12 AMAZING Spots for Ice Skating in Banff Nationwide Park

Compiled by the Street Journey Alberta workforce

Final up to date on January 5, 2024

Gliding throughout a frozen lake on a pair of ice skates is one thing that each Canadian should do of their lifetime. With the epic mountain backdrops, ice skating in Banff Nationwide Park is such a tremendous factor to do within the wintertime. And there are many prime spots to lace them up and spend a morning, afternoon or perhaps a full day skating away. Right here’s our record of the perfect spots in Banff Nationwide Park for skating.

12 Greatest Locations for Ice Skating in Banff Nationwide Park

Lake Louise

There may be nothing like ice skating on the long-lasting Lake Louise. Maintained by the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, which incorporates each day snow elimination, the backdrop of this skating rink is likely one of the greatest on this planet. Although it’s definitely a busy ice rink – you’ll discover a number of vacationers right here – everybody ought to do this Lake Louise skating spot no less than as soon as.

The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise additionally erects ice sculptures and an ice citadel yearly, which makes for beautiful photograph alternatives. One other bonus: the ice is lit up at night time for night time skating!

Fairmont Banff Springs Lodge

Behind the Fairmont Banff Springs Lodge, you’ll discover the artifical Waldhaus rink. With views of the mountains and the beautiful lodge, this is likely one of the most iconic locations to skate in Banff.

There’s often a fireplace pit or two to heat up in entrance of, too! Notice that this rink is just for registered lodge visitors.

Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre

Some of the lovely locations to go out of doors skating in Banff, the Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre has over 16,000 sq. ft of ice to discover. Situated behind the curling facility, the Fenlands out of doors rink is ideal for skating whereas surrounded by bushes and mountains. It’s additionally conveniently situated simply close to the Banff city signal, so it’s inside strolling distance from many lodges in Banff. It’s also possible to go contained in the recreation centre as there are indoor rinks obtainable for public use, too.

Another excuse we love this Banff ice skating spot? The Fenlands Recreation Centre has skate leases, skate sharpening, warming areas, concession, and washrooms throughout its working hours. 

Prepare Station

After the closing of the ice rink at Banff Group Excessive Faculty, locals and vacationers alike needed entry to out of doors ice skating rinks. Fortunately, a skating rink opened up on the Prepare Station on the town, the place you may get pleasure from 16,800 sq. ft of skating floor.

There are additionally warming huts, benches, rubbish receptacles, and hearth pits to your use on the Prepare Station ice rink.

Lake Louise Recreation Centre

When you’re searching for an indoor rink, look no additional than the Lake Louise Recreation Centre. With an NHL-sized enviornment, this rink is offered for drop-ins for $2.

There are heated dressing rooms, hockey nets, and skate aids obtainable, amongst different facilities.

Wild Ice Skating in Banff

Wild skating in Banff Nationwide Park is completely unbelievable, but it surely does take some timing; there’s usually a really small window when you may truly skate on the frozen lakes round Banff. You must discover the correct circumstances, as there have to be stage of ice thickness, however there can’t be a whole lot of snow cowl.

Quite a lot of discovering the proper spot for a wild ice skate is luck, however you can even ask round in both Banff or Lake Louise for the skating circumstances and ice thickness. Whereas ice skating on lakes is totally weather-dependent, it usually makes for the perfect skating in Banff!

Bear in mind: not one of the following areas are maintained by Parks Canada, so skate on these frozen lakes at your individual danger. Extra on ice skating security in Banff is under.

Two Jack Lake

Discovered off of Minnewanka Street, skating on Two Jack Lake is a once-in-a-lifetime expertise. This lovely spot is thought for its incredible skating, however you need to time it proper; varied elements have an effect on ice thickness and security, and there are sometimes spots that haven’t absolutely frozen over. However in case you skate right here on the proper time of yr, the frozen lake takes on the looks of clean glass, making for a skate to recollect.

Security tip for skating on Two Jack Lake: keep no less than 100 metres from the dam on the east finish of the lake, as there may be all the time open water and dangerously skinny ice right here.

Lake Minnewanka

Discovered on Minnewanka Street, Lake Minnewanka skating is legendary in Banff Nationwide Park. As a result of it’s such a big and deep lake, Lake Minnewanka often takes a very long time to freeze over each winter. However when it does, it’s each ice skater’s dream!

The huge lake means that there’s tons of ice floor to cowl, however beware: excessive winds can generally push skaters out far onto the ice. It’s really helpful to skate together with your boots in a backpack so that you could stroll again on windy days.

