Where to Go Ice Skating in Banff and Canmore

Ice skating in Banff and Canmore is a highlight for many visitors to Banff in the winter and a favorite way for locals to pass the time. The best part is that it’s a free activity, with a mix of maintained rinks and beautiful natural frozen lakes.

When the weather is just right, it’s tough to find a better winter experience in Banff than skating across a scenic lake. Ice skating on the Canadian Rockies lakes can happen during any time of the winter, but the best conditions are early in the winter, around late November or December. Later in the winter, snow can often cover the lakes, making skating nearly impossible without a shovel and some hard work. However, there are several maintained rinks you can head to once that happens.

There is likely no better place in the world to lace up a pair of ice skates and take to the ice than Banff and Canmore. Before venturing out to any of these destinations, please read the safety information at the bottom of this post.

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When Can You Go Skating in Banff?

Skating in Banff depends on the seasonal weather. In 2020, we caught the first excellent ice skate of the season on Johnson Lake in the first week of November, but we were waiting a bit longer the year before that. 2021 didn’t see a great wild ice skating season at all, while in 2023, the lakes started turning to solid ice in late November.

Timing is key to ice skating on frozen lakes in Banff and Canmore. It needs to be cold enough that the ice has frozen over enough to skate on, but also before the snow falls enough to cover the lake. Most of the photos in this post were taken between November and January.

You can ice skate on many of the maintained rinks all winter long. This includes the Canmore town pond and at Lake Louise.

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Where to Enjoy Skating in Banff

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Lake Louise

There is no place to ice skate in Banff that is more iconic or scenic than the famous Lake Louise. It’s not much of a surprise that it’s regularly considered one of the world’s best ice skating rinks. It’s also tremendous, as the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise maintains the frozen lake.

The lake is regularly cleared of snow and resurfaced starting around mid-December, so visitors can enjoy ice skating during the winter despite conditions on other natural lakes.

What really sets Lake Louise apart from the other lakes is the lake’s atmosphere. Around the lakeshore, you can find fires, an ice bar, a horse sleigh, and an ice castle during December, and it gets even more festive the closer you get to Christmas. It’s one of our favorite things to do in Banff in winter and always a treat.

Lake Louise every few winters, can freeze very early before a significant snowfall, resulting in a blue glass lake. It’s an absolutely stunning natural occurrence and usually happens in November, but don’t count on seeing the lake this way as November is generally the worst month to visit Banff.

The lake freezing like this isn’t something I would count on when visiting, and it doesn’t happen every year. Typically when it does happen, you have a tiny window of time to enjoy it; last year, this window of time was literally 6 hours. I say this only to manage expectations as the surface will likely be a frosted white, but the views are sublime!

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Lake Minnewanka

If you’re hoping to get that gorgeous mountain lake with a glass surface, Minnewanka in December or January is probably your best bet. The lake freezes later than Lake Louise as it’s lower in elevation, is massive, and lies in a valley that experiences high winds.

This can blow the snowfall off the ice and leave a perfect surface. The experience on ice like this is extraordinary as it’s gorgeous and a better surface to skate on than most ice rinks.

Lake Minnewanka is huge, and when it freezes, you can skate in one direction for ages and watch the mountain scenery pass. It’s a fantastic experience and one of our favorite places to ice skate in Banff. A big downside is that the vast majority of winter, it’s impossible to ice skate on Lake Minnewanka as the lake is not maintained, and snow/ice build-up makes it impossible.

The good news is if you’re visiting Banff during Christmas/New Year, you have a good chance of getting a chance to skate on the lake as it freezes around this time. We skated on Lake Minnewanka on New Year’s Day in 2020. However, it all depends on the year. You can stay up to date by joining our Facebook group, where we post updates about what lakes are frozen in Banff.

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Vermilion Lakes

Vermilion Lakes are fantastic natural lakes just outside of Banff. They offer incredible views and are one of our favorite spots in Banff for sunset or sunrise. The views out over the lakes to Mount Rundle are stunning, making it a hotspot for photographers.

It’s not always possible to skate on this lake as it is not maintained and often is covered in a thick layer of snow, but it’s usually one of the first lakes in Banff to freeze over. It’s also quite shallow. You should take note of the ice thickness near the dock of the third lake, as warm spring water thins the ice there.

