A highlight of winter in Ottawa is the Rideau Canal Skateway. With a length of 7.8 kilometres, the Rideau Canal Skateway is also the world’s largest skating rink. Come and enjoy this scenic skating rink which begins in the heart of downtown by the National Arts Centre and extends to Dows Lake. In between, warm up at rest areas, where there are toasty fires, hot drinks and tasty snacks.

Since the 1970s, our ice experts and other ice experts have worked together to create this popular attraction, striving continually to improve the ice quality. Typically, the skating season runs from early January until early March. In February, many activities take place on the Skateway during Winterlude.

Hours

Services are available in the open sections of the Skateway until 10 pm or 11 pm, depending on the day. Hours of operation may change without notice. The public can access open sections of the Skateway 24 hours a day, but should note that caution is advised in the evenings and at night, as Skateway maintenance crews operate primarily during those times. Launch the interactive map for detailed information about the services offered, as well as their location.

For daily updates on ice conditions call 613-239-5234 (pre-recorded message), for all other questions call our Client Services team at 613-239-5000 or 1-800-465-1867 (toll free).