This National Park Has Turquoise Lakes and 10,000-foot Mountains-and It's an Ice Skater's Dreamscape

"On Lake Louise, only the mountains bear witness. Those mountains anchor Banff National Park's 2,564 square miles and entice skiers, snowboarders, and ice climbers every year. Yet while the Rockies transform Banff into a mountaineer's playground, it's the in-between spaces—the alpine valleys and frozen pauses—that glimmer with wild ice and outdoor rinks."

"As a recreational figure skater, I seek out every opportunity to find open-air ice and exercise my otherwise dormant passion. Outdoor skating grounds me in nature, offering an unbridled connection to both my body and my environment."

"I'd never skated with my gaze so fixed on my surroundings; a backdrop of 10,000-foot mountains may be the best tool to improve a skater's posture. Although you can rent skates at Lake Louise, I brought my own, and to justify the luggage space, wanted to use them as much as possible—an easy feat in Banff."

Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada provides numerous opportunities for outdoor ice skating across its alpine landscape. Lake Louise serves as the park's premier skating destination, featuring a well-maintained rink operated by the Fairmont Chateau and stunning mountain backdrops. Beyond Lake Louise, the park contains multiple natural and makeshift rinks including Abraham Lake, Vermilion Lake, Lake Minnewanka, and Johnson Lake. These frozen surfaces offer recreational skaters an immersive experience combining physical activity with pristine natural environments. The park's 2,564 square miles encompass diverse winter landscapes where skaters can explore alpine valleys and frozen lakes while surrounded by 10,000-foot mountain peaks. Most of Banff's lakes remain unmaintained, offering authentic outdoor skating experiences distinct from commercial rinks.

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