Rideau Canal Skateway

The Rideau Canal Skateway will be open to the public for the 2020-2021 winter season! Stay tuned for information, including COVID-19 protocols. The information below is relevant to prior editions of this event. 

Go skating on the world's largest skating rink which winds its way through downtown Ottawa! Each winter, from roughly January to late February or early March, Ontario’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site transforms into an epic urban skating rink.

When open (weather permitting), the Rideau Canal Skateway is free and accessible 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Anyone can explore any section of the 7.8 kilometres (4.8 miles) thanks to its universally accessible facilities like access ramps, heated change rooms and washrooms. Non-skaters can walk or shuffle along the edges of the Skateway (away from skaters), or on the pathways above the canal.

Along the Skateway, kiosks offer food, drink, traditional BeaverTail treats, as well as skate and accessory rentals. Visit the Skateway website for updated reports on ice conditions.