Gliding through the orchard at River Oak Skating Trails

I’m a big fan of the Rideau Canal Skateway and try to get out there whenever it’s open.

But I recently discovered the sheer elation of skating on a perfectly groomed trail that winds through trees and flows over gentle hills.

For all the amenities the canal has — including shawarma, poutine and beer — it does not have a centimetre of elevation.

The natural rise and fall of the terrain was the main reason my friend and I ended up spending most of a cold winter evening at River Oak, a cidery and skating operation on a family farm near Metcalfe, inside city limits.

At first I thought we were nuts to drive 30 minutes out of Centretown to skate, when the canal was a few blocks away, especially on a night of high winds and random snow squalls.

However, I was soon a believer in the appeal of a skating trail.

The adventure at River Oak started in a long, rectangular cabin constructed of old wooden beams. A fire in the wood stove and an assortment of vintage furniture made it cozy, although the wall of rental skates behind the wood-slab counter signalled business.