Outside Guide: Colorado’s outdoor ice-skating rinks

Sharpen those blades of glory: Colorado’s outdoor ice-skating rinks are open and glistening in the wake of a dozen Zambonis. Some rinks are cozy and family-oriented, like Lakewood’s little Rink at Belmar, where a couple of long glides can take a skater halfway around the ice. HockeyMonkey can teach you how to pick out properly fitting skates, and then go to larger rinks, like Keystone’s frozen lake, to find enough room to play hockey or twirl like a Disney on Ice star. Here’s where to get your alfresco glide on.

1. Mountain Village Ice Rink

This sedate rink run by Capella, Boot Doctors and the Mountain Village government features a Christmas tree in the middle. Skating is free for children age 5 and younger. Skating fee: $8 adults, $5 children ages 6 to 12. Rental skates: $7 adults, $5 children.Mountain Village; 970-239-0606 or mountainvillage.co.us

2. Town Park rink

Skating is free at this little outdoor rink that’s typically open from mid-December through February. The Nordic Center rents skates and also has a sharpening service. Nordic Center, Telluride; 970-728-1144 or telluride-co.gov

3. Black Family Ice Rink

Fridays and Mondays are Disco Skate at this 150-footby-65-foot rectangular rink, and the ice is Zamboni-refreshed every three hours. Beaver Creek Village, Beaver Creek; 970- 845-0438 or beavercreek.com

4. Silverthorne Ice Skating

The skating is free at this natural ice-skating site that the city of Silverthorne maintains in the winter. Skate at your own risk; no rentals. Colorado 9 and Hamilton Creek Road, Silverthorne; silverthorne.org


5. Ice Rink at Run Nordic Center

Skating is free at this seasonal rink. Bring your own skates; rentals are limited. 200 Clubhouse Drive, Breckenridge; 970-547-7889 or townofbreckenridge.com

6. Keystone Lake skating and hockey

Benches surround a big, brilliant Christmas tree in the middle of the lake, and there’s nearly always a game going in the small hockey rink. Skate along the periphery to look for the occasional frozen fish suspended near the surface. Skating fees: $11 adults, $9 children ages 12 to 17, $7 seniors and toddlers. Skate rental: $3 to $7. Sleds, stabilizers, hockey sticks and pucks, etc., also available to rent. Lakeside Village, Keystone Resort; 800-354-4386 or keystoneresort.com

7. Dorsey Lake, YMCA of the Rockies

At a little over 8,000 feet, this is one of the highest outdoor rinks in Colorado, so be sure to dress warmly. Great views of the surrounding Rocky Mountain National Park mountains. Skating fee: $3 per person (free for children age 9 and younger),and skate rental is $5 per pair. 2515 Tunnel Road, Estes Park; 970-586-4444 or ymcarockies.org

8. Nederland Ice and Racquet Park

This quirky rink cut into a hillside is home-grown: Local volunteers position the liners and plexiglass base, and help maintain the ice. Check the website schedule before leaving home if youwant to join a drop-in hockey game or watch a broomball or curling practice. Skating fee: $9 adults, $7 children. 170 Indian Peaks Drive, Nederland; nedrink.org (no phone)

9. Evergreen Lake

This 40-acre lake is one of Colorado’s largest natural skating venues, but call the hotline before heading here, because changeable temperatures can close the lake to skating. No Zamboni, either, so the rippled surface can be a challenge. Skating fee: $5 adults, $4.75 children ages 4 to 18, $4.50 seniors and military personnel. 29612 Upper Bear Creek Road, Evergreen; 720-880-1391 or evergreen recreation.com

10. Ice Rink at One Boulder Plaza

Theme promotions are popular here, and skaters are likely to share the ice with one of Boulder’s resident elite cyclists, runners, climbers or triathletes. Skating fees: $5 adults, $4 children ages 4 to 12, $3 seniors age 60 and older. Skate rental: $3 per pair. 13th Street between Canyon andWalnut streets, Boulder; 303-209-3722 or bouldericerink.com

11. WinterSkate/Boulder

A little more suburban than the downtown Boulder skating rink, the ice here is family-friendly and close to shelter. Skate fee: $5 (adults), $4 (children ages 4 to 12), $3 (students and seniors). Skate rental: $5. 29th Street Mall, Boulder; 303-449-0540 or bceproductions.com

12. Old Town Square ice-skating rink

This pedestrian area’s outdoor rink overlooks downtown restaurants, shops and pubs that lend an urban sensibility, plus it’s cheap. Skating fees are just $2 per person, and skate rental is only $1 per pair. Linden andWalnut streets, Fort Collins; 970-221-6683 or downtownfortcollins.com

13. WinterSkate/Louisville

This huge (6,500 square feet) rink is open through March 4, 2012, and makes the most of Louisville’s smalltown ambiance. Skating fee: $5 adults, $4 children ages 4 to 12, $3 students and seniors. Skate rental: $5. Steinbaugh Pavilion, 824 Front St., Louisville; bceproductions.com

14. WinterSkate/Broomfield

Torn between shopping and skating? This is the rink for you. Skating fee: $5 (adults), $4 (children ages 4 to 12), $3 (students and seniors). Skate rental: $5. Flatiron Crossing, Broomfield; 303-469-1545 or bceproductions. com or flatironcrossing.com

15. The Rink at Belmar

Small and family-oriented, this little outdoor rink offers two-for-one Tuesday Date Nights, SkateWith Santa on Saturdays through Dec. 17, and ValenTwins (two-for-one skating for twins and couples who dress alike). Skating fee: $6 adults, $4 ages 12 and under. Skate rental: $3. 408 S. Teller St., Lakewood; 303-742-1525 or Belmar colorado.com

16. Southwest Rink at Skyline Park

This urbane spot is big enough to let figure skaters show off their turns and jumps, and to give hockey skaters enough room to build up an impressive hockey stop. Skating is free, and rental fees are $2 per pair. Arapahoe Street at 16th Street. southwestrink.com.

-Claire Martin

Author: Mile High Mamas