Ice skating in the nippy winter air can be an exhilarating feeling. From Canada to Switzerland, winter chillingly changes lovely lakes into spectacular natural ice rinks. So if outdoor ice skating appeals to you, check out our list of the world’s most beautiful lakes for ice skating.

1.  Lac de Joux, Switzerland

You will find the enormous alpine lake, Lac de Joux, at an altitude of nearly 3,300 feet, in the Jura Mountain Region in Switzerland, not far from the French border. It becomes Europe’s largest natural ice skating rink in the winter. The lake is ringed by a forest that in the colder months has a barren, frost-tinged beauty.

During the peak months of February and March, many visitors come to this special spot in the Jura Mountains. Indeed, the lake is so vast that speed skating here is truly thrilling.

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Lake Morey, USA

Located in the state of Vermont, this lake’s frozen perimeter becomes an icy 4.5-mile expedition. So strap on some Nordic skates–a cross-country ski boot with long metal blades–and get ready to take on the United States’ longest Nordic skating trail. You’ll skate along the edge of a thick forest of birch, maple, and pine trees. Keep an eye out for the local bald eagles perched in the rather bare branches in winter.

The local Lake Morey Resort rents skates, offers lessons, and maintains the trails here.  

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Lake Louise, Canada

Picturesque Lake Louise is nestled in Banff National Park, in Alberta. The best time to enjoy winter activities here is from December to roughly mid-April. The favored Fairmont Chateau hotel’s grounds staff maintains the lake to make sure the frozen surface is safe.

You can even rent ice skates at the lake. Avoid the tourists and hit the ice after dark for a more serene skating experience.  

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The Vermilion Lakes, Canada

While in Alberta’s Banff National Park, why not go west, to this charming chain of lakes famous for its sunsets and sunrises? Lake Louise can be a bit busy during the winter holidays so this peaceful alternative might work better for those seeking some serenity.

Remember though that this terrific trio of lakes isn’t supervised so you’ll need to check the strength and depth of the ice before skating. Luckily, the water is generally little more than knee-deep but there’s no sense in being careless.

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Lake Bogstadvannet, Norway

While there are several lakes in the area, Bogstadvannet is the second largest and most popular for winter skating. It’s located on the forested outskirts of Oslo. Barring truly stormy days, this is where local skaters can be found during what little daylight hours they have during the winter months.

This popular lake is beautifully bordered by Nordic woodlands, and only a 20-minute drive from the heart of the city as well.

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Lake Mälaren, Sweden

Mere minutes from the capital city of Stockholm you can spend days on a cross-country skating adventure via numerous world-class natural ice skating rinks. The Stockholm Archipelago’s waterways and the area lakes make one of the world’s best environments for ice-skating. An hour’s drive from the city, you can skate on the clear black ice of crystal clear Lake Mälaren. It is the fifth-largest lake in Europe covering an area of 440 square miles.

The Mälaren region is both a beautiful and historic place. You can see several monuments from the Imperial Age including the onion-domed Gripsholm Castle while you skate!

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Evergreen Lake, Colorado

This large lake encompasses 40 acres and is surrounded by thickets of ponderosa and lodgepole pine trees that are vibrant and verdant all year–hence the lake’s name. Here visitors can partake in an actual natural ice-skating experience. It is arguably one of the largest groomed outdoor skating rinks in the world.

The locals actually employ a Zamboni to keep the ice usable for the ice hockey teams, and family and friends looking for an enjoyable afternoon skating experience. It’s roughly a 40-minute drive out of Denver. You can rent a pair of ice skates right there or even rent a cabin and stay overnight. 

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Portage Lake, USA

Alaska is perhaps one of the ultimate destinations for backcountry skaters seeking a perfect, pristine expanse of ice. There are various ice caves, frozen rivers, and lagoons in south-central Alaska, but the Portage Lake in the popular Chugach National Forest is a paradise for those looking to skate in the wild. It’s nearly a mile wide and three miles long and is found at the foot of the icy monolith named Portage Glacier. Indeed, if you get tired of ice-skating, you could even ride across this lake on a specially outfitted fat bike, should you so desire.  

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Great Slave Lake, Canada

As you may have already realized, there are a number of different incredible natural ice skating destinations here in Canada. Nevertheless, there are not many more spectacular than the icy Arctic lakes located in the Northwest Territories. The Great Slave Lake is not far from Yellowknife, the regional capital.

It is the world’s tenth-largest lake just 250 miles from the Arctic Circle. Hence you might even get a glimpse of the great shape-shifting lights known as the aurora borealis. Ice skaters use this lake almost half the year. Stop by in late March and attend the much-loved Long John Jamboree, where skate-clad partiers revel one last time prior to the spring melt.

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Lake Baikal, Russia

If you ever get to Siberia, be sure to participate in what some call one of the world’s “most stunning” ice skating experiences. This freshwater lake spans an area of 12,248 square miles. This World Heritage-listed wonder is actually larger than all of Belgium and holds more water than the Great Lakes combined. 