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Bow River

You aren’t limited to lakes and ponds; you can also skate on the famous Bow River. Every year, just outside of the town of Banff, just west of Bow Avenue, an oval is cleared by the town when conditions permit.

However, it can be very subjective to seasonal changes and varying ice thickness as it’s a river. It’s located next to the Banff Canoe Club, and it’s a short walk outside of the center of town.

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Lake Louise Recreation Centre

This maintained rink is located off Village Road in Lake Louise, and the facility has both an outdoor hockey and skating rink. It’s a great place to go for an ice skate on a maintained surface.

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Johnson Lake

Johnson Lake is off the road to Lake Minnewanka. It’s a popular spot for ice skating while conditions last. Due to its size, it’s often one of the first lakes to freeze over in Banff. Like many natural lakes around Banff, it has a small window of time when ice skating is possible here.

Skating at Johnson Lake means you get fantastic views of Mount Cascade while skating. There’s also a hidden rope swing on Johnson Lake. It’s intended for jumping into the lake in the summer, but it is pretty fun to swing on it and skate off!

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Two Jack Lake

Two Jack is one of our favorite places to head for a stand-up paddleboard in the summer because of the views, but these views are just as good in the winter. When Two Jack Lake freezes over, you can enjoy some fantastic views of Mount Rundle and a gorgeous skate.

It’s also an excellent photo spot when the lake reflects the landscape. It’s suitable for a skate around November to December before the lake gets covered in snow.

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Peyto Lake

Peyto Lake isn’t a popular place to skate in Banff as it’s location along the Icefields Parkway means it often has a very short skating window. However, if you happen to catch the lake after it freeze but before the snow falls you are in for a treat here. Skating under the Peyto Glacier and Cauldron Peak is something that will take your breath away.

The only catch? There is limited parking along the Icefields Parkway to reach the Peyto Lakeshore. If you can score parking, you’ll have to hike about 20 minutes through the forest to reach the Peyto Lake Lakeshore. We recommend micropikes as the trail can get icy!

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Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre

This is the only Banff indoor ice rink on this list, and it’s open all year, so you can still ice skate in the summer! It’s a guaranteed smooth surface and outstanding as when it gets too cold, temperatures are far milder on the indoor ice rink.

You will have to pay for use of the ice rink and ice skate rentals if you don’t have your own. Never worry—it’s not too expensive at $7 for adults over 18. This is also the only place on the list that costs money: $7 for adults over 18, $4.75 for teenagers, and a flat rate of $16.50 for a family.

For more information about when you can skate at the Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre email [email protected] or call 403.762.1235.

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Banff Springs Hotel

We never skated at the Banff Springs Hotel as we’ve never stayed in the hotel during the wintertime. The small rink is located right outside the hotel. You can enjoy a skate here as a guest, and it is possible to skate as an outside guest as the main levels are open to the public. It’s one of the most magical places to head to during the holidays, as “Christmas at the Castle” is in full swing.

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Banff Recreation Grounds Outdoor Ice Rink

If you don’t fancy heading into the frozen wilderness, this is a great place to skate. It’s just a stone’s throw from most hotels, making it a comfortable Banff ice skating spot for all visitors. The town maintains it, too, making it completely safe.

Skaters have access to the new pavilion building at the Banff Recreation Grounds, which provides washrooms and skate-friendly flooring. The pavilion is open from 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. daily.

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Fenlands Outdoor Meadow Rink

At 5,000 sq. ft. and meandering through the meadow behind the Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre this outdoor rink is one of the best maintained rinks in Banff. Operating daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., the rink is conveniently situated behind the curling facility. To access the rink, follow the outdoor path adjacent to the overflow parking lot from the main parking area.

A Crokicurl rink is in even in the works. What is Crokicurl? This is a unique blend of curling and crokinole, that involves playing on ice with regular shoes or boots, utilizing provided curling stones.

The Fenlands Recreation Centre offers amenities such as skate sharpening, skate rentals, warming areas, a concession stand, and washrooms during its regular operating hours. Skate rentals can be obtained from the front desk until 4 p.m.

