Local’s Guide to Skating the Rideau Canal Skateway in 2024

The Rideau Canal Skateway is the reason Ottawa is one of the top places to visit in Canada during the winter. Every year around February or March (depending on the weather), the canal freezes over and becomes the world’s longest outdoor skating rink at 7.8km long.

I grew up driving from Toronto to Ottawa every winter to see my aunt and skate the canal. When I moved to Ottawa in 2021, I couldn’t wait to skate again and spent the 3 weeks the canal was open skating everywhere – even to get my groceries!

This isn’t just a tourist attraction, the canal is a winter highway for locals to get around the city.

To help you make the most of your time skating the Rideau Canal, I’ve put together a complete guide based on my decades of experience on the ice in Ottawa.

When is the Rideau Canal Skateway Open?

The exact dates that the Rideau Canal Skateway is open vary every year as it’s entirely dependant on the weather. To open, the ice has to be at least 30cm thick which requires 10-14 days of temperatures ranging from -10°C to -20°C. 

Typically, the canal is open from January to early March. There have been times it’s opened as early as mid-December (the last recorded time was in 1977). Unfortunately in 2023, the Rideau Canal didn’t open for skating for the first time in over 50 years due to warm weather. 

The best time to visit Ottawa to skate on the Rideau Canal is in mid-February. This will give you the best chance of the canal being frozen.

Note that the canal can close at any time for things like warm weather coming in suddenly, freezing rain, or a major blizzard. 

The canal is open for skating 24/7 when the ice is solid. 

That means you can skate day or night! 

I recommend arriving in the morning for the best skating conditions, just after the zamboni known as the “Froster” has cleared the ice of snow and spread out some water to smooth out the surface of the ice. 

You can get up to date information on the canal’s status here. 

How Much Does it Cost?

It’s free to skate on the Rideau Canal in winter! You only need to pay to rent gear if you don’t have your own or to buy snacks along the route. 

Skateway Entrance and Exit Points

You can access the skateway from anywhere along the Rideau Canal with one of the 30+ access points and 5 universal access ramps.

Lots of people make use of the ramps. I’ve seen so many people pushing strollers or wheelchairs on the ice.

These access points are along major bus routes, and some are even near O-Train stops (like the one at the Rideau Center), which makes it super easy to do a one-way skate and take public transport home.

I had to do that once when I underestimated how exhausting skating 7.8km would be when you haven’t skated in 5 years! 

There are free and paid parking lots along the canal, but the free lots fill up very quickly. The free spots on side streets near Dow’s Lake fill up especially quickly.

My two favourite paid lots are the one at Lansdowne Centre and the City Hall Underground Parking. They’re each a 2 minute walk from the canal. 

You can find all the entry points to the canal on this interactive map. 

Renting Skates at the Rideau Canal

You can rent skates at the Rideau, Fifth, and Dows entrances to the Rideau Canal. Hours vary by location, but typically run from late morning to 9pm. You can’t rent new gear after 8pm. 

To rent skates, you’ll need to pay a deposit and show a valid photo ID (driver’s license or passport).

You can also rent sleighs to push kids on the ice, ice trikes to bicycle on the ice, and kicksleds (they look kind of like dog sleds) to help with balance. You can also get your skates sharpened at these huts, but the line ups get quite long. 

Dows also has Skate Trainers (a simpler kicksled to help kids learn to skate) and helmets for rent. 

Skates cost $30 CAD for the first two hours (Rideau, Fifth) or $26 CAD for the first two hours (Dows). 

For the best bet, reserve online first.

Or head to a used sporting goods store like Play It Again Sports (or even Kijiji) to buy used skates. I got mine for $70, sharpening included from that store.

Then you can donate them or resell them before you go home. 

What to Wear 

The Rideau Canal feels about 5°C colder than walking around downtown Ottawa, so bundle up! 

I recommend wearing:

• A parka
• A fleece or long johns
• Snowpants or windproof pants (snowpants also cushion you against falls)
• A scarf or balaclava to cover your neck
• Waterproof gloves, and bring some hand warmers if you get cold easily
• Wool socks inside your skates or two pairs of thick normal socks
• A hat or ear muffs
• Skates (your own or rentals)
• Helmet (if you aren’t a confident skater)

Remember, Ottawa gets freezing in winter. I’m talking -30°C temperatures where it’s so cold your eyelashes freeze together.

It’s better to have a few too many layers and be a bit sweaty than to be freezing. 

It took me about 2 hours to skate the entirety of the canal back and forth once I was doing it regularly, so expect that you’ll be out there for quite a while. I’d rather be a lil sweaty than shivering for hours!

Where to Leave Your Gear

There are cubbies along the canal at almost every access point, but these aren’t lockable. Although boot theft isn’t common, it can happen, and that would suck.

I recommend wearing a backpack and putting your boots inside. I would wrap mine in a reusable grocery bag so they didn’t get the rest of my bag wet. 

This also gives you the flexibility to get on or off the ice whenever you feel like it.

It’s very common to see people skating with their boots in their hands, sticking out of their bags, or even in a gym bag around their shoulders.

I don’t recommend carrying too much stuff as it’ll get heavy, so keep your bag light with just the essentials like your phone and wallet. 

Ice Conditions

The Rideau Canal is not like the indoor rinks you might be used to. The canal is exposed to the elements and gets skated on my tens of thousands of people every day. That means the conditions get a bit rough.

