based on their indicated response time (usually in a day) to finalize the details of your first lesson.
We hope you have enjoyed learning about the experience of ice skating at the Rideau Canal through this article - It's fair to say that for us Canadians, every Winter adventure begins with a pair of skates.
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