Top 10 Skating Rinks in the Outaouais
The drop in temperature over the last few days heralds the start of skating season! With warm socks and sharp blades on your feet, it’s time to discover winter’s magnificent ephemeral icy trails. From urban setting to pristine forest, there’s no lack of choice: there are more than 100 outdoor rinks in the vast Outaouais region! From the Pontiac to Gatineau by way of the Petite Nation, here are ten top spots to have fun on the ice and get a breath of (very) fresh air!
1. Skating Through the Forest in Lac-des-Loups (Collines-de-l’Outaouais)
The Lac-des-Loups skating rink has a solid reputation as a unique skating destination. Just 45 minutes from Gatineau, enjoy a three-kilometre natural trail winding through a beautiful coniferous forest … and sheltered from wind gusts! Romantic, enchanting, magical: you’ll feel like you’re alone in the middle of the woods.
9 Montée Beausoleil, Lac-des-Loups
Open daily from 9 a.m. to sunset.
Day pass (tax included): Adult $18, child $14. Access to snowshoe and hiking trails: $10 per person. Free for children 5 and under.
Online reservations required. Skate rental and sharpening available on site. You can also go snowshoeing and hiking. Proof of vaccination is required to access the site.
2. Brewery Creek skating rink (Gatineau)
Find your winter bliss on the Brewery Creek skating rink! Skate through the heart of Old Hull over a distance of more than 420 metres. The spacious ice surface is the ideal place to learn the joys of skating.
69 Montcalm Street, Gatineau
Open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Free, but reservations are required.
This year, time slots (1 hour) must be reserved in advance via the City of Gatineau citizen portal (web page in French only), and a valid Accès Gatineau or Acccès Gatineau + card is required to make a reservation. Skate rental is not available.
3. The Eco-Odyssée Nature Park's maze (Collines-de-l'Outaouais)
(Re)discover the enchanting water canals of Eco-Odyssée Nature Park this winter with 5 kilometers of icy trails ready to welcome skaters! Wind your way through the icy maze in this magical winter setting. Additional trails are also available outside the maze for skating or snowshoeing. A bonus!
52 Les Sources Rd., La Pêche
Adults: $20 / Kids: $15. Free for children under 2 years old!
Online reservations required. The activity lasts 2 or 3 hours from the time indicated on your ticket. Possibility to sharpen your skates on site.
4. Parc Omega skating rink (Petite Nation)
The skating rink at Parc Omega is back this year! Besides following the safari trail to observe and feed the animals, you can enjoy the winter activities offered on the site: snowshoeing, hiking, treetop walkway and wolf observatory. The whole family will appreciate the outdoor fireplaces for warming up, as well as the OmegaBon Restaurant to satisfy appetites large and small.
399 Route 323 North, Montebello
Open daily.
Price of admission includes all activities.
5. Lac Beauchamp skating rink (Gatineau)
Fill up on fresh air on the Lac Beauchamp skating oval, in a magical setting just minutes from downtown! In addition to enjoying the skating rink, young and old alike can also go snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, hiking or tubing.
741 Maloney Blvd. E., Gatineau
Open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Free, but reservations are required.
This year, time slots (1 hour) must be reserved in advance via the City of Gatineau citizen portal (web page in French only), and a valid Accès Gatineau or Acccès Gatineau + card is required to make a reservation. Skate rental is not available.
6. Montebello ice trail (Petite Nation)
Discover Montebello’s ice surface! It’s a large, figure-8-shaped illuminated trail behind the former village train station. Come explore Montebello with your skates on.
Chamberland Park, 502 Notre-Dame Street, Montebello
Open daily form 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Free!
Free skating in one direction only.
7. Old Chelsea Village skating rink (Collines-de-l’Outaouais)
The picturesque Old Chelsea Village skating rink is back! Located just outside Gatineau Park, it offers a large ice surface where you can test your skating skills and practise your arabesques. When it snows, it’s idyllic!
11 Scott Road, Old Chelsea
More information to come for winter 2022-2023.
Free!
8. The Trois-Clochers ice trail in Maniwaki (Vallée-de-la-Gatineau)
The iconic Trois Clochers recreation area in Maniwaki has a 1.6-km ice trail in a magical setting. Vallée-de-la-Gatineau skaters will especially appreciate its wooded section and its proximity to snowshoe and cross-country ski trails, accessible from the Trois Clochers Pavilion and the Christ-Roi sector.
274 Des Oblats Street, Maniwaki
Open daily.
Free!
9. Fort-Coulonge iced pawn (Pontiac)
Going for a skate in Fort-Coulonge? You can do it on the pawn on Baume street in Fort-Coulonge ! Extend the fun by exploring the 10 kilometres of hiking and cross-country ski trails at the magnificent Patro Fort-Coulonge nature park.
209 De la Passe Road, Mansfield
Open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset.
Free!
10. Petit Pingouin Trail at the Touraine Golf Club (Gatineau)
There’s a lot of buzz about The Little Penguin Trail in Gatineau! The ice surface is several kilometres long and follows the golf cart paths. The result is impressive, and the people of Gatineau are loving it!
312 Taché Road, Gatineau
Open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Online reservations now available: https://booking.libroreserve.com/24103c8548727be/QC016241522050/seat
With all these great suggestions, there’s no excuse for not getting out there and getting some ice time! In Gatineau alone, there are more than 80 outdoor skating rinks to discover (information available in French only); you’re sure to find one near your house!
Dull skates can put a damper on your outing. Don’t forget to sharpen your blades before starting the season! Several stores currently offer this service, including Sport Échange Outaouais, Sports Experts, Marc Sports La Source du sport, and Sports aux puces Outaouais.
So what are you waiting for? See you on the ice!
And if you want to take advantage of this momentum to try a new winter sport, plan a day at one of the Relais plein air and get the whole family out of its comfort zone. Based on our experience, you’ll have a great time!