Bow River

Simply west of Bow Avenue within the city of Banff, there’s a small patch of ice that’s often cleared on Bow River. Whereas it’s one of many closest pure ice surfaces to Banff for ice skating, skating alongside the river itself is just not really helpful; the shifting water beneath makes it harmful.

Johnson Lake

Extremely popular for Banff ice skating, one other lake discovered on Minnewanka Street is Johnson Lake. Typically one of many first lakes that freeze over each winter, this lake is an ideal place to check out wild skating in Banff.

Security tip for skating on Johnson Lake: ice could also be thinner on the west finish of the lake close to the footbridge, as that is the place a stream exits the reservoir. 

Vermilion Lakes

Accessible from the Vermilion Lakes Drive, Vermilion Lakes has great skating in winter. Extremely popular with locals because the lakes are fairly near Banff townsite, you’ll usually discover skaters clearing the snow right here for the perfect skating alternatives.

The primary two of the Vermilion Lakes are the perfect for ice skating; get pleasure from views of Mount Rundle as you whip throughout the pure ice.

Cascade Ponds

One other spot off of Minnewanka Street, Cascade Ponds has some nice skating in winter. Use warning when skating close to the streams, because the flowing water usually signifies that the ice isn’t as thick right here.

Peyto Lake

When you’re searching for a frozen lake that doesn’t have a whole lot of skaters, take a look at Peyto Lake. Whereas it requires extra effort to get to – you’ll should hike all the way down to the lake from the lake entry, not the viewing platform – Peyto Lake presents some wonderful skating alternatives with magnificent views.

What to Convey for Ice Skating in Banff

Regardless that you’ll be working up a sweat with all that ice skating, it’s nonetheless really helpful to decorate warmly for any out of doors actions in Banff. That features a heat jacket, snow pants, thick socks, mittens, a shawl, and a toque (at minimal). It’s all the time higher to layer up and be capable to take away gadgets of clothes than to really feel too chilly whereas skating!

And in case you don’t have your individual skates? There are many locations in Banff to hire ice skates.

The place to Lease Skates in Banff Nationwide Park

Fortunately, there are many locations in Banff and Lake Louise to hire ice skates. When you’re in Banff, you may hire skates from Banff Adventures, Chateau Mountain Sports activities on the Banff Springs Lodge, Final Sports activities, Snowtips-Bactrax, and Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre (for onsite use solely).

Headed to Lake Louise? You’ll be able to hire skates from the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise; Chateau Ski and Snow Leases is discovered close to the lodge foyer and presents ice skate leases. Wilson Mountain Sports activities in Lake Louise Village additionally presents skate leases.

Fast Suggestions for Ice Skating Security

Staying protected whereas ice skating in Banff is extraordinarily essential, and everybody ought to take ice security severely. Parks Canada does NOT monitor pure ice surfaces in Banff Nationwide Park, so in case you select to go wild ice skating, you achieve this at your individual danger.

How thick does ice should be to skate on? Parks Canada recommends that ice ought to be no less than 15 centimetres (roughly six inches) thick for strolling or skating alone, and the ice ought to be no less than 20 centimetres (roughly 7.5 inches) thick for video games or group skating. Nevertheless, by spring, a whole lot of ice can have melted after which frozen once more, making it unstable. We advocate ice skating in Banff in winter when the ice is at its thickest and strongest.

Clear blue ice is the strongest, whereas white ice is half as robust. Gray ice ought to be fully averted as there’s a sign of water. Don’t go wild ice skating at night time; it’s almost unattainable to see skinny ice or holes within the ice. For extra data on ice security, click on right here.

Ice Skating Close to Banff Nationwide Park

Are you keen to journey outdoors of the park for different skating alternatives? Abraham Lake is an notorious skating spot in Alberta as a result of methane ice bubbles that develop into trapped within the lake’s clear ice throughout winter, making for an unforgettable skate.

There’s additionally ice skating on Spray Lake Reservoir, Pyramid Lake, in Kananaskis Village, Hole Lake, Lac des Arcs, Goat Pond, and a number of spots round Canmore, together with the city pond.

Dalene Heck is a co-founder of Street Journey Alberta. She was born in Edmonton, grew up within the Peace Nation, and has ventured to nearly each nook of Alberta and the world (she’s travelled to 60 nations)! She is a serial blogger, the CEO of HMI Advertising and marketing, co-creator of the Journey Chaser card recreation, a leukemia-slayer, and cat whisperer.