Refrigerated skating rinks for families: 8 places with good ice even in mild weather

With milder winters, natural rinks open late and close early. Refrigerated rinks, on the other hand, offer good ice all season long. Here are eight spots, almost all free.

In short: in Montreal, Esplanade Tranquille and Beaver Lake; in Laval, the new covered rink at Parc Pie-X (skates lent); in Quebec City, Place D'Youville and the Plains of Abraham; in Trois-Rivières, Bleu Blanc Bouge (skates lent).

Montreal

1. Esplanade Tranquille rink

Montreal's largest refrigerated rink, free, with a heated pavilion. Its season is longer than natural rinks'.

• Corner of Sainte-Catherine West and Clark
• Late November to early April
• See the listing

2. Beaver Lake rink

Refrigerated and free, on top of Mount Royal, with skate rentals and sharpening.

• Mount Royal Park
• See the listing

3. Atrium Le 1000

An indoor rink open year-round, downtown.

• 1000 De La Gauchetière Street West
• See the listing

Laval

4. Parc Pie-X rink

Laval's first covered, refrigerated outdoor rink, opened in 2026. Free public skating with skates, helmets and skating aids lent.

• Parc Pie-X (Chomedey)
• See the listing

Quebec City

5. Place D'Youville rink

Refrigerated and free, at the foot of Old Quebec's fortifications.

• 995 Place D'Youville
• Mid-November to mid-March
• See the listing

6. Plains of Abraham ice ring

A free refrigerated ring with skate rentals.

• Battlefields Park
• Mid-December to mid-March
• See the listing

Trois-Rivières

7. Bleu Blanc Bouge rink

Refrigerated and free, with a heated chalet and free loans of skates, helmets and sticks (ID required). Family hockey periods for ages 13 and under.

• Parc du Cardinal-Roy
• See the listing

South Shore

8. Eric-Sharp Arena

An indoor option: free public skating every week, September to mid-April.

• 600 Avenue Oak, Saint-Lambert
• See the listing

Our tips

• For little beginners, a helmet is strongly recommended (and mandatory at Pie-X for ages 8 and under).
• Free rinks are busy on weekend afternoons: aim for the morning.
• For more ideas, see Free family skating in Montreal and Laval and Forest skating trails.

Frequently asked questions

Why choose a refrigerated rink?

The ice stays good even in mild weather, and the season lasts longer.

Where can we borrow skates for free?

At the Parc Pie-X rink in Laval and at Bleu Blanc Bouge in Trois-Rivières.

Is there a rink open in summer?

Yes, Atrium Le 1000 in downtown Montreal is open year-round.

Information checked on October 13, 2026. Opening dates and hours depend on the weather: confirm with each place before you go.