Next Up
10 Best Fantastic Ice Skating Lakes
Lake Weissensee in Carinthia, Austria
A beautiful alpine bathing lake in the summer, Lake Weissensee in Austria freezes over each winter, creating four square miles of skating space. If you're feeling extra ambitious, you can take lessons in figure skating or speed skating from the special academy set up each winter.
Keystone Lake, Colorado
Keystone's five acre lake opens for skating starting in mid-November and stays open through March. It's the largest Zamboni-maintained outdoor rink on earth, and with a location in the heart of Keystone Village, it makes for a charming outing on the ice.
Tjornin, Reykjavik in Iceland
Tjornin translates to "The Pond," and a very picturesque pond it is. Located in the heart of Iceland's capital city, the pond fills up each winter with locals skating and playing ice hockey on its smooth surface.
Lake Minnewanka in Banff, Canada
In Banff National Park, there's a magical window between when temperatures drop enough to ice over the lakes and when snowfall covers the ice, rendering it unsuitable for skating. Lake Minnewanka is one of the best lakes to skate on, just be sure to ask around about the safety of the ice before venturing out.
Derwentwater in Keswick, Cumbria
The 3 mile long, 1 mile wide Derentwater is one of the most beautiful lakes in England's Lake District. While the entire lake rarely freezes, portions of it often do, and when that happens, skaters come out to enjoy the beautiful winter scenery.
Bruges Canal
While not exactly a lake, the Bruges Canal earns a spot on the list for its undeniable charm. The city of Bruges transforms into a winter wonderland from Christmas through the end of winter, both on and off the ice.
St. Gallen - Switzerland
You can't rent skates at the Three Lakes in St. Gallen, Switzerland, but as long as the ice is thick enough, no one minds if you go slide around on your shoes. Besides skating, you'll see people pulling sleds, playing ice hockey and generally enjoying the brisk winter air.
Tenaya Lake, Yosemite
Tenaya Lake in Yosemite might be one of the most breath-taking natural skating spots on earth...when it's open at least. At such a high elevation, only rarely is the lake completely frozen and snow-free at the same time. Skating on Tenaya Lake is described as a once-in-a-generation opportunity, so next time it presents itself, take it.
Westchester Lagoon, Alaska
The city of Anchorage pulls out all the stops with its rink on Westchester Lagoon. You'll find warming barrells to thaw out your fingers and special events on the weekends featuring live music and hot beverages.
Brainard Lakes, Minnesota
When you're not skiing, snowboarding or ice fishing in the Brainard Lake area of Minnesota, you have a choice of several lakes where you can skate to your heart's content.