Winter is inevitable in Calgary.
But while some are content to find a cozy couch and wait out the cold, others are taking up Mother Nature’s challenge to make the most of the season.
Here are three Calgary skating areas showing us how a little creativity can really help us embrace the winter season.
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Connor O’Donovan | Ice bikes are available for rental in Calgary, Alberta
Ice bikes are available for rental in Calgary, Alta. (Connor O’Donovan/The Weather Network)
Can’t skate? No problem!
Bowness Park offers a way for almost anyone to get out on the ice (as long as you’ve got your bike riding skills down pat).
At this iconic winter playground nestled alongside the Bow River, you can rent an ice bike from the onsite rental shop to pedal your way across the expansive frozen lagoon and canals.
Bike and skate rentals, which are only available on certain days of the week, are made possible by the University of Calgary Outdoor Centre.
You can, of course, also bring your own skates to explore the lagoon, canals, and nearby 1.5-kilometre skating trail.
Connor O’Donovan | Add some Bow River views to your winter workout on the 1.5 kilometre long skating trail in Bowness Park.
Add some Bow River views to your winter workout on the 1.5 kilometre long skating trail in Bowness Park. (Connor O’Donovan/The Weather Network)
The park also features a crokicurl surface (think crokinole meets curling), an on-site cafe, and firepits to warm up next to while you tie your skates.
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North Glenmore Park
Connor O’Donovan | Practice your curling skills for free in the great outdoors at North Glenmore Park.
(Practice your curling skills for free in the great outdoors at North Glenmore Park. Connor O’Donovan/The Weather Network)
Alongside Calgary’s other river lies the rinks of North Glenmore Park.
Notice how “rinks” is plural here—that’s intentional grammar, folks, because this frozen playground has it all.
There’s a 730-metre ice trail that, come nightfall, turns magical courtesy of thousands of twinkling lights.
Connor O’Donovan: hockey rink with LED blue and red lines, Calgary Alberta
(Connor O’Donovan/The Weather Network)
There’s multiple crokicurl and curling rinks that test your balance, hand eye coordination and muscle memory in the most Canadian way possible.
And, in a truly creative touch, there’s even a hockey rink with LED blue and red lines, so you can gather the family and friends for some luminous late night shinny.
Warm up by multiple wood burning fires or grab a hot apple cider at the on-site Cafe du Parc.
Stanley Park Rink
Connor O’Donovan | The volunteer-powered Stanley Park Rink.
The volunteer-powered Stanley Park Rink. (Connor O’Donovan/The Weather Network)
Stanley Park has many of the features we’ve already mentioned.
There’s a skating trail, curling area, large shinny rink and warm-up shack.
The difference here, however, is that it’s all created by volunteers.
Connor O’Donovan: community rinks like the one at Stanley Park are put together entirely with the hard work and dedication of local residents.
(Connor O’Donovan/The Weather Network)
Unlike at Bowness Park and North Glenmore Park, which have the support of the City of Calgary maintenance teams, community rinks like the one at Stanley Park are put together entirely with the hard work and dedication of local residents.
There are similar examples around the city, so props to groups like the Elboya-Brittania Community Association for coming together to make the most of winter in Calgary.
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