What’s the story behind those ethereal videos you see of ice skaters who glide across mountain lakes? Skating on “wild ice” (known as Nordic skating) is not much more difficult than rink skating, but it takes knowing the right location, conditions, and safety information.
The crystalline lake waters in national parks can be ideal candidates for nordic skating once they freeze over. Wild ice is best when there is no snow to mar the surface.
In the northern states and in high elevations, freezing temperatures usually come before snow begins to accumulate. This is the ideal time to look for wild ice. Sometimes, a midwinter melt or big wind storm will be enough to smooth the surface of the ice enough for you to safely lace up your skates.
Going Nordic in national parks
Many national parks have lakes that are great candidates for Nordic skating.
Yosemite National Park has their own ice rink in Yosemite Valley that has been in operation since 1928. This is a great outdoor option for beginning skaters. The ice is groomed with a Zamboni in between open skates.
Photographer John Berry found a group of skaters playing hockey at Chasm Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park.
“Before meeting these hockey players at Chasm Lake, I had attempted ice climbing for the first time,” Berry told Outside. “My accomplished climber friend was teaching me and watching me clumsily attempt to conquer the ice. I had a case of what he calls ‘the screaming barfies,’ where your hands get so cold you feel like vomiting, and I felt like calling it a day. After I didn’t vomit and the feeling in my hands returned, we hiked to Chasm Lake and met these hockey players who let me film them.”
Lake Haiyaha, also in Rocky Mountain, offers a “one-of-a-kind skating experiences in between peaks,” according to National Geographic’s list of best places to skate outside.
Photographer Jill Jones and her friend got lucky on a perfect day in Glacier National Park.
Their video was filmed in 2022, when the park experienced some record low temperatures without much precipitation. This meant the lakes were freezing without being snowed on. “We had some days in the thirties, so when we did get a dusting [of snow] it melted and left a layer of water on top,” Jones said. “[This made] the ice thick enough to hold people, and made a really cool effect with the thin layer of melted snow on top.”
Glacier’s lake can be great candidates for Nordic skating, as they often freeze early in the season. As Jones writes in her caption, it often takes a good deal of luck to find wild ice in perfect condition for skating.
Nordic Skating Gear
Speaking of skates, there are specific nordic skates that can help you have more safe and enjoyable adventures on the ice. Investing in Nordic skates, boots, and bindings can improve your stability and allow for you to travel on rougher ice.
The major differences between Nordic skates and typical ice or hockey skates are longer blades and a free heel on the bindings so you can have a better ride on uneven surfaces.
Navigate risks on wild ice
Stepping out onto the ice is always a risk, even in a controlled environment like a local skating rink. You might not have to dodge small children flying past, but you will need to know how to identify thick ice and self rescue if necessary.
While falling can definitely result in injuries, the largest risk while skating on wild ice is breaking through. To avoid this, you can carry tools like an ice probe, which work like a ski pole but with a heavy tip so you can gauge ice thickness and strength.