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Where to Enjoy Skating in Canmore

Although Canmore and Banff are incredibly close, ice skating in Canmore may make sense if you stay in a Canmore hotel rather than driving into Banff, or if you are coming from Calgary. These are our favorite places for ice skating in Canmore and Kananaskis.

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Canmore Town Pond

This is easily one of the best places to go skating in Canmore. Each winter, the town of Canmore maintains a lovely natural ice skating pond just outside of downtown. It’s serviced daily and resurfaces three to five times a week, so you have a reliable surface. It’s great for vacationers who choose Canmore as their base.

It’s even lit at night, so it’s a great place to head if you feel like enjoying some nighttime skating. The only downside is there are no views as the pond is surrounded by trees and in a neighborhood. There are several frozen ponds around the town of Canmore. You can find those on the site here.

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Gap Lake Skating

Gap Lake is off of the 1A on the way to Cochrane from Canmore. The lake is prone to the wind, which keeps it snow-free for an extended time. It’s not the most beautiful lake in the Canadian Rockies for a skate, but it has some excellent ice when frozen.

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Spray Lakes

Like Lake Minnewanka, this massive man-made lake in Kananaskis can freeze over with perfect ice that reflects the breathtaking views of the Spray Valley. The natural valley creates a bottleneck for winds which, like the famous Abraham Lake in Nordegg, creates hard ice that is often snow-free.

It’s an impeccable place to go for ice skating in the Canadian Rockies. However, be mindful as the reservoir remains deeper than many other lakes, and a fall in the ice could have real consequences.

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Lac Des Arcs

It’s hard to say this is the most scenic spot in the Canadian Rockies for ice skating. Lac Des Arcs sits at the end of the Bow Valley with the TransCanada on one side and a sizable cement plant on the other.

However, the ice here is generally excellent when in season. The area is well known for the high winds and chinooks that rip through the narrow valley section out to the foothills. The wind keeps the ice in good condition and snow-free.

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Barrier Lake

Barrier Lake is a man-made reservoir at the north end of Kananaskis Country. It is a great place to skate and is relatively close to Calgary. You can easily park at the day use area and take a quick five-minute walk to the lakeshore to lace up your skates.

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Goat Pond

Goat Pond isn’t in Banff, but it has to be mentioned on this list as it’s truly an exceptional place to wild ice skate near Canmore. Goat Pond is located on Smith Dorrien Road. If you can catch the pond right after it freezes, but before the first snowfall, you’ll be in for a real treat. Many logs and stumps here are beautiful to view through the clear us.

If the ice is completely frozen, you’ll get more and more views as you head further away from the road. There’s even a “field” of stumps. Goat Pond may not look like much at first sight, especially when compared to so many of the photogenic points around Banff, but I promise you it’s a great place to ice skate.

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Kananaskis Village Ice Skating Rink

Kananaskis Village Ice Skating Rink is an excellently maintained, small rink perfect for families. It is awesome if you stay at the Kananaskis Mountain Lodge or visit the Nordic Spa. There are often nets, so bring your hockey sticks and pucks for a game! *Before venturing out to Kananaskis Village for skating, it’s best to call the Kananaskis Mountain Lodge and ensure it is operating first.

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Where to Go Ice Skating Beyond Banff

Ice skating doesn’t stop at the Banff Park gates. There are beautiful frozen lakes to skate on all around the area!

Abraham Lake (David Thompson Country)

Abraham Lake is not too far from Banff National Park in David Thompson Country. In about a two-hour drive from Banff, you can be at one of Canada’s most famous spots to see the renowned methane ice bubbles, so it deserves a special place on this list. If you have ever wanted to skate on ice bubbles, head here around January and February.

In lakes, large white bubbles are created when water-dwelling bacteria feed on decaying organic matter, expelling methane gas. When the water freezes, the methane bubbles get trapped in the ice and create these fantastic phenomena.

This area is exceptionally windy, meaning snow doesn’t cover the ice like all the other bodies of water on this list. So, there’s typically a massive window of time to skate on the ice bubbles here. However, take extra precautions at Abraham Lake. It’s not the best place to wild ice skate, as Abraham Lake is a reservoir, meaning the water levels are constantly changing creating gaps in the ice.

We’ve skated on Abraham Lake, but only on the shallow areas at Preachers Point, where an accident or fall through the ice would result in a very wet foot. Please use your common sense here.

