Explore Calgary’s Bowness Park in Winter on Ice Bikes

In 2020, the City of Calgary introduced ice bikes to Bowness Park.

Calgary became the first city in Canada to offer ice bikes. These bikes offer an alternative to skating and are essentially traditional bicycles mounted on a sled-like platform. Users can pedal and steer around the ice as they would on a road.

The bikes are single-speed, and users can simply pedal backwards to stop. According to the City, ice bikes accommodate a wide range of ages and users, including those with physical accessibility challenges, because only a little balance is required.

Only one person can be on the ice bike at a time.

Adult and child-sized ice bikes are available for rent at a cost of $12/half-hour or $20/hour. The ice bikes are available to rent from the Bowness Park Skate Shop (operated by the University of Calgary Outdoor Centre).

The 1.6-kilometre ice trail, where you can enjoy skating, is approximately eight centimetres thick and was created by flooding the grass with water in layers until a thickness for skating was reached.  The park visitors will be able to enjoy a skate during regular park hours (5 a.m. to 11 p.m.). After dark, the ice will be lit for evening use with LED lights.

The city of Calgary also has an outdoor ice skating trail at North Glenmore Park.

Ice Bikes and Ice Trail at Bowness Park

Ice Bikes:

Available for rent from  Skate Shop (operated by the University of Calgary Outdoor Centre).

Skate Shop Hours of Operation (Weather dependent)

Hours:

Opening:  December 19, 2025

• Holiday Period December 19 – January 4, 2026: Daily: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. (last rental 7:15 p.m.)
• December 25: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. (last rental 5:15 p.m.)
• January – March 16 (pending ice conditions):
  • • Fridays: 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. (last rental 7:15 p.m.)
    • Saturdays and Sundays: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. (last rental 7:15 p.m.)

Rentals end 45 minutes before closing to allow for returns.

Bowness rentals will remain closed if the temperature is forecast to be -20 or below, or if the windchill is forecast to feel like -25 or below.

Icetrail:

Once open  — 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.

How Much: Free

Rentals:

Skates: 1 hour–  $12; 2-3 hours — $20
Ice Bike: 30 min — $12; 1 hour — $20
Skate Aid: 1 hour — $8

Helmets: Free

Skate Sharpening: $10/ pair

Where: 8900, 48 Avenue Northwest, Calgary