Rideau Canal Skateway closes for the season after 52 days, over 1 million visits
Posted Mar 10, 2025 01:33:12 PM.
Last Updated Mar 10, 2025 01:46:52 PM.
The iconic Ottawa skateway is closed for the season with spring-like temperatures on the horizon.
The National Capital Commission (NCC) said in a post that the Rideau Canal is officially closed on March 10.
“Thank you to everyone who embraced this Canadian winter tradition with us,” the organization said.
There was an “amazing” 52 days where people could flock to the ice. The NCC says that more than 1.1 million people came to the skateway this year.
This was the best stretch of the canal since the 2018-2019 season when the skateway was open for a total of 59 days over the winter.
“Highlights of the season included the unfurling of a giant Canadian flag on the 60th anniversary of our beloved maple leaf as part of the National Flag Day celebrations and the addition of dedicated walking lanes that allowed even more people to enjoy this truly Canadian winter experience,” the NCC said in a release.
Opening day, Jan. 11, of the canal saw 20,000 people flock to Canada’s largest skating rink. The NCC said that by the end of the weekend, more than 85,000 people visited — more than half the visits seen over last year’s 10-day season.
This comes as temperatures are set to be well above 0 C over the next few days. On Tuesday, Environment Canada’s forecast shows temperatures could reach 10 C with a chance of showers.