The best time to visit is between the months of November and April when it transforms into the planet’s largest ice skating rink. The ice is, on average, more than a foot thick and is so transparent you can actually see through it into the unfrozen black abyss below.

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Don’t worry.  You don’t need to know how to do a salchow or a camel.  In fact, it doesn’t even matter if you are clueless about what those things are.  Even an amateur can ice skate on any of these natural rinks (with enough padding).  It’s a great way to get a little fresh air and exercise.  Whether you go ice skating on a frozen-hard pond in a local public park or against a beautiful backdrop of massive mountains, you should always be certain it is safe, of course. 

Simply check with your local outfitters and authorities, and be sure to learn what you should do in case there’s an emergency.  After all, fresh snow can camouflage ice that is melting or too weak for skating.  Also remember that while ice skating under the stars certainly sounds really romantic, if it’s too dark to see where you’re ice skating, you could hit debris or a dangerous hole. 

It’s much safer to skate where the ice is well lit.  Prefer roller skating?  Then you can simply stop at these incredible natural ice rinks and take in their natural icy beauty.

1. The Ice Rinks in Alberta, Canada

You’ll discover several natural ice skating rinks in Alberta.  Veteran visitors suggest Lake Louise where the  Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise regularly maintains the ice.  The resort even erects an ice castle large enough to skate through. Outdoor lights keep the place lit until 11:00 pm.  Weather-permitting, the best tie to go is from December 15th to April 15th.

If you visit Canada in the peak winter months, check out any of Alberta’s national parks.  Look down under your feet once in a while, too.  You could see big rocks suspended in the ice or even fish still swimming in the deep places.  Check out Johnson Lake and Carrot Creek in Banff National Park too!

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The Mirror Lake, Lake Placid, New York, USA

Magnificent Mirror Lake is situated in the charming alpine village of Lake Placid, in the heart of the impressive Adirondack Mountains.  This lovely lake itself spans areas of New York, Vermont, and even Quebec, Canada.  Here you’ll find 122 acres of ice skating and other cool things to do.  

The two-mile track around the famous lake is always plowed but only open when it’s safe to skate.  During the winter months, this place is open to the public 24/7.  There is even a section specifically kept clear for ice hockey enthusiasts near the town’s beach.  The entire Lake Champlain region is actually great for ice skating.

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Lake Vanern, southwest Sweden

Lake Vanern is not only the biggest lake in the entire European Union but it’s also Europe’s third-largest lake.  It is roughly 2,183 square acres and includes over 22,000 islands.   The lake spans three Swedish provinces, Dalsland, Varnland, and Vastergotland.

No one maintains or grooms the ice here.  Nevertheless, it remains an ice skater’s paradise due to its natural, rugged beauty.  Veteran visitors recommend catching the sunrise here and confirm that the numerous colors are nothing less than spectacular.

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The Ice Rinks of Switzerland

Your first stop for ice skating is Lake Joux situated in the well-known Lake Geneva region, within the memorable Jura mountain range between France and northwestern Switzerland.  The lake spans an area of almost six square miles.  

There’s also Lake Silvaplana, in Grison.  The ice has to be cleared of the snow prior to anyone skating but there are floodlights here so the skating hours are extended at night.  Around noon strong winds generally kick up near the lake.  While this can discourage some ice skaters, it probably is why kite skiing or snowkiting was invented here.

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Lake Weissensee, Carinthia, Austria

Even amateur ice skaters are warmly welcomed at famous Lake Weissensee, ensconced in the Eastern Alps of Austria.  Here you will be able to pick up some tips from experienced ice skating instructors during their seasonal ice skating school.  Ice skating is open here from December 15th through sometime in early March.

The natural ice surface here is regularly groomed.  There are more than two and a half miles of natural ice track here.  There are also stock sport lanes, round ice skating rinks, and even special seasonal classes on speed skating.  

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Shichahai Lake, Beijing, China

The Shichahai Lake is found in the northwest section of Beijing, China.  It is one of three lakes.  During the winter months, this ice skating spot is particularly popular with children.  No doubt this is largely due to its great 18-foot-long ice slide.

Here you will see more than mere ice skaters.  You could very well spot ice bikes, ice boats . ice bumper cars, and ice chairs as well.  You can also do some night skating if you wish.  Back in 2013, CNN reported that this ice rink was one of the ten top most beautiful in the world.  The best time to visit is from December 15th to December 31st.  

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Mill Pond Park, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada

Finally, we have Mill Pond Park.  Sure, you might think that a little pond might not make the kind of impression a big frozen lake would make but if you’re into ice skating then don’t overlook this place.  Popular Mill Pond Park is situated in the well-known York section of Ontario, and the greater Toronto area.

Many people come here not only to go ice skating but also to practice ice hockey techniques.  Before you strap on your ice skates, though, you had best visit the pond’s south end.  That’s where they post signs notifying visitors if it is safe to ice skate or not.

So there you have it, fellow travelers, several of the most incredible natural ice rinks on the planet.  If you’re into ice skating now you know where to go.  Mind you, as former Penn State penman Jack S. Chesney was quick to confirm, many of these places are actually great places to visit any time of the year.  Pretty cool, huh?

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