This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK).
As temperatures drop and waterways freeze over, outdoor adventure enthusiasts can lace up their skates in search of perfect ice skating spots. Finding the best place for wild or Nordic skating, which involves skating outdoors on naturally formed ice, is no easy feat — the ice has to be smooth, without impurities or a layer of snow on top yet thick enough to be safe to skate on (typically at least four inches). Remember to never skate alone, wear appropriate clothing and stay reasonably close to the shore. Here are a handful of destinations around the world where you can experience the thrill of wild ice skating.
When it comes to ice skating, Sweden is one of the best locations in Europe for anyone who can brace the icy conditions.
Photograph by Nicholas Ahonen, Getty Images
Lake Mälaren is a favoured location just outside Stockholm for experienced skaters without a guide.
Photograph by Henrik Trygg, Getty Images
1. Sweden
Widely regarded as one of the best places for wild skating, Sweden offers a variety of glassy frozen lakes suited for skaters of all levels. If you can bear the harsh temperatures, take a chance and venture closer to the Arctic Circle, where you may also be rewarded with witnessing the twinkling green and blue shades of the Northern Lights.
If you’re not ready to venture to the Arctic, you can enjoy wild skating just 30 miles outside the capital, Stockholm — Lake Mälaren freezes over between November and April. Travellers are welcome to self-guide themselves, but can also book a tour through Green Trails, one of several companies offering guided skating trips across Sweden’s frozen lakes, starting at SEK 1650 (£120).
(Go ice skating beneath the aurora borealis in the Swedish Arctic.)
2. Lac de Joux, Switzerland
Lac de Joux sits on the French border, around an hour from Lausanne by train and is lauded as the largest free natural ice skating rink in Europe. It allows skaters to float along a seemingly endless frozen lake, surrounded by the towering Jura Mountains. Ice skate rental is available right by the lake and, on weekends, warm food and beverages are sold on the ice.
Around six miles long and just over half-a-mile wide, Lac de Joux begins to freeze around mid-December and is fully frozen by February, where it typically stays solid until the end of March.
3. Lake Placid, US
Five hours from NYC and only two hours from Montreal, Mirror Lake in Lake Placid is especially good for beginner skaters looking for a laid-back and serene scenery. The two-time Winter Olympic Games host town allows visitors to skate on a two-mile-long ice track 24/7 when it reaches a safe thickness, which usually happens around mid-December.
While you’re at it, venture outside the area and explore one of the other 3,000 lakes and ponds hidden in the Adirondack mountains. Skaters can guide themselves at their own pace, but anyone wanting a more structured hiking or snow sport experience can book through Guide ADK, with tours starting at $200 (£164).
(7 destinations for wild ice skating in North America.)
Nestled in Rocky Mountain valleys are breathtaking ice skating locations, where the views are worth the trek alone.
Photograph by Ric Rowan
4. Banff National Park, Canada
Immerse yourself in the wild Canadian Rockies as you whirl along one of the several lakes in Banff National Park. Panoramic views of snow-capped mountains are just one of the many reasons to visit Banff in the wintertime. The best conditions for wild skating come earlier in the winter season around December before snow begins to cover the ice, making it harder to freely glide across the frozen lakes.
Lake Louise, about a two-hour drive from Calgary, is by far the most popular lake for ice skaters but 40 Mile Creek to Vermilion Lakes, Two Jack Lake and Lake Minnewanka are other noteworthy options. Banff Adventures is one of several providers offering winter experience packages starting at $104 (£85).
5. Fiè Pond, Italy
Skaters, curlers and ice hockey players are all invited to explore Fiè Pond in Northern Italy during the winter months. The tiny Italian lake is a perfect spot for those wanting to leisurely skate without having to worry about drifting too far from land. Surrounded by fir trees and towering mountain peaks, Fiè Pond is one of the only ponds in the region to be cleared of snow during the winter.
Skate rentals are offered onsite. The rental hut also offers food and drinks to enjoy after a long day of skating. Although there are no tours of Fiè Pond offered, visitors hoping to experience more of the Italian Dolomites can book an eight-day guided tour of the area through Exodus Adventure Travels from £1,009.
Snow-covered bodies of water are difficult to skate on, so the best conditions are after a series of clear, cold days with no precipitation.
Photograph by CoolbieRe
6. Lake Akan, Japan
Located on the Japanese island of Hokkaido, Lake Akan welcomes skaters from around mid-January once the lake is fully frozen solid. The tree-lined lake, which is a four-hour drive from Sapporo, is at the heart of the Akan-Mashu National Park and has views of several stratovolcanoes including Mount Me-Aken.
By the beginning of February, the lake is transformed into ‘Iceland Akan’ with other activities such as snowmobiling and ice fishing on offer. G-Adventures offers Japan island-hopping trips that take guests from Tokyo to Sapporo, allowing to continue on to Lake Akan. Tours start around £3,699 and are offered year-round.
(Alternative winter experiences, from ice-climbing in Italy to camping in Finland.)
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