7 outdoor skating rinks in Calgary

Dec 6 2016, 3:51 am

Written for Daily Hive by Lucas Taylor


As the holidays approach, the rush and thrill of buying gifts for loved ones and making merry preparations can all too quickly turn into angst and stress. A wonderful winter pastime to help reduce holiday stress is, of course, ice-skating. Fortunately, Calgary has many outdoor skating rinks scattered around the city.

Bowness Park Lagoon

Bowness Park is a popular leisure spot for Calgarians with boating and train rides available during the summer months; however the beautiful lagoon is open for skating from December 25 through February 15. Skate rentals are available for $10 per day, and helmet rentals are free of charge. Bowness Park is located in the city’s Northwest.

Address: 8900 48th Avenue NW

Carburn Park

A beautiful park perfect for fishing and bird watching in the summer, Carburn Park is great for winter too. Unfortunately, there’s no skate rental available here, but there is a public washroom open year round. Skating in this part of the city, the glow of downtown in the distance and the starry expanse above you, is as relaxing as it is beautiful. Carburn Park is located in the city’s Southeast.

Address: 67 Riverview Drive SE
Open: Scheduled for mid-December

Thomson Family Park

Having just opened in mid-October, Thomson Family Park will host an outdoor skating rink this winter that will be ready by mid-December. The park is home to playgrounds, walkways, a picnic area, and is nestled on the corner of 11th Street Southwest and 16th Avenue Southwest.

Address: 1236 16th Avenue SW
Open: Scheduled for mid-December

Olympic Plaza

The beautiful downtown Olympic Plaza is home to a small but beautiful skating rink, open from mid November to mid March. Walking distance from City Hall Station on the train line, Olympic Plaza rests at the heart of downtown Calgary. Skaters have a gorgeous view of skyline-defining buildings, including the Calgary Tower, and the entire skating rink is surrounded by beautiful holiday decorations. Skate rentals are available at the Skate Hut Thursday-Sunday evenings, starting from $8 for children to $12 for adults. Helmets are also available for rent for $5.

Address: 228 8th Avenue SE
Open: Daily from 6 am to 11 pm

Big Marlborough Park

Featuring walking paths, two large parking lots, a toboggan hill, Big Marlborough Park is a fantastic place for outdoor skating. The skating rink itself even features bleachers as well as a fire ring, perfect for taking a break from the ice. Skate rentals aren’t available, but it’s close to Memorial Drive East and the Trans-Canada, making the park easily accessible from almost anywhere in the city.

Address: 6033 Madigan Drive NE

Cougar Creek

Only about an hour outside of Calgary, Canmore is home to several wonderful skating rinks as well. For hockey fans, the Cougar Creek outdoor ice rink is perfect. The rink itself is lit until 10 p.m. and features hockey boards and nets, player benches, and of course sticks and pucks are allowed. A portable toilet is on-sight, so there’s no need to cut a game short for a washroom break.

Address: Elk Run Boulevard and Canyon Road, Canmore AB

Canmore Skating Pond

Not far from Cougar Creek, the Canmore Skating Pond is a perfect place for those looking for a quieter skating scene, as hockey sticks and pucks are not allowed. The pond is suitable for all age groups, features a nearby heated gazebo, picnic tables, and is also lit until 10 p.m. Both of these rinks are fantastic, and would make for the perfect end of a Christmas season adventure nestled in the mountains.

Address: – 7th Avenue and Mallard Alley, Canmore AB

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