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 Rink at Belmar where a couple of long glides can take a skater halfway around the ice. Go to larger rinks, like Keystone’s frozen lake, to find enough room to play hockey or twirl like a Disney on Ice star. Pro tip: Skate rentals can be pricy; you can usually find reasonably-priced skates at your local thrift store.
Do you feel the need for speed? Don’t miss our 30 best places to sled in Colorado.
Don’t have skates? We’re BIG fans of adjustable ice skates for your littles that last multiple seasons. Some of our favorites: American Athletic Shoe’s adjustable figure skate for girls or Lake Placid Summit Boys Adjustable Ice Skate.
Find out where to get your alfresco glide on with Mile High Mamas’ Guide to Outdoor Skating in Colorado.
Ice Skating Rinks Near Denver
(Evergreen Lake)
Evergreen Lake
This 40-acre lake is one of Colorado’s largest natural skating venues (and my personal favorite), 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: $8 adults, $7 youth (4-18). 29612 Upper Bear Creek Road, Evergreen; evergreen recreation.com
WinterSkate in Louisville and Northfield
Louisville provides a charming backdrop for WinterSkate, an old-fashioned, outdoor ice skating rink complete with traditional holiday music, free parking, and free horse-drawn carriage rides with over 6,500 square feet of ice; 824 Front St., Louisville. 29th Street Mall, Boulder. Also, their other WinterSkate location at the Shops at Northfield Stapleton. 8260 E Northfield Blvd Denver, 303-449-0540 or bceproductions.com
Old Town Square Ice-skating Rink in Fort Collins
This pedestrian area’s outdoor rink overlooks downtown restaurants, shops and pubs that lend an urban sensibility, plus it’s free with nominal skate rental fees. This rink features Kwik Rink Synthetic Ice which is a low-maintenance synthetic surface used by competitive hockey players, figure skaters, and recreation users. Linden and Walnut streets, Fort Collins; 970-221-6683 or downtownfortcollins.com
The Rink at Belmar
This 7000-square foot outdoor ice rink located on the Belmar Plaza is family-oriented and often has skating performances and themed nights like Ugly Sweater Skate Night. Skating fee: $9.50 adults, $7.50 ages 12 and under and includes skate rental. 408 S. Teller St., Lakewood; 303-742-1525 or Belmar belmarcolorado.com
Downtown Denver 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 $7 for kids 12 and under and $9 for adults. Arapahoe Street at 16th Street. downtowndenver.com
Colorado Springs’ Acacia Park
(DIA)
During the holiday season (November through January-ish), the west side of Colorado Springs’ Acacia Park becomes a hub of activity that revolves around the skating rink. Skate in the Park has themed nights, live music, food vendors (and a Santa or two) through January. $10 admission with skate rental. downtowncs.com
DEN Plaza Skating Rink at DIA
You won’t mind the long waits at Denver International Airport with this FREE Ice skating pop-up on the DEN Plaza. This 34-60-foot rink features performances and appearances on the ice. Ice skating and rentals are free.denevents.flydenver.com/event/ice-skating-rink-83/
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. 13th Street between Canyon and Walnut streets, Boulder; 303-209-3722 or bouldericerink.com
Gaylord Rockies
Enjoy a perfect day or evening under the stars by going on at Gaylord Rockies’ outdoor ice skating rink. Enjoy events that include ice tubing, a scavenger hunt and more. To ensure the best skating time, be sure to pre-reserve your ticket. $15.95. marriott.com
The Pond
Southlands Shopping Center’s popular outdoor skating rink on Town Square hosts several fun events including a Noon Year’s Eve skate, a Frozen Celebration and a Skate and Donate Food Drive. Cost: $8.50; ages 3 & under $3.50 and skate rental: $2.50. shopsouthlands.com/eventprograms/thepond/
Rink at the Rock
The Rink at the Rock is Castle Rock’s community recreational skating rink that offers open skate. Adult (12+) $8; Child (11 and under): $6. Skate Rentals $4. downtowncastlerock.com
Longmont Ice Pavilion
Located at Roosevelt Park, 725 Eighth Ave., the Longmont Ice Pavilion is a seasonal ice rink, offering public ice skating, hockey, skating lessons and party facilities throughout the winter, weather permitting. longmontcolorado.gov
The Ice Rink at The Promenade Shops at Centerra
Get your shop on at one of Northern Colorado’s favorite shopping and dining destinations, now with an outdoor twist. Check-out their website for free skate nights. Location: I-25 and Highway 34 in Loveland, Colorado. Adults (13 and up)$10; $8 (12 and under). icerinkattheshops.com
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 you want to join a drop-in hockey game or watch a broomball or curling practice. Skating (non-resident) fee: $11 adults, $8 children. 170 Indian Peaks Drive, Nederland; nedrink.org
Colorado Skating Outside of Denver
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
Town Park and Mountain Village rinks
(Beaver Creek)
With two ice skating rinks in the town of Telluride and one in Mountain Village, there’s ample opportunity to get on the ice! The Nordic Center rents skates and also has a sharpening service. Nordic Center, Telluride telluride.com/activities/ice-skating
Black Family Ice Rink at Beaver Creek
Enjoy ice skating in Beaver Creek. An outdoor rink in the middle of the village, skating at the Beaver Creek Ice Rink provides endless fun for everyone in the family. Beaver Creek Village, Beaver Creek or beavercreek.com
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
West Lake at Copper Mountain
West Lake offers a natural ice surface that typically opens for use near the end of December depending on weather and ice conditions! West Lake offers free broomball equipment and hockey nets if you want to bring a group of friends together for a rousing game. You can also gather around the fire pit to roast some marshmallow or simply to warm up before hitting the ice again. Don’t have skates? Stop by the City Pop and rent some for the day. Copper Mountain Resort; coppercolorado.com
Meadow Creek Pond, Frisco
(West Lake at Copper Mountain)
A local’s favorite: Bring your skates to Frisco’s ice rink at Meadow Creek Pond. Gather friends and family to enjoy this classic winter pastime and take advantage of the large pavilion and BBQ. Located behind Walmart in Frisco.