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Emerald Lake (Yoho)

Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park isn’t usually considered a place to go ice skating, but if you can time it right, it’s a majestic place for a skate. And when I say time it right, I really have to emphasize to time it right.

The small micro-climate of the area means there is abundant snow from December to March. With Emerald Lake Lodge in the center of the lake, the whole scene reminds you of the inside of a snow globe.

This means that when the lake does freeze over, the heavy snow levels make it almost impossible to ice skate right off the bat. We were lucky enough to hit it on one of the two days of 2023 when it was possible to skate on the lake, right before a decent-sized snowfall. We arrived a day after it froze, and it was already getting a small dusting. We were the only people skating on the entire lake in these photos.

Still if you can watch the weather and the Emerald Lake webcam, you could be in for a treat if you catch it at the right time.

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Pyramid Lake (Jasper)

Pyramid Lake is the Lake Louise of Jasper National Park. Make the journey from Banff to Jasper in the winter, and you’ll be treated to fewer crowds with just as many mountain views.

One of the best places to ice skate in Jasper is Pyramid Lake. This lake is typically frozen by early December. Pyramid Lake Lodge maintains a small ice rink where visitors can skate or play hockey. Around the holidays, they also have sleigh rides all around Pyramid Lake!

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Ice Skate Rentals Around Banff

You don’t need to come with your own set of skates to Banff, as there are many places to rent a pair.

Banff

• Snowtips-Bactrax
• Banff Adventures Unlimited
• Fenlands Recreation Centre (Skates available for rental for use on-site only)
• Ultimate Sports Downtown
• Chateau Mountain Sports (Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel) 

 Lake Louise

• Wilson Mountain Sports
• Chateau Mountain Sports (Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise)

Canmore

• Gear Up!

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Buy Ice Skates

Of course, if you plan on skating in Banff a lot, you don’t have to rent skates every day. It may be worth it for you to buy a pair of ice skates. You have your choice for them if you buy online, and Canadian Tire in Canmore sometimes has quite a selection. We purchased ours at Canadian Tire in November before ice skating in Banff was in full swing.

I also recommend browsing Facebook Marketplace to find a good used pair. However, when ice skating season arrives in Banff, ice skates are a hot commodity.

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Banff Ice Skating Safety Tips

There is always some level of risk when skating in the Canadian Rockies, and any natural lake. The frozen lakes are a real treat – there are not many areas left in the world where you can wild skate like this. November is off-season in Banff, and skating on the frozen lakes is many locals’ highlight of the month!

“Wild skating,” as locals call it, is risky, but if you take proper precautions, you can have a safer experience. You should never just do what the crowd is doing and think it’s perfectly safe. I know your mom asked you as a child:

“if your friend jumped off a cliff, would you do it too?”

Well, the age-old question couldn’t be more accurate with ice skating on frozen lakes in Banff. You are responsible for ensuring ice safety in these areas in the Rockies.

Check ice thickness yourself before venturing out. In recent years a few skaters fell through the ice in the park; they were okay, but a scary experience you don’t want to have nonetheless.

It’s best to watch some Youtube videos and read up on ice safety. It’s essential to know how to rescue yourself if you fall in. You may even feel more comfortable wearing a PFD while ice skating in Canmore and Banff.

We’d advise erring on the side of caution. If this is your first time skating in Banff, don’t take off exploring any lake you can find. There are plenty of local resources and maintained rinks that ensure everyone is safer.

It’s best not to skate alone unless you’re on a maintained rink and are an experienced ice skating enthusiast, but even then, we recommend using the buddy system.

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Are These Frozen Lakes Monitored?

There is no one monitoring and ensuring the safety of others when ice skating in the Rockies. Like hiking and scrambling in the summer, skating in Banff is an at-your-own-risk activity. Parks Canada does not monitor these lakes and inform the public when lakes are safe or not to skate on.

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What To Watch For When Wild Ice Skating

Many factors affect ice thickness, including time of year, location, weather, and the following:

• Depth and surface of the body of water
• Moving water such as rivers, springs, and streams
• Salt or other chemicals
• Objects that can absorb solar heat such as docks, rocks, or logs
• Temperature changes
• Fluctuations in water levels

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Depth of Ice

The ice should be at least 15 cm for walking or ice skating and 20 cm for a large skating party or hockey game.

