Winnipeg skating guide -
Skating at The Forks (Photo by Mike Peters)

Winnipeg skating guide

Ponds, rivers, tracks and forests... If it freezes, we'll skate it! 

The 10 options below are either run by the city, by community centres or attractions, or by loving members of the local community –– because here in Winnipeg we're all about making nice with ice.

Lace 'em up (or rent them onsite) and get ready to glide! 

The Forks | Trails and Rink

Manitoba’s most popular tourist destination, The Forks is home to an often record-setting river trail that starts at the heart of the city and snakes down the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, frequently providing a skating surface that's more than 10 km in length. 

Every winter new  Warming Huts are added to the Nestaweya River Trail after design submissions have been received from designers, architects, and creative types from across the globe. You can pass and interact with these whacky and wonderful huts as you make your way down the rivers, while throughout the trail there are multiple entry/exit points should you be looking to start your skating journey from any number of connected neighbourhoods. The trail grows and decreases with the weather, so it's always good to check the conditions in the above link. 

On land at The Forks during evenings you'll marvel at all the beauty of the Winter Park. Here, you can skate under a canopy of lights strung from the trees while crossing points of interest like the Oodena Celebration Circle. You can also head east from the Forks Market to play hockey beside the WINNIPEG sign. Skate rentals are available within The Forks Market through  Iceland Skate Rentals, which also provides skate-sharpening services. 

Assiniboine Park | Riley Family Duck Pond 

Located in the middle of Assiniboine Park, this large duck pond is the perfect place to glide across the ice during the day or in the evening under the stars. It features benches and picnic tables to tie your skates and rest between laps, while the backdrops of the Qualico Family Centre and The Pavilion are great for Instagram. 

Cargo Bar, the outdoor shipping container bar and patio that is located beside the pond, also runs during peak winter hours too (namely on select weekends and Friday nights). With its bonfire bowls and seating, it provides an après-skates environment so you can enjoy a glass of wine, local beer or cocktail. Cargo Bar also offers s'more kits that you can toast over the flames. 

St. Vital Park | Duck Pond

This impressive duck pond boasts two islands that you can skate around, making for one majestic scene to perform figure-eights around. Once you’ve done your fair share of laps, grab your sled and head over to the icy "Manitoboggan” –– an international award-winning structure that features two toboggan slides, an accessibility ramp and a treetop lookout!

La Barriere Park | River Trail

Just a few minutes south of Winnipeg, La Barriere Park offers an outdoor explorer’s paradise along the banks of the La Salle River. When conditions permit, a large volunteer-made skating trail surrounds the foot-bridge. After your skate, strap on a pair of skis and hit the trails, or try your hand at winter disc golf on the 18-hole course within the park.

Kildonan Park | Duck Pond

At night, this stylish duck pond is illuminated by three of the coolest lights you'll ever see, which shine down a rainbow's worth of colours onto the ice. They are called  Bokeh, and were created by local artist Takashi Iwasaki in concert with The Nadia Group. The pond itself is serviced by (and located next to) the Peguis Pavilion, which houses Prairie's Edge restaurant where you can get breakfast, lunch (that smash burger!), dinner and drinks (did someone say après-skate Aperol Spritz?). This being Kildonan Park, you'll also find so many things to do outside of skating, like a toboggan slide and an impressive cross-country ski trail. 

Susan Auch Speed Skating Oval | Rink

If you're a serious speed skater (or looking to get into the sport) head to the Susan Auch Speed Skating Oval outside the Cindy Klassen Recreation Complex. Along with numerous hours that are offered for leisurely public skating, those with a need for speed can enjoy the daily time slots allocated for speed skaters only to practice their skills on this 440-metre track. 

Harbour View Recreation ComplexPond

Located within Kilcona Park, this manicured skating rink is surrounded by walking pathways, a picturesque frozen lake and cross-country ski trails. It's like the dictionary definition of a winter oasis, plus Harbour View Golf Course is there for you should you need skate rentals. 

Bunn's Creek Centennial ParkRink 

Bunn’s Creek Centennial Park is a hidden gem located in North Kildonan offering a large, well-lit rectangular rink, a slick toboggan slide, abundant wildlife and numerous walking paths. It’s the perfect place to skate while the sun sets.

Roblin Park Community Centre | Trail and Rinks

This Charleswood community centre has it all, including three outdoor skating rinks as well as a large skating loop (Zamboni groomed!) that encircles the whole grounds. Plus, you'll find two ice slides onsite! Charleswood, always up to some good! (as the saying goes). 

Wolseley Winter Wonderland | River Trail

This community-run-and-maintained trail on the Assiniboine River is a can't-miss unofficial tourism experience, as it's such a wonderful showcase of how creative Winnipeggers are in winter. It runs from Omand's Creek to the Maryland Bridge, with multiple entry points throughout Wolseley via Palmerston and Wolseley Avenues on the north side of the river, along pathways off Wellington Crescent (namely a trail in between houses on city-owned land around the end of Waverley Street) and through Sir John Franklin Park. The Winter Wonderland consists of a number of hockey rinks, curling rinks, and simply cool ice surfaces replete with all manner of art, fire pits and fun seating, all of which are interconnected via narrow skating pathways that are shovelled, flooded, and cared for by 40+ people in Wolseley (bless their hearts). While exploring, be sure to lend a hand (if needed) and do some shovelling (you'll find many onsite) to help maintain this cool, creative space. 

Old Market Square | Rink

At night, bordered by beautiful brick buildings in the Exchange District, this puppy is postcard ready. Located right in the heart of the Exchange —encircled by great bars, shops and restaurants — the Old Market Square Rink is the place to see and be seen when it comes to skating (no one actually says that, but we're going to make it so). On weekdays, you'll find a number of skaters out on their respective lunch breaks, while come nightfall the rink's whimsical overhead lights change in response to the sounds coming from the rink. 

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For a full list of the city's rinks and skating surfaces check out the City's Parks Website

Visitor Information

21 Forks Market Road
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Canada R3C 4T7
1 855 PEG CITY (734-2489)

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