Holiday fun can be found outdoors everywhere in Fort McMurray and across the region!

Municipal Parks staff are busy making sure outdoor winter recreation areas are ready to be enjoyed for the holiday season and throughout winter. Many outdoor rinks are already open, as well as the Timberlea sliding hill. The Lions Parks skating trail is expected to open before Christmas.

Outdoor rinks

The Abasand, Waterways, Stone Creek and Syncrude Athletic Park rinks are now open, with more expected to open in the coming weeks.

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Nets will be available on all outdoor rinks for casual hockey and pick-up games. Municipal outdoor rinks cannot be booked or scheduled and organized games are not allowed.

Please play safe, be respectful of all skill levels and follow all safety guidelines and rules.

Please do not use outdoor rinks if they’re closed. Doing so creates a safety risk and may damage the ice, resulting in delays opening the rink. Outdoor rinks are closed daily for approximately one to three hours for flooding and regular maintenance.

Find the locations and check the status of outdoor rinks using the Parks and Facilities Map.

Lions Park Skating Trail

Lace up your skates and enjoy the popular skating trail downtown at Lions Park. This skating trail is free, suitable for all ages and is the perfect outing to get you in the festive spirit as you enjoy a leisurely skate and take in the holiday light display.

The skating trail is expected to open before Christmas, check the Parks Map for updates and operating hours.

Kiyām Community Park

Take a tour of downtown’s new park and gather round the community tree with family and friends. The multi-coloured lights and holiday decorations are spectacular at night!

Borealis Skating Pond

The skating pond at Borealis Park will be open again this year for leisure skating, weather permitting, seven days a week, until 11 p.m. The pond is expected to open in January.

The skating pond is free, suitable for all ages and is guaranteed to cure the winter blues with the festive lights and decorations. Hockey sticks and pucks are not allowed on the pond.

If skating is not your thing, bring family or friends for a walk around the pond.

Timberlea sliding hill

Grab your sleds and slide into the night at the Timberlea Community Park as the lights are now being turned on from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week. The sliding hill is a fun and easy way to enjoy winter, day or night and is suitable for all ages.

Groomed winter trails

Stay active this winter by exploring the Birchwood Trails or enjoying one of the many maintained neighbourhood trails. Certain trails are being groomed so you can enjoy nonmotorized activities such as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, bicycling, dog walking and trail running.

If cross country skiing, please stay on groomed trails and off other trails in the area.

For everyone’s enjoyment and safety, please remember to dispose of all garbage properly or take it home with you.

Find more information on outdoor recreation activities, including a map of all the amenities available, at rmwb.ca/parks