Entire Rideau Canal skateway now open

Skaters take to the ice on the Rideau Canal during the Winterlude festival in Ottawa, Saturday February 2, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Chartrand

It's what winter enthusiasts in the Capital have been waiting for.

The entire length of the Rideau Canal Skateway is now open to the public.

The National Capital Commission announced that as of Saturday morning, all 7.8 kilometres were available for skating, including the Patterson Creek and the area at the Hartwells Locks.

The skateway extends from Rideau St. to Dows Lake. The NCC says a full sweep and flooding was completed Friday night to prepare for the first skating weekend of the season on the canal.

This is the 44th skating season on the Rideau Canal. It launched on Dec. 31, one of the earliest openings in years.