Grab a warm drink and lace up your skates -- here are 12 picture-perfect skating trails in Ontario to check out this winter.
Arrowhead Provincial Park
Price: $10.84+ per vehicle
When: Starting in January 2024, weather dependent
Address: 451 Arrowhead Park Rd., Huntsville, ON
Why You Need To Go: You'll find tons of classic winter activities in Arrowhead Provincial Park, including a beautiful forest skating trail.
You can glide past snow-covered trees on the 1.3-kilometre trail, and even enjoy "Fire and Ice Nights," when the trail is lit with torches for nighttime skating. Fire and Ice Nights are held every Friday and Saturday night beginning in late January.
Booking your park permit in advance is recommended, as this is a popular spot to skate.
According to Ontario Parks, the availability of skating is weather-dependent, typically beginning in January.
Arrowhead Provincial Park website
Gage Park Skating Trail
Price: Free
When: Open now
Address: 45 Main St. S., Brampton, ON
Why You Need To Go: Located in downtown Brampton, the Gage Park Skating Trail is a festive place to glide across the ice.
The skating trail is decked out in holiday lights, has music to jam to while you skate, and also has a cozy firepit where you can warm up.
There's also a beautiful light tunnel off the ice where you can snap a cute photo, as well as an array of holiday light displays across the street at Brampton City Hall.
Helmets and skates are available to rent at the rink, and skate aids are also available for use.
City of Brampton website
Woodview Mountaintop Skating
Price: $52+ per adult
When: December 22, 2023, to January 7, 2024, weather permitting
Address: 201 Scenic Caves Road, Unit AW2, The Blue Mountains, ON
Why You Need To Go: Blue Mountain's Woodview Mountaintop Skating Trail is a beautiful place to skate surrounded by nature.
The 1.1-kilometre skating loop provides extraordinary views along the Niagara Escarpment. Things get even more magical at night, when thousands of interactive lights will guide your way.
The skating trail can be accessed by purchasing a Play All Day ticket, which gets you unlimited, single-day access to the resort's winter attractions, including snowshoe trails, the Ridge Runner Mountain Coaster, Hike n' Tube, skating and the Plunge! Aquatic Centre.
While the season has started for skating, the trail's availability is weather-dependent. You can see updates on conditions by checking out Blue Mountain's Mountain Report.
Blue Mountain Resort website
Countryside Adventures
Price: $17 per adult
When: Opening TBD
Address: 16495 Sixth Rd., Moose Creek, ON
Why You Need To Go: About 30 minutes from Cornwall and 45 minutes from Ottawa, you can immerse yourself in nature and admire some beautiful views at Countryside Adventures.
The family-operated destination has a 3-kilometre skating trail that winds through a forest, as well as a well-maintained snowshoe trail with stunning scenery.
If you get hungry during your visit, an on-site food truck offers everything from poutine to maple taffy and hot chocolate.
Due to mild weather, the opening date of the skating trail is to be determined. However, the business has said that with the right conditions, the trail could open as soon as December 23.
Countryside Adventure website
Icelynd Skating Trails
Price: $18 per adult
When: Opening January 13, 2024, weather dependent
Address: 6865 Fernbank Rd., Stittsville, ON
Why You Need To Go: You can glide along this frozen forest trail that's over 2 kilometres in length.
In the evenings, you can glide under the stars, illuminated by charming twinkling and white string lights along the path.
Icelynd Skating Trails website
Rideau Canal Skateway
Price: Free
When: Expected to open in January, weather dependent
Address: Rideau Canal, Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: You can skate on the world's largest skating rink in Ottawa.
Spanning 7.8 kilometres, the Rideau Canal Skateway winds through the capital and is free for all to enjoy.
The rink is expected to open in January, though this is weather-dependent. Once open, the skateway can be accessed at several different points and you can also find equipment rentals, rest areas and food huts along the ice.
Rideau Canal Skateway website
MacGregor Point Provincial Park
Price: $10.84+ per vehicle
When: Starting in January 2024, weather dependent
Address: 1593 Bruce Rd. 33, Port Elgin, ON
Why You Need To Go: MacGregor Point Park in Bruce County offers a gorgeous skating trail that's the perfect winter activity.
The 400-metre skating trail winds its way through towering spruce trees and is magical after a snowfall. The park also turns on trail lights for skating under the stars until 10 p.m. every day of the week.
The skating trail typically opens in January, although this is weather-dependent. To see the ski and skating conditions at the park, you can check out the Ontario Parks Snow Report, which is updated daily.
MacGregor Point Provincial Park website
Cranberry Marsh Skating Trail
Price: $15+ per adult
When: Opening TBD
Address: 1074 Cranberry Rd., Bala, ON
Why You Need To Go: You can glide around cranberry fields on this 1.2-kilometre loop at Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery in Bala, Ontario, and finish your winter activity with a warm beverage like hot chocolate, cran-apple cider or a hot toddy.
The farm also offers Light the Night skating, in which the trail is lit by torches and you an skate under the moon.
While the trail typically becomes available in late December, its opening is weather-dependent. You can get updates on the skating trail and Light the Night availability on the Muskoka Lakes website.
Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery website
Colonel Samuel Smith Park Skating Trail
Price: Free
When: Now open
Address: 3145 Lake Shore Blvd. W., Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: Colonel Samuel Smith Park is home to Toronto's first ice skating trail, which is a figure-eight-shaped track near the Power House Recreation Centre.
You'll have to bring your own skates as there are no skate rentals here, according to Destination Toronto, but the area's pretty winter scenery is definitely worth it.
Colonel Samuel Smith Park website
Richmond Green Skate Trail
Price: Free
When: Now open, weather permitting
Address: 1300 Elgin Mills Rd. E., Richmond Hill, ON
Why You Need To Go: Located in Richmond Hill, you can glide past glistening snow-capped trees on this 250-metre outdoor skating loop this winter.
The trail is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., weather permitting, with free admission and lights along the trail for evening skating.
Just be sure to bring your own skates, as rentals aren't available here.
City of Richmond Hill website
The Bentway
Price: Free
When: Now open
Address: 250 Fort York Blvd., Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: The Bentway is an iconic spot for outdoor skating in Toronto.
Located under the Gardiner, the Bentway has a 220-metre figure-eight skating trail that is open for the season
The skating trail will have special opening hours for the holidays, as well as free rentals nights and skating lessons in the new year.
This winter, visitors will be able to skate under the magic of the Northern Lights with a soaring art installation of woven arches stretching above the trail inspired by the aurora borealis.
And on December 31, the Bentway will host a Polar Bear Skate, a winter tradition in which brave skaters are invited to strip down and skate the trail for a good cause.
The Bentway website
Storybook Gardens skating trail
Price: $4.75 per adult
When: Now open
Address: 1958 Storybook Lane, London, ON
Why You Need To Go: This park in London, Ontario, is home to rides and attractions themed around popular fairy tales and nursery rhymes.
In winter, the park has a scenic 250-metre outdoor skating trail where you can glide all season long. Unlike other outdoor trails, Storybook London's trail has a refrigerated surface, meaning it can still operate even when temperatures are above seasonal.
The trail loops around the park grounds and is open seven days a week, with skate rentals also available. There's also a Beavertails concession open on evenings and weekends serving Beavertails pastries, fries, hot chocolate and drinks.
Storybook Gardens website
Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.