How to Check the Thickness of Ice?

Parks Canada recommends checking the thickness of the ice by drilling a hole in the ice to ensure its thickness. With an ice screw, ice chisel, auger, or cordless drill, you can do this. Then insert a tape measure into the hole. It’s also recommended to check ice every 150 feet. It’s essential to remember that ice is never 100% safe, but all these tips can help you minimize risks.

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Color of Ice

The color of the ice is a great way to indicate its strength. Clear ice is the strongest and best for ice skating in Banff. White or opaque snow ice can be half as strong as blue ice. The white surface comes from wet snow melting and freezing on the ice. If the ice is grey, do not skate on this surface as it is weak and indicates water in the ice.

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How to Find Out What Lakes Are Good to Ice Skate On

There are no official announcements from the park indicating when lakes freeze over and are suitable for ice skating. The best way to find out about skating on the lakes in Banff is through word of mouth and social media. We have an up-to-date Facebook group dedicated to traveling Banff here.

That being said, viral social media posts can cause a crowd, but no one wants to gatekeep the wilderness. If an area is so crowded that you can’t even find parking, it is best to pick another activity.

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Where are the Famous Methane Ice Bubbles?

The most famous place to see the methane ice bubbles in the Rockies is Abraham Lake. Come February, these photos are usually all over Instagram. However, these frozen methane bubbles can be seen at lakes closer to Downtown Banff, just not in such abundance. Lake Minnewanka and Lac Des Arcs are prime examples.

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Is Ice Skating in Banff Free?

Besides the cost of a Parks Canada pass, ice skates and safety gear, ice skating in Banff is a totally free activity. You can always skate at the Canmore Town Pond or Lac des Arcs if you don’t have a Parks Canada Pass!

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Where Are the Safest Places to Skate in the Rockies?

Unless you are on a maintained skating rink, I want to reiterate that nowhere is 100% safe. If you are a bit nervous about skating on a frozen lake, it’s best to head to the Canmore Town Pond, Banff High School, Banff Springs Hotel, Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre, or the Lake Louise rink that is maintained by the Fairmont.

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If You Get into Trouble on Ice and You Are Alone

• Call for help if possible.
• Resist the urge to climb back out where you fell in as ice is weak in this area.
• Relax and Breathe. Try not to panic.
• Face the shore, the ice is more stable close to shore.
• Reach forward without pushing down and kick your legs so you are in a horizontal position, and slowly try to crawl back onto the ice.
• How to survive a fall through ice.
• We bought a pair of ice picks for $10 online, they will help if we ever have to self rescue.

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What to Pack When Ice Skating in Banff?

Obviously, you need your ice skates and possibly a hockey stick and puck, but a few other items will make your experience much better.

If you’re able to skate on the frozen lakes of the Canadian Rockies, one thing is sure – it’s cold – freezing. You’ll want to dress warmly. A parka or down jacket, hats, and gloves at a minimum. I’ll also wear these fleece leggings and snow pants, especially for the really chilly days.

We also find having a blanket to throw down is excellent for relaxing. Our favorite adventure blanket is the Yeti Lowlands Blanket. Chairs are never a bad idea, and a thermos with hot cocoa, tea, or coffee inside!

For safety, many people wear a helmet, especially kids. Just like skiing, you could easily catch an edge on a crack, which could result in you hitting your head on hard ice. In addition, if you are unsure of the ice, wearing a life jacket is never a bad idea. We also always have an ice screw on us, so we can test the ice ourselves.

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Bring a Shovel

If you have your heart set on ice skating, but the lakes have been covered in snow, consider bringing a shovel and shoveling your own ice rink. Of course, you won’t get to skate on a marble-like ball, and the ice will be rougher, but you are still skating in a beautiful area nonetheless! Always make sure to inspect the area you are shoveling.

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Hopefully, this helped you determine where to go ice skating in Banff. Please note this post is for information purposes only, and we are not responsible for actions taken on the ice. If you have any other questions, leave a comment or see our Canadian Rockies travel guide for more articles about photography spots, lakes, hikes, and everything else.

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