Penticton's Lakeside Resort has an outdoor ice rink located on the resort's Okanagan Lake shoreline.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Lakeside Resort Facebook

Winter is rolling in Kamloops and the Okanagan this month, bringing with it opportunities to get outside, be really Canadian and strap on some skates. 

There are already some outdoor rinks ready for some shinny, and some have yet to be completed. 

The following is a list of outdoor rinks we’ve found in the area, some of which are ready to enjoy while other needs a few more days of cold temperatures. 

Silver Star Ski Resort's Brewers Pond ice skating surface.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Silver Star Resort Facebook

SKATING AT THE REGION'S SKI RESORTS

Most of the Thompson-Okanagan's ski resorts provide outdoor skating opportunities.

Sun Peaks Resort, about 45 minutes north of Kamloops, has an NHL sized ice skating rink open to the public. Skate and stick rentals are available.

Vernon’s Silver Star Resort, around 20 kilometres northeast of Vernon, uses the frozen surface of Brewer’s Pond as a skating rink, accommodating casual, figure skaters and hockey players. There is an onsite rental shop with skates, helmets, hockey sticks and pucks, along with an outdoor bonfire beside the rink.

Big White Ski Resort bills its ice surface as Canada’s highest skating rink. The Olympic sized ice surface opens at 11 a.m. and is equipped with lights for night use. Skates, helmets and hockey sticks are available to rent.

Apex Mountain Resort, approximately 33 kilometres west of Penticton, has a full-sized outdoor ice skating rink with boards, making it suitable for everything from a hockey game to a late night skate. The rink is serviced by a Zamboni and is lit for night use. Apex also has a one kilometre skating loop through the nearby trees. Skates are available for rent at the resort.

CITY OUTDOOR SKATING RINKS

The City of Kamloops has areas set up in a number of parks where ice surfaces can be created. Local community groups work with the City to build the outdoor rinks, which are dependent on weather and volunteer availability. Below is a list of city parks that may be home to an outdoor rink:

• Westsyde Centennial Park, 705 Franklin Rd.
• Juniper Park, 2150 Qu’appelle Blvd.
• Thompson Park, 6500 Beaver Cres.
• Valleyview Centennial Park, 2288 Park Dr.
• Len Haughton Park, 595 Lister Rd.
• Pineview Valley Park, 1925 Hugh Allan Dr.

One reader in Kamloops suggested skating on Inks Lake off Lac La Jeune Road. As with any lakefront rink, take extra precautions to be sure the ice is thick enough.

In the Shuswap, glide on the Sorrento-Blind Bay outdoor rink. The rink is located at Sorrento-Blind Bay Park at 2670 Davidson Rd. in Sorrento.

Moving to the North Okanagan, the City of Enderby doesn't have a public outdoor skating rink but fear not, the fire department has previously flooded a rink at M.V. Beattie Elementary School.

Lavington, just east of Vernon, has an outdoor ice sheet at Jeffers Park which is operated by the Lavington Community Association.

The City of Vernon operates the Centennial Outdoor rink at the recreation complex at 3310 37 Ave.

In the Central Okanagan, the City of Kelowna operates the Stuart Park ice rink, which is open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. There is no cost to to enjoy the outdoor rink. You can bring your own skates and helmets, and rentals are available from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. You'll need to bring some money with you because the rentals are cash only.

Dilworth Mountain Rink in Lillooet is a volunteer maintained rink.

The District of Peachland has a small ice rink at Mountain View Park across from the public works yard at 5379 Princeton Ave. It has lights for night use.

In the South Okanagan, Penticton’s Lakeside Resort operates a fully lit rink on the resort’s waterfront. It is recommended to contact the front desk at 250-493-8221 to check for previous booking or to book for group use.

The communities of Naramata and Kaleden have outdoor rinks this year, thanks to the local fire departments and community volunteers.

The Village of Keremeos has a full-sized, outdoor hockey rink enclosed with half boards that also utilizes an ice plant. Call the Recreation Centre in Keremeos for further information at 250-499-2400.

Did we miss your favourite public outdoor ice rink? Let us know in the comments below.

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