It doesn’t take much to find solitude in Banff National Park. Just a ten minute drive from the townsite, you can find natural gems like Quiet Pond. And if you time it just right, you can bring your skates and explore this magical November scene for yourself. “Skating Season”, as the locals refer to it, happens when cold temperatures arrive before the snowfall. It doesn’t happen every year, but when it does, be sure to get out to one of the lakes and ponds in the Bow Valley. It’s an activity steeped in canadiana, a surreal experience you will never forget.

Like all outdoor activities there are some risks. Before you go, make sure you read up on skating safety in our national parks: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/ab/banff/activ/activ26.aspx

Remember: Parks Canada does NOT mark off places for safe skating, or mark potential hazards. If you choose to skate on natural ice, you do so at your own risk.