Gliding on ice is one of winter’s great joys. And, like most things in Colorado, it’s even better when you do it outside. Skating outdoors, surrounded by snowy scenery, twinkling lights — and, if you’re lucky, a hot chocolate stand or a warming hut with a fireplace — makes for a picture-perfect, cold-season activity with family or friends.
You can find fresh-air skating rinks all around the state — among towering skyscrapers, on village squares, and tucked into quiet mountain settings. Whether you’re a smooth slider or a lurching beginner, there’s an ice rink ready to welcome you. Some offer lessons, others host pick-up hockey or curling games, and a few even rent ice bikes and ice bumper cars. Here’s a roundup of rinks for you to consider. Be sure to check before you go for updates on ice and weather conditions, then choose one and give it a whirl.
With locations in both Estes Park and Granby, the YMCA of the Rockies offers two outdoor ice rinks with different personalities. At the Estes Park Center, frozen Dorsey Pond combines nature with nostalgia for a throwback skating experience on a rink surrounded by pine trees and mountain peaks. In Granby, Snow Mountain Ranch’s Winter Pavilion at the Winter Fun Park offers a rink for open skating or playing hockey, broomball, or other ice sports, including curling on occasion.
Estes Park Center, 2515 Tunnel Road, Estes Park. Snow Mountain Ranch, 1101 County Road 53, Granby
The Icebox Ice Rink at the Fraser Valley Sports Complex is an NHL-sized, semi-covered rink with views of the Continental Divide. It’s a lively community hub that hosts open skating, drop-in hockey, and the occasional curling session. It even has ice bumper cars if you’re in the mood for a clash. Outdoor bleachers have overhead heating, and there’s a warming hut with a fireplace.
Icebox Ice Rink at the Fraser Valley Sports Complex, 220 County Road 522, Fraser.
There are two open-air ice-skating options at Keystone: The 7,200-square-foot Dercum Square rink has a festive atmosphere, surrounded by the shops and restaurants of River Run Village. Frozen Keystone Lake stretches over 5 acres, providing an old-fashioned skating scene surrounded by snowy slopes in the Lakeside Village area. Hockey is allowed on the lake (stick and puck rentals, too).
The Huck Finn Ice Rink can be a magical place as the sun sets and the peaks and clouds take on purple and pink hues. This is a family-friendly gathering spot with a true community vibe. Come early or late and skate for free. Everyone is asked to treat the ice with care and pick up after themselves. The firepit is perfect for warming up. Curling is available on adjacent ice with the Cloud City Curling Club.
Huck Finn Ice Rink, 445 Maple St., Leadville.
Skating at the Arrabelle’s Alderhof Ice Rink, in Vail’s Lionshead Village, is like twirling in the middle of a European square. It’s a family-friendly spot, with pizza and candy shops nearby. But it’s also a romantic place for an evening glide, surrounded by twinkling lights.
Alderhof Ice Rink at The Arrabelle, 675 Lionshead Place, Vail.
The Beaver Creek Ice Rink in Beaver Creek Village is a charming setting for a day or night of skating. With rink-side fire pits and plush seating, it’s easy to relax when you step off the ice. Old-fashioned skating mixes with new adventures here, too: You can take a spin on an ice bike at the rink, then explore the oversized whimsical sculptures installed in the Beaver Creek Wonder artistic playground.
Beaver Creek Ice Rink, 60 Avondale Lane, Beaver Creek/
The recently reimagined Snowmass Base Village boasts a rink where you can skate for free in an exhilarating mountain resort setting. It’s all about fun here, with comfy seating, fire pits, and occasional music on The Patio beside the rink. Last year the rink hosted a weekly Ice Disco Party with a DJ.
Snowmass Base Village Ice Rink, 49 Wood Road, Snowmass Village.
Skaters can enjoy natural ice on an unrefrigerated, outdoor rink at the Big Mine Ice Arena. This community gem offers 180-degree views of the West Elk Mountains and Crested Butte’s gorgeous sunsets. Public skating and pick-up hockey are free. Lace up your skates in comfort in new, heated changing rooms. Check out the freshly painted, 500-square-foot mural by local artist Luke Schroeder.
Big Mine Ice Arena, 620 2nd St., Crested Butte.
The nonprofit, volunteer-run ice rink at Pagosa Multi-Purpose Pavilion is a labor of love. There’s an old-time, backyard ice skating vibe here, complete with Christmas lights and a toasty fire to warm your toes. The local high school trades class constructed the warming shed, and the ice is maintained with help from a refurbished 1973 Zamboni. The rink offers private and group lessons with former world champion figure skaters who live in town (contact rink for details), plus all-ages, drop-in hockey where newbies are welcome.
Pagosa Multi-Purpose Pavilion, 550 S. 8th St., Pagosa Springs.
The Old Town Square Skate Rink, in the historic heart of town, is festooned with holiday lights and framed by an eclectic mix of shops, galleries, and restaurants. This vintage fun has a newfangled surprise: the skating surface is artificial.
Old Town Square Skate Rink, Old Town Square, Fort Collins.
The founders of WinterSkate in Historic Downtown Louisville dreamed of bringing a Currier and Ives print to life. And that’s just the nostalgic magic they’ve created, with the help of Boulder Creek Events. Visitors can enjoy 6,500 square feet of ice, jaunty holiday music, and free horse-drawn carriage rides around town.
WinterSkate in Historic Downtown Louisville, 824 Front St., Louisville.
Evergreen Lake and Buchanan Ponds, 29612 Upper Bear Creek Road, Evergreen, 720-880-1391, evergreenrecreation.com.
Skaters looking for a twist can follow the turns of the Parker Ice Trail. Designed to mimic the adventure of gliding along a frozen river or canal, it’s one of the country’s only ice trails, swirling just a snowball’s throw from downtown.
The Parker Ice Trail at Discovery Park, 20115 E. Mainstreet, Parker.
Twirl at the rink in Acacia Park in the heart of downtown. While manmade, it’s the only outdoor rink in this city that’s home to both U.S. Figure Skating and USA Hockey, so you never know when you’ll spot an Olympic hopeful gliding or spinning your way. The rink is across the street from locally owned shops and and restaurants, so you can indulge in dining and a little holiday shopping après-skate.
Acacia Park, 115 E. Platte Ave., Colorado Springs.
The Downtown Denver Rink glimmers at the base of the historic D & F Clock Tower. Skaters can swoop and slide beneath festive lights and wreathed by a forest of skyscrapers. Union Station, Larimer Square, Denver Pavilions, and the light rail are all nearby, with a blizzard of hotel, shopping, and dining options, too.
Downtown Denver Rink presented by Southwest Airlines, 1601 Arapahoe St., Denver.
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