| Rideau Canal - Skating in Winter tips and photos posted by real travelers and Ottawa locals. • 21 Photos
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Not sure if this should fall under "Must see activity" or "Tourist Trap". I tend to think it's both. The Rideau Canal is one of Ottawa's top attractions and a lot of fun to skate on -- although it's outside, the surface is generally quite smooth.
The only drawback is that the canal can be extremely crowded, especially on weekends and especially during Winterlude (February). It's best to go on a weekday (morning), preferably in January, if you can arrange it. Much more fun and less risk of collision / injury / lawsuit. ;-)
But whenever you go, you must sample a "Beavertail"! Vegetarians, don't worry: It's just like a flat doughnut covered with cinnamon & sugar (or whatever topping you choose).
Skate rental and sharpening are available at huts on the canal, particularly downtown in the area of Laurier Avenue. Leave a Comment
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 The canal from a moving bus! by Lisser
Instead I drove by on a bus and managed to take a couple pictures out the window :) Leave a Comment Address: In the middle of everything, very hard to miss!
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As a visitor it's very unlikely that you'll have brought your own skates but there are several places on the canal (and around town) where you can hire them. The main locations on the canal are at the start, by MacKenzie King Bridge, in the middle, at Fifth and at Dow's Lake. Hire charges for 2009 were $15 for 2 hours and $30 per day. The conscession is run by Capital Skates, are open from 10 am until 10 pm and take major credit cards. They also offer a sharpening service and also hire safety gear and children's sleds.
There are plenty of other facilites along the skateway including public conveniences, rest areas, fast food stands and first aid posts - for a useful map, click Skateway Facilities Leave a Comment
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Every winter the Rideau Canal becomes the World's largest skating rink (it used to be the World's longest but seemingly Winnipeg's is now longer, but nowhere near as wide) and is a major attraction for locals and visitors alike.
The legnth of the skating season depends on the temperature and in preparation for the expected necessary drop in temperature the authorities lower the water level so that the canal will freeze solid. After the temperature drops below a certain point, for a defined number of days (the exact details I can't remember but will update when my friend reminds me), the Capital Commision has the canal groomed to make for an excellent outdoor surface.
The skating season has varied, to date, from 95 days in 1971-72 to 34 days in 2001-02, but the canal is almost always skateable during the Winterlude festival which takes place every February. Website below has skating conditions updated regularly.
This is a very popular local thing to do, is absolutely free and in fact some locals skate it as their daily commute and for shopping trips into downtown. The skateway has a few rules such as no dogs or hockey sticks but apart from that just general courtesy is expected. Regular patrols are made by marshalls and trained paramedics just to keep everyone safe. As a word of warning though, it can be very busy in the evenings and at weekends and so if you want to do some serious skating avoid these peak periods. Leave a Comment
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Ice skating along the Rideau Canal
Unfortuantely when I visited in Febraru the canal was closed for skating as it wasn't cold enough. I would have loved to have gone. If you get the chance then I'd highly recommend you do it. Whether you manage to go skating or not, you MUST try a Beaver Tail. It's a tradional pastry a bit like a pancake but looks reamarkably like a Beaver's tail (hence the name!) They're very tasty! Leave a Comment Address: Rideau Canal
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 by PrairieDeeLeave a Comment Directions: The Rideau Canal goes right ghrough Ottawa, including downtown.
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I took my 9 yr old daughter and wife to skate on the Rideau canal. It's the longest skating rink in the world! The trick is to get on early in the morning so the ice is nice. It's about 5 miles long. and a hoot. Skates can be rented if you don't own any and people on the canal are very friendly. I recommend. Leave a Comment
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Skating on the Rideau Canal is an experience of a lifetime. It is several km long and you can have a relaxing day of it, stopping for beavertails along the way. I used to want to skate to school, as Carleton University is on the opposite end of the canal from downtown. Shorter and nicer than walking!!! Leave a Comment
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Usually, winter is far from gone in March, in Canada. Maybe it was just bad luck, but although the ice on the Canal was still thick enough for people to skate on it, it was easier to walk on it.... it was covered with slush! We got tired of it very quickly, and next time, if we want to really skate, we'll make sure we go earlier in the winter!
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