(Editor's Note: On Sunday [January 8], the Vancouver park board closed Trout Late to skaters due to warmer weather and heavy usage. This decision will be reconsidered on Monday [January 9].)

Need something to do this weekend? Here are five local lakes, ponds, and other outdoor spaces that have been deemed safe for public skating as of January 5, 2017. Contact the municipalities' respective park boards for updates as needed.

John Hendry Park, 3300 Victoria Drive

Sure, there’s also an indoor rink at Trout Lake, but that one will cost you—$5.98 for adults aged 19 to 54, $4.27 for youth and seniors, $3.01 for kids, plus skate rental fees. If you want to skate on the pond—sorry, “lake”—itself, all you need is a pair of CCM Super Tacks.

The elderly and decrepit among us have hazy memories of slipping and sliding around the duck ponds at Jericho Beach before the turn of the century, but this is arguably the first real winter we’ve seen in decades.

Even if you grew up in Vancouver, you might not remember a time when it was possible to skate outdoors. The park board says that, in order for it to give skaters access to a given body of water, it must first measure an ice depth of at least 12 centimetres, acondition that has not been met since 1996. As of this writing, the board has only okayed Trout Lake for skating.

As much as we’re all secretly praying for the greenlighting of Lost Lagoon, all other frozen ponds in city parks are strictly off-limits. And although the park board has crews out measuring ice levels, outdoor skating at Trout Lake is unsupervised, so use your common sense and proceed with caution.

Oh, and have fun, because it might be another 20-odd years before you get this chance again.

Garry Point Park, 12011 Seventh Avenue, Richmond

Richmond is a go-to destination for dozens of things—namely, expertly crafted dim sum, L.A. Chicken, and a decent bubble-tea shop that’s actually open at 3 a.m., when you need to wash the taste of whisky out of your mouth after a particularly rambunctious karaoke session. Add to that list the pond at Garry Point Park, where you can strap on a pair of skates to burn off all those aforementioned carbs.

Situated a short walk away from the quaint village of Steveston, the water has been officially okayed by the City of Richmond parks department for public skating, so grab a few friends and some hockey sticks, too. The serene waterfront space, which, on a clear day, boasts gorgeous views of the coastline, incoming boats, and the Gulf Islands, may even inspire you to break out the triple Salchow.

Once you’ve worked up a sweat, head back toward the village and indulge in another one of Richmond’s notable (and edible) offerings: Steveston Pizza Company. 

Grouse Mountain, 6400 Nancy Greene Way, North Vancouver

There’s something about ice-skating atop a mountain among tall, snow-covered trees that feels inherently Canadian. Paired with a packed but generally pleasant gondola ride above the city, it makes for an experience that (almost) justifies the trip through North Vancouver traffic.

The bonus of taking the drive or bus ride up to Grouse Mountain for a winter skate is that, like the gorgeous, 8,000-square-foot pond, the view from the top is unparalleled.

Skating is free with the purchase of an Alpine Experience ticket ($44.95 for adults), lift ticket, membership, or season’s pass. Haven’t got your own skates? Rentals are available at the Fireside Hut for $8.          

Tsawwassen Springs, 5133 Springs Boulevard, Tsawwassen

As romantic as the idea of outdoor skating might be, it has its minor drawbacks. Because Trout Lake, for example, doesn’t have a Zamboni on standby, the ice can look more like the skin of a plucked Canada goose than a New Year’s baby’s bum.

Those who want the pristine feel of a freshly flooded sheet might want to consider what’s being billed as Skating on the Fairways at Tsawwassen Springs. Built on a golf course developed by Vancouver Giants owner Ron Toigo, the rink features great views of the North Shore mountains and—perhaps more importantly—an excellent place to toast the genius of a local hockey legend after your skate.

(You can literally remove your Bauer Vapors and then step onto the patio of the adjacent Pat Quinn’s Restaurant and Bar. The big Irishman would have approved.)

Unlike at the Serpentine River or Garry Point Park, you’re going to have to pay to skate at Tsawwassen Springs: $10 for adults and $5 for kids. And if that seems a little steep compared with absolutely free at Trout Lake, you’ve clearly never taken a header after hitting a stick, leaf, or used mouth guard embedded in the ice.

Robson Square, 800 Robson Street

Okay, it’s probably the least adventurous option for outdoor skating. But if you want to be sure you’re not going to hear a few ominous cracks when you take a spill on the ice, Robson Square is your best choice.

Although critics claim that it’s pretty much a glorified indoor rink, we’re confident that having only four foot-high boards around the ice definitely makes it an open-air affair. Right? Right?? Either way, the tall roof that shelters the rink brings some welcome luxuries. Rain, shine, or snow, Vancouverites can take to the ice—which is just as well, because the rink targets the casual skater.

Unlike some of the wilder outdoor locations, Robson Square features a skate-rental booth and a concession stand, meaning that first-timers can give outdoor skating a go before quickly retiring to the benches around the rink for coffee, hot chocolate, and snacks.

We offer you one warning, however: this free spot gets hella busy—so pick your time wisely.