Skating the Rideau Canal in Ottawa

One of the best things to do in winter in Ottawa

Skating the Rideau Canal in Ottawa
The downtown area is the most crowded section on the Rideau Canal

I look at the car thermometer. It reads -14°C without the wind-chill at 2 PM. Then I look at my husband – and he’s got a giant smile plastered all over his face. The one thing he likes to do more than anything else in the world is skate. And one of the best places in the world for skating is the Rideau Canal in Ottawa – also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cold temperatures be damned!

The Rideau Canal is a place for people of all ages to try skating. You might see toddlers taking their first steps on ice, tweens getting a taste of freedom or young couples out skating hand in hand.

And of course there are families and the odd weekend warrior out to break distance or speed records.

A mile marker on Dow's Lake
A mile marker on Dow’s Lake

You can rent skates on the Rideau Canal

We’re in Ottawa with a few hours to spare before catching a plane back to Calgary. It’s easy to rent skates at the Rideau Canal so I do. (Rent skates at three locations along the Rideau Canal.)

John brought his with him just in case.

Although I grew up in Ottawa skating the Rideau Canal,  it’s been well over 30 years since I’ve been back.

I’m a little shaky for the first kilometre but in no time I’ve got the hang of it again. And I too have a smile plastered on my face. I forgot how much enjoyment I got gliding on ice.

Skating the Rideau Canal in Ottawa
Lots of people skating the Rideau Canal on a Monday afternoon

The Rideau Canal – the largest naturally frozen ice rink

The 202 kilometre Rideau Canal, the oldest continuously operating canal system in North America (and hence it’s reason for being included as a UNESCO site), was built as a supply route between Montreal and Kingston.

Although the Rideau Canal was finished in 1832, it wasn’t until the winter of 1970 – 1971 that the Rideau Canal was opened to skaters.

The Rideau Canal is the largest, naturally frozen ice rink in the world with a skating surface equivalent to 90 Olympic hockey rinks – enough to earn it a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records. The longest naturally frozen rink is on the Red and Assiniboine Rivers in Winnipeg.

The area open for skating on the Rideau Canal runs 7.8 kilometres from the National Arts Center in downtown Ottawa past Dows Lake and on up to the Hartwell Locks.

We do 13.2 kilometres in total in about 90 minutes including a break for a Beavertail – a tasty piece of fried dough with cinnamon and sugar and hot apple cider.

Rounding the final bend towards downtown Ottawa
Rounding the final bend towards downtown Ottawa
There are several places to buy Beavertails along the Rideau Canal
There are several places to buy Beavertails along the Rideau Canal
There are several areas along the canal set up with picnic tables and food stands
There are several areas along the canal set up with picnic tables and food stands
Downtown Ottawa is at the end of this section
Downtown Ottawa is at the end of this section

Of course we have to pose for a picture as well on the Rideau Canal Skateway.

John and I with the Parliament Buildings as a backdrop
John and I with the Parliament Buildings as a backdrop
The zero kilometre mark outside of the National Arts Center
The zero kilometre mark on the Rideau Canal outside of the National Arts Center
Skating the Rideau Canal in Ottawa
The downtown area is the most crowded section when you’re skating the Rideau Canal
A beautiful patch of ice on the Rideau Canal
A beautiful patch of empty ice while skating the Rideau Canal

Winterlude Festival in Ottawa

The Rideau Canal has been a huge tourist attraction for years. The annual Winterlude Festival in February draws up to 600,000 people over the 18 day event. And in a typical season the Rideau Canal sees over one million skater visits.

A good view of the Parliament Buildings from skating the Rideau Canal
A good view of the Parliament Buildings from skating the Rideau Canal

When is the Rideau Canal open for skating?

The Rideau Canal is open for skating 24 hours a day though first aid isn’t available after 10 or 11 PM. It’s free to skate but you’ll likely have to pay for parking. Skates can be rented at Dow’s Lake or at Capital Skates on either the Mackenzie King Bridge or on 5th Avenue.

Despite the cold temperatures I was warm. Bundle up, wear a face mask if necessary, and avail yourself of the warming huts along the route.

The Rideau Canal skating season varies from winter to winter. The year we skated we got lucky as it’s often closed by the beginning of March.

It’s hard to know when the canal will close when Mother Nature is in charge. Check out the Rideau Canal Skateway website for the latest on opening times and conditions.

More fantastic ideas of things to do in Ontario in winter

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Skating the Rideau Canal in Ottawa

 

 

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