The ice tends to be smoothest in the morning after they flood it at night and zamboni it. Throughout the day, and especially on busy weekends, it gets choppier. 

Keep an eye out for chips in the ice or inconsistent layering from how the water froze. Skate slowly and keep your eyes on the ice itself as you go so you don’t trip.

I’ve skated on the ice at its busiest and it’s still a nice skate, but you’ll definitely notice the rough spots. I have tripped a couple times when I’d get distracted and my toe pick would catch on a hole (they don’t recommend figure skates for this reason, but many people still wear them). 

Where to Rest and Warm Up

Don’t forget to take breaks and warm up. 

You can either hop off the ice and check out some local restaurants around whatever access point you’re closest to, or you can take advantage of the warming huts located across the ice.

These are red and wood buildings along the ice at Km 0, Fifth, and Dows Lake.

You’ll also find benches at every access point.

What to Eat on the Rideau Canal

My favourite part of skating on the canal as a kid was the snacks!

You’ll find food vendors at Rideau, Concord, Fifth Bronson, and Dows where you can get poutine from Smokes, Beavertails covered in cinnamon sugar, and maple taffy (a Canadian delicacy!).

You’ll also find coffee and hot chocolate.

Hours vary but typically they’re open from noon to 8pm. 

Best Places to Take Photos on the Rideau Canal

Firstly, you need to get to the canal at the right time of day. If you arrive around noon, any day of the week but especially on the weekend, it’ll be nearly impossible to get photos without people nearly smashing into you if you stop in a busy spot. 

I recommend a sunrise or sunset skate to get the pinks of the sky reflecting off the ice. In the morning it’s particularly nice when the ice has just been cleaned.

These are my favourite spots to stop any take photos:

• The KM marking signs (especially if you can take photos of 0 to 7.8km)
• Lansdowne entrance looking back at the Chateau Laurier and the Art Gallery
• Patterson Creek (under the little bridge)
• Overlooking the ice at Flora Footbridge, Pretoria Bridge, Laurier Avenue Bridge, or Bronson Avenue Bridge

Night Skating

Skating at night is one of the most unique things you can do – and getting to do it on a UNESCO World Heritage Site is definitely something for the bucket list!

At night, the city uses floodlights to make the canal skateable so you can slowly glide along the ice under the stars. Unfortunately, you won’t see very many due to the city lights, but it’s still nice to know they’re up there.

Some of the snack vendors are open till 11pm so you can grab a late night bite as you skate.

Be careful at night. This is when they clean the canal, so stay out of the way of the zamobinis, and be sure you have a headlamp if the lights aren’t bright enough to see the canal. I don’t recommend skating at night when it’s snowing heavily. 

Winterlude

The Rideau Canal Skateway is a part of the free Winterlude festivities in Ottawa held every February. 

Along with skating on the Rideau Canal, you’ll find ice sculptures from global artists, a snow playground for kids, Indigenous cultural activities, and a snowman building competition! 

There are tons of events for adults and kids to enjoy around Ottawa and into Gatineau.

Visit in the 2nd week of February to attend and get the best chance that the canal is frozen. 

Safety on the Canal

Before I go, I wanted to remind you to be safe on the canal. Every year, there are injuries that could have been avoided from people trying to do daring stunts or not paying attention to other people and running into them. 

Ottawa used to have a daily news broadcast just about the number of injuries on the canal that day – most of them avoidable.

Wear a helmet if you don’t feel comfortable skating without one (to be honest, I think everyone should wear one for safety). Be sure you have lots of layers on and gloves to help cushion any falls. Be mindful of other people and of the ice itself so you don’t trip or hit other people. And go slow if you aren’t a confident skater.

Also note that dogs aren’t allowed on the canal, as it’s a safety hazard. Protect their paws and keep them on the paved walking trail the runs above the canal. 

Ottawa Canal Skating Map

Map made by Project Local Love.

Is Skating on the Rideau Canal Just for Tourists?

The Rideau Canal isn’t just a tourist attraction, it’s also beloved by locals.

Unlike growing up in Toronto where we groaned over every festival that meant more traffic, Ottawans get hyped when the canal starts to freeze over.

My roommate, a born and bred Ottawan, was like a kid on Christmas morning all January and February just waiting for news that it was time to lace up his skates.

My mom went to school in Ottawa, and she and her friends would actually skate to classes in the winter to save on bus fare.

I love skating the canal because it’s the perfect blend of locals – like business people in their suits with ties flying into their faces – and tourists – like families with kids all decked out in new maple leaf themed gear. Everyone’s having a good time, enjoying being outdoors.

If you’re looking for more fun winter activities this year, check out my complete guide to winter in Ottawa.

Or if you need a reprieve from the cold, check out the best indoor activities for all ages. 

FAQs

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Read More Things to Do Ottawa in Winter:

• 17 Wonderfully Fun Things to Do in Ottawa in Winter
• Everything You Need to Know Before Skating the Rideau Canal in Ottawa
• 35 Best Restaurants in Ottawa Ontario From a Local
• 8 Best Places to See Christmas Lights in Ottawa and Get in the Festive Spirit
• 29 Best Things To Do in Ottawa in January
• Ottawa in December: Ultimate Guide + 15 Things to Do

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