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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 one of the best spots in Banff Nationwide Park for skating.
12 Finest Locations for Ice Skating in Banff Nationwide Park
Lake Louise
There may be nothing like ice skating on the enduring Lake Louise. Maintained by the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, which incorporates day by day snow removing, the backdrop of this skating rink is among the greatest on the planet. Although it’s definitely a busy ice rink – you’ll discover plenty of vacationers right here – everybody ought to do this Lake Louise skating spot at the least as soon as.
The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise additionally erects ice sculptures and an ice fortress yearly, which makes for pretty picture alternatives. One other bonus: the ice is lit up at evening for evening 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 resort, this is among the most iconic locations to skate in Banff.
There’s normally a fireplace pit or two to heat up in entrance of, too! Notice that this rink is just for registered resort friends.
Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre
One of the vital stunning 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 timber and mountains. It’s additionally conveniently positioned simply close to the Banff city signal, so it’s inside strolling distance from many motels in Banff. You may also go contained in the recreation centre as there are indoor rinks out there for public use, too.
One more reason 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.Â
Prepare Station
After the closing of the ice rink at Banff Neighborhood Excessive College, 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 take pleasure in 16,800 sq. ft of skating floor.
There are additionally warming huts, benches, rubbish receptacles, and fireplace pits to your use on the Prepare Station ice rink.
Lake Louise Recreation Centre
When you’re on the lookout for an indoor rink, look no additional than the Lake Louise Recreation Centre. With an NHL-sized area, this rink is offered for drop-ins for $2.
There are heated dressing rooms, hockey nets, and skate aids out there, 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 typically a really small window when you may really skate on the frozen lakes round Banff. It’s important to discover the precise circumstances, as there should be a superb degree of ice thickness, however there can’t be numerous snow cowl.
Plenty of discovering the proper spot for a wild ice skate is luck, however you can too 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 typically makes for one of the best skating in Banff!
Keep 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 beneath.
Two Jack Lake
Discovered off of Minnewanka Street, skating on Two Jack Lake is a once-in-a-lifetime expertise. This stunning spot is understood for its unbelievable skating, however you need to time it proper; numerous components have an effect on ice thickness and security, and there are sometimes spots that haven’t totally frozen over. However when you skate right here on the proper time of yr, the frozen lake takes on the looks of easy glass, making for a skate to recollect.
Security tip for skating on Two Jack Lake: keep at the least 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 normally 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 along with your boots in a backpack to be able to 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 normally cleared on Bow River. Whereas it’s one of many closest pure ice surfaces to Banff for ice skating, skating alongside the river itself isn’t really helpful; the transferring water beneath makes it harmful.
Johnson Lake
Highly regarded for Banff ice skating, one other lake discovered on Minnewanka Street is Johnson Lake. Usually 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.Â
Vermilion Lakes
Accessible from the Vermilion Lakes Drive, Vermilion Lakes has great skating in winter. Highly regarded with locals because the lakes are fairly near Banff townsite, you’ll typically discover skaters clearing the snow right here for one of the best skating alternatives.
The primary two of the Vermilion Lakes are one of the best for ice skating; take pleasure in 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 typically signifies that the ice isn’t as thick right here.
Peyto Lake
When you’re on the lookout for a frozen lake that doesn’t have numerous skaters, try Peyto Lake. Whereas it requires extra effort to get to – you’ll need to hike right down to the lake from the lake entry, not the viewing platform – Peyto Lake gives 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 of take away objects of clothes than to really feel too chilly whereas skating!
And when you don’t have your individual skates? There are many locations in Banff to lease ice skates.
The place to Hire Skates in Banff Nationwide Park
Fortunately, there are many locations in Banff and Lake Louise to lease ice skates. When you’re in Banff, you may lease 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 possibly can lease skates from the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise; Chateau Ski and Snow Leases is discovered close to the resort foyer and gives ice skate leases. Wilson Mountain Sports activities in Lake Louise Village additionally gives skate leases.
Fast Ideas for Ice Skating Security
Staying secure 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 when you select to go wild ice skating, you accomplish that at your individual danger.
How thick does ice must be to skate on? Parks Canada recommends that ice ought to be at the least 15 centimetres (roughly six inches) thick for strolling or skating alone, and the ice ought to be at the least 20 centimetres (roughly 7.5 inches) thick for video games or group skating. Nonetheless, by spring, numerous ice could 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 prevented as there’s a sign of water. Don’t go wild ice skating at evening; it’s almost not possible to see skinny ice or holes within the ice. For extra info 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 virtually 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 sport, a leukemia-slayer, and cat whisperer.