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Winter fun outdoors skatingWant to go skating in Winnipeg? There are plenty of places for winter fun outdoors skating in Winnipeg, and all of them are free to enjoy. You’ll find outdoor rinks at almost every city community centre and city park. So there’s plenty of choice, but I think the very BEST skating in Winnipeg is at:
Winter fun outdoors skating at The ForksThe Forks Arctic Glacier Winter Park is the frontrunner because it offers more of everything skating and fun than anywhere else in Manitoba. Family skating rinks, hockey rinks, the world’s longest river skating trail, and skating trails that meander through the park. Longer open hours, more scenery, more warming huts, more cozy places to change, more places to get something to eat, plus skate rentals. Skating to music, skating under the stars, and just more of everything for every type of skater, from wobbly beginners to people who make ice-skating look effortless. Plaza Skating RinkIdeal for beginners, the Plaza (in photo, above) is a covered rink just steps from The Forks Market. It is the first to freeze (well before Christmas) and the last to melt (usually late in March) and so offers the longest skating season of all of the city’s outdoor skating options. It's also the closest to both the change/warm-up area and the sellers of warm drinks (or ice cream, fudge, perogies, or a full meal. Lots of food choices at The Forks). Go a little further for the Olympic-sized rink, in front of ScotiaBank stage and next to the snowboard hill and togobban chute. Assiniboine Credit Union River Trailis the trail on the Red River, stretching from The Forks to (or almost to) Assiniboine Park. It has warming huts along the way, warming fire-pots on Fridays and weekend evenings, and there are also special events and family events on weekends. Open from early January to (usually) mid-March. The Forks Skating TrailsThe Forks Skating Trails (opens in new window) are ribbons of ice threading through this scenic park, a total of 1.2 km (or about half a mile).
Skate rentalSkate rentals are $4 for adults or $2 for children, at Mini Donuts, just inside The Forks Market. What else does The Forks offer for winter fun outdoors?There is a toboggan chute (for sledding) and a snowboarding hill. Bundle up for a winter walk along the river. You can stop at the skaters' warm-up huts (some of startling originality. They are part of a competition for architects). The classic cross-country skiing track is next to the river trail. This is also one of the most beautiful places in the city for a winter walk, on a sunny Winnipeg afternoon! More about The Forks Winnipeg
Winter fun outdoors skating at Assiniboine ParkThere is free outdoor skating at all of Winnipeg’s major parks including St. Vital Park, Kildonan Park and Harbour View Recreation Complex in Kilcona Park. All are riverside parks with warm shelters and recorded music to skate to.
But I think Winnipeg’s most beautiful park is Assiniboine Park. Skating here, (blissfully peaceful; no skating music) you will get the feeling that you are gliding across a lovely small lake somewhere back of beyond, when you are actually no more than 15 minutes from downtown. No skate rentals, but there is a warm-up building with washrooms and vending machines for snacks and hot drinks. Skating is at the Duck Pond, near the English Garden (lovely for a walk year-round) and next to the toboggan run. It’s also conveniently close to parking. St. Vital ParkThis beautiful park is east of downtown, in St. Vital. Also a beautiful place for a winter walk or skating on the pond. Winter fun outdoors skating at Kildonan ParkLike St. Vital Park, but just a few minutes drive north of downtown at 2015 Main Street. Unique for having among the oldest trees in the province. Skating pond (and also toboggan slide) and this is also a beautiful place for a winter walk. Winter fun outdoors skating – more places to skate
Fort Whyte AliveHas a skating rink, toboggan slide, and walking trails from which you can spot wildlife. Special family events on weekends. Open daily, charges admission. Harbour View Recreation ComplexAbout 20 minutes from downtown in Transcona. Worth the treck because it has ice skating on the lake plus tobogganine, cross-country skiing and broomball. East of Highway 59 at 1867 Springfield Road, in Kilcona Park. Winnipeg skating indoorsThere is free public skating one or two days per week at 13 City of Winnipeg arenas (other times admission is charged). Days and times tend to change, but there is updated info on the City of Winnipeg website (opens in a new window). Type “public skating” into the search box. Go from Winter fun outdoors skating to find more winter outdoors activities Back to Visitor-Guide-to-Winnipeg.com home page |
