As of 8 a.m. Monday, skaters will be able to  travel the full 7.8 kilometres from the Rideau access point to south of Dow’s Lake near Carleton University, the National Capital Commission says.
Skateway has been partially open since New Year’s Eve
CBC News · Posted: Jan 04, 2026 5:22 PM EST | Last Updated: January 4
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People skate along the Rideau Canal last Wednesday after the skateway’s partial opening. The National Capital Commission says the entire skateway will open Monday at 8 a.m. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press)
The entire length of the Rideau Canal Skateway is set to open Monday morning, the National Capital Commission says.
As of 8 a.m., skaters will be able to travel the full 7.8 kilometres from the Rideau access point to south of Dow’s Lake near Carleton University, the NCC announced Sunday.
A partial 3.8-kilometre stretch opened on New Year’s Eve, marking the skateway’s earliest launch date since 2018.
At the time, the NCC said that cold weather in December provided ideal conditions for forming ice and that further sections could open in the days ahead.
The NCC then opened another 800 metres on Saturday.
The Patterson Creek skating area will remain closed this year, however, due to the rehabilitation of the Patterson Creek Bridge.
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