Ice Rink at Run Nordic Center and Maggie Pond
Skating is free at the Ice Rink at Run Nordic Center’s seasonal rink. Bring your own skates; rentals are limited. 200 Clubhouse Drive, Breckenridge. Maggie Pond is another great option for the family. Simply rent some skates and take some turns around the lake, all the while enjoying the winter views of the surrounding mountains. At the base of Peak 8, in the center of The Village at Breckenridge. Rent skates from Breckenridge Sports at Maggie Ponds. townofbreckenridge.com
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. Sleds, stabilizers, hockey sticks and pucks, etc., also available to rent. Lakeside Village, Keystone Resort; keystoneresort.com
Dercum Square, Keystone
(Keystone Lake)
Though Keystone Lake is one of the best outdoor lakes in Colorado, don’t overlook River Run Village, Keystone’s Dercum Square ice rink in River Run Village. This 7,200-foot winter wonderland offers skating day and night with family-friendly activities available just steps away. Free admission; Adult rentals $15, Youth $10 (12 and under). www.keystoneresort.com
Dorsey Lake, YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park
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. Visitors not lodging at the YMCA must show a YMCA membership or purchase a day pass for $20 per person age 13+, $10 for children age 6-12, free for children 5 and under. 2515 Tunnel Road, Estes Park; 970-586-4444 or ymcarockies.org
Snow Mountain Ranch, YMCA of the Rockies near Granby
Turn your morning of ice skating into a full day of fun! After renting skates and taking a few spins on the rink, you and your family can go sledding, try craft building or engage in any activities you’d like, since they’re all included in the day pass fee. snowmountainranch.org
(Rotary Park)
Ouray
Just north of the Swiss-inspired town of Ouray, the Rotary Park rink is surrounded by purple mountains majesty, and locals are known to drop in for impromptu hockey or broomball games. Though the rink features a small warming hut, a soak in the nearby 96- to 108-degree Ouray Hot Springs and Orvis Hot Springs pools will ward off the chill after you’ve spun your final figure eight. ouraycolorado.com
Crested Butte
The Crested Butte Nordic Center’s rink is situated on the edge of this classic southwest-Colorado ski town. With 45 kilometers of groomed cross-country and snowshoe trails, a sledding hill, warming huts and winter photography workshops, the Nordic center provides the whole family with new ways to occupy snowy days. Adult skate rental $20; child skate rental $10. cbnordic.org
Winter Park
Winter Park Resort’s Village Ice Rink offers free lessons, rentals and views of the dramatic peaks of the Continental Divide at the base of the resort. Also, stop by Cooper Creek Square in downtown Winter Park for a free spin — bring your own gear or rent from one of the local retail shops. The Fraser Valley Sports Complex is home to “The IceBox,” an NHL-sized, partially-enclosed, naturally-frozen ice rink.
Silverton
The Kendall Mountain Recreation Area is home to a small ski hill, as well as snowshoeing trails, a sledding hill and ice skating with jagged San Juan Mountain views — a particularly beautiful sight by moonlight. skikendall.com
Lake City
The Town of Lake City maintains an excellent outdoor ice rink for skaters of all skill levels and interests. Located on the west side of the historic Armory building and Town Hall, the rink is near the intersection of Bluff and 3rd streets. Ice skating is also popular at Lake San Cristobal, Colorado’s second-largest natural lake, where a Zamboni smooths the ice near the boat dock. Eat up the ice as you race your family and enjoy your time amid the jaw-dropping mountain scenery covered in snow. lakecity.com
Pagosa Springs
In the heart of downtown Pagosa Springs, the town maintains the ponds behind River Center for ice skating. Also, enjoy sledding on the adjacent Reservoir Hill. There is no fee to skate on the ponds, and skate rentals are available at Summit Ski. pagosa.com
Glenwood Springs
The Glenwood Springs Community Center Ice Rink is an outdoor (to enjoy the brisk mountain air) and covered rink (to save you from bad weather) that offers public skating, youth and adult hockey, skating lessons and more. Adults $7; Youth (5-17) $5. glenwoodrec.com/189/Ice-Rink
Colorado State Parks
Several Colorado State Parks have natural ponds that offer skating amid some of the state’s most scenic vistas, including Yampa River, Golden Gate Canyon, Highline Lake, Jackson Lake, Cherry Creek and Eleven Mile.
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Author: Amber Johnson
Amber is the founder and editor of Mile High Mamas, travel writer and former columnist for The Denver Post. She is a passionate community builder and loves the outdoors. She has two awesome teens and is happily married to a man obsessed with growing The Great Pumpkin.
