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Compiled by the Road Trip Alberta team
Last updated on March 9, 2024
Edmonton during the winter months is known for it’s frigid temperatures. With the sub zero temperatures, lakes and rivers freeze over and the outdoor skating rinks open up. Naturally, one of our favourite activities to do during the winter is to strap on a pair of ice skates and find a spot for an ice skate. It’s a great way to spend a morning, afternoon or evening with the whole family. So fill up your thermos with hot chocolate, put on some warm clothes and visit one of these popular Edmonton skating spots!
The Best Places to Go Ice Skating in Edmonton
Hawrelak Park
Location: 9330 Groat Rd NW
Hawrelak Park is a sprawling, beautiful park close to downtown Edmonton, and like many parks on this list, it’s maintained by the City of Edmonton. In winter, the park’s pond transforms into one of the best places to skate in Edmonton for its size and incredible scenery!
There are washroom facilities, a pavilion with snacks and hot drinks, and even a spot to rent ice skates if you don’t have your own. While the ice can be rough in some places, it’s often cited as one of the most romantic ice skating spots in Edmonton.
Rundle Park
Location: 2909 113 Ave NW
Rundle Park is one of our favourite places for outdoor ice skating in Edmonton, as there is a lot of variety in the skating options. A big draw is the Rundle Park Iceway, which consists of a two-kilometre trail through the trees; it’s also lit up at night, making it ideal for night skating.
Besides the iceway, there are also a few outdoor rinks available to use for public skating. And because the city is responsible for maintaining the ice at Rundle Park, the ice surfaces here are usually smooth and in good condition.
Victoria Park
Location: 12030 River Valley Rd
Another rink maintained by the City of Edmonton, Victoria Park is one of the most popular places to go skating in Edmonton, and for good reasons: it’s centrally located, and there’s a lot of ice surface to explore!
Choose from the Victoria Park Oval for laps or the iceway for a lovely path through the trees; they are connected, so it’s easy to try both. Enjoy the light displays on the pathway at night, as it makes for a unique and romantic skate. There’s also a pavilion next to the ice for you to warm up or use the washroom.
Alberta Legislature Ice Rink
Location: Fortway Dr NW
Found behind the Alberta Legislature Building on the South Lawn, you’ll find a skating rink perfect for figure skating, leisure skating, and more. One of the most beautiful times of year to skate here is Christmas, as you can skate under the seasonal lights; make sure to check out the rest of the grounds, too, as the light displays here are spectacular.
City Hall
Location: 1 Sir Winston Churchill Square
If you’re looking for a more urban view with your skate, why not try the rink at City Hall? With free skate rentals available here, it’s one of the most accessible spots for skating in Edmonton.
Best of all, the skating rink at City Hall is open daily from 5 am to 11 pm, so there are a lot of opportunities to fit in a skate throughout the day.
ICE District Skating Rink
Location: 10360 102 St NW
One of the newest outdoor skating rinks in Edmonton, the ICE District Plaza skating rink is another phenomenal spot in the city for public skating.
While hockey sticks, balls, or any other sporting equipment aren’t allowed on the ice here – meaning this isn’t the place for your quick game of pick-up hockey – it’s great for a fun skate in the heart of the city.
Castle Downs Park
Location: 11520 153 Ave NW
Found in North Edmonton, Castle Downs Park is known for its activities year-round, including a skate park, picnic facilities, and so on. But in winter, it’s also a favourite spot for ice skating.
With a large oval and a few ponds for hockey, it can still get quite busy throughout the day; our recommendation is to skate here in the early morning when crowds aren’t as large.
Jackie Parker Park
Location: 4540 50 St NW
This popular park is known as one of the best places to skate in Edmonton, and with lots of parking, a lace-up and warm-up area, and a good amount of ice to explore, it’s ideal for families.
We love that this is one of the more secluded outdoor rinks in Edmonton, as it makes us feel as though we’ve escaped the hustle and bustle of city life for a bit.
The Meadows
Location: 2704 17 Street
Found in southeast Edmonton, the Meadows Community Recreation Centre provides both indoor and outdoor skating opportunities. There’s an arena with two 200×85 foot ice surfaces – perfect for the budding hockey player – and an outdoor rink for leisure skating.
Drop-in rates are available for the indoor rink, but if you live in the area, you might want to consider a membership.
Ice Palace
Location: 8882 170 St NW #1174
We’ve listed many of Edmonton’s outdoor rinks, but there’s some good indoor skating in the city, too! Ice Palace is found inside West Edmonton Mall, and is known for figure skating, hockey, and even senior skates.
This is a paid rink, so it’s best to buy tickets online for public skating times in advance.
Community League Skating Rinks
While the above rinks are all available for public skating, there are also over 100 community skating rinks around Edmonton! Faithfully maintained by volunteers, most of these rinks require a community league membership to skate, and you’re expected to display your badge while you’re on the ice.
To find your nearest community league rink, head to the EFCL website’s facility map and filter the amenities by “rink.” Some of the most beloved community rinks in the city include Avonmore, Calder, Eastwood, Evergreen, Bonnie Doon, Kenilworth, Delton, and Grovenor.
There’s also a new skating trail in Glastonbury Park that is open to all community league members.
Skating Rinks Near Edmonton
Are you willing to head outside of Edmonton for a good skate? Spruce Grove, Sherwood Park, St. Albert, and many other communities and cities near Edmonton have some great options.
Some of our favourites include the Sin Bin Skate Track and the Cowan Skating Pathway in Sherwood Park, the Central Park Skating Oval and Jubilee Park Skating Oval in Spruce Grove, the South Cooking Lake Skating Pathway, the Lion’s Park Rink in St. Albert, and skating in Elk Island National Park on Astotin Lake.
Looking for more fun things to do in Edmonton?
- There’s nothing like visiting the an Edmonton Spa Day after a morning on the ice
- Want to try some indoor adventures? Check out these Edmonton Escape Rooms.
- After all of that exploring, indulge at these Edmonton Restaurants You NEED to Eat At.
- Now you’ll need somewhere to rest–check out these BEST Edmonton Hotels.
Pete is a co-founder of Road Trip Alberta. Growing up in Edmonton he has an extensive knowledge of Alberta and everything the province has to offer. He loves to eat good food, hike (especially in the winter), play tennis and curl. Apart from running Road Trip Alberta, he is a director with HMI, a digital media agency, half of the Hecktic Travels duo, and a co-creator of the popular card game Trip Chaser.
