The temperatures are beginning to drop in Iowa, but that does not mean you cannot have fun outdoors! One activity you and your family may enjoy is ice skating in Des Moines. This is a great activity for people of all ages! Enjoy the open air and lace up those skates and visit one of these outdoor skating rinks this winter season. There are several options in and out of Des Moines including city parks and more. Make sure to take a look at each listing and check the website for current ice conditions and flag systems they may use. Some may offer skate rentals and some you may need to bring your own ice skates. Take a look at these ice skating rinks throughout central Iowa.
Note: All of these locations have been added to the Des Moines Outdoor Fun interactive map.
Public Skating Rinks (Indoor + Outdoor)
Below is a list of public indoor and outdoor public skating rinks. These skating rinks may have a cost to ice skate and provide ice skate rental if needed.
Brenton Skating Plaza
Address: 520 Robert D Ray Drive in Downtown Des Moines
Hours: Hours vary. Take a look at the Brenton Skating Plaza website for the whole schedule.
Admission: Adults – $8; Child 6-12 years – $5; Skate Rental – $4.50
Other Notes: Enjoy beautiful views of Downtown Des Moines near the Principal Riverwalk along the Des Moines River. Do not miss a special tree lighting ceremony that happens every year on the Friday before Thanksgiving. Looking for skate classes? Brenton Skating Plaza offers ‘Learn to Skate’ clinics throughout the season.
Metro Ice Sports Facility
Address: 5100 NW 72nd St, Urbandale, Iowa
Website: https://metrosportsfacility.com/
Hours: Hours vary. Take a look at the Metro Ice Sports Facility Public Skate schedule.
Admission: $5 – $10
Other Notes: You must pre-register to reserve your spot. Spots are limited. Metro Ice Sports Facility also offers Skate With Us – Learn to Skate program and hockey leagues.
West Des Moines RecPlex
Address: 6500 Grand Avenue West Des Moines, Iowa
Website: https://www.therecplex.com/public-skating/
Hours: Hours vary. Take a look at the Public Skating Rink schedule.
Admission: $7 to skate and $4 skate rental
Other Notes: West Des Moines RecPlex is a newer entertainment venue in West Des Moines and offers public skating and much more in their facility.
Community Ice Rinks
Community skating rinks are places to ice skate that may or may not have set staff. Majority of the time they require you to own your own ice skates as well. Take a look at the list of community skating rinks in and around Des Moines below.
Centennial Park
Address: Grant Park; the park is located at 605 SE Driftwood Lane
Website: https://www.waukee.org/876/Ice-Rink
Hours: Hockey – Dawn to Noon; Open Skating – Noon to dusk
Admission: Free
Other Notes: In partnership with Iowa Wild and Wells Fargo. When a green sign is posted the rink is open. A red sign means the rink is closed. All skaters are advised to skate at their own risk. Bring your own skates to this Waukee ice rink.
Crosshaven Park
Address: 7909 NW 95th Street, Johnston, Iowa
Website: https://www.cityofjohnston.com/1116/Crosshaven-and-Johnston-Commons-Ice-Rink
Hours: During the winter months, ice is open for hockey from dawn to noon, and open skating hours are from noon to dusk.
Admission: Free of charge
Other Notes: The Johnston ice rinks are free for public use and will be open when weather permits. A green sign will be posted at the gate to indicate that the rinks are open; a red sign will be posted when the rinks are closed. All skaters are advised that they are skating at their own risk. The rinks are not supervised, and all skaters are advised they are skating at their own risk. Bring your skates and take part in this new, free activity!
Greenwood Park Pond
Address: 45th and Grand Avenue in Des Moines, Iowa
Website: https://www.dsm.city/business_detail_T6_R60.php
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Admission: Free of charge
Other Notes: Ran by the Des Moines Parks and Recreation. They use a flag system to indicate if it is safe to public skate or not. A green flag indicates safe. A red flag indicates not safe. If not flag the public should assume not safe. Bring Your Own Skates. Unsupervised.
Grimes, Iowa Skating Rink
Address: Located at the South Sports Complex at the 4-way stop by South Prairie School.
Website: https://www.grimesiowa.gov/ParksandRecreation/Parks/OutdoorIceSkatingRink.aspx
Hours: Dawn to dusk
Admission: Free of charge. Bring your own ice skates to use this public ice rink.
Johnston Commons
Address: 6700 Merle Hay Road, Johnston, Iowa
Website: https://www.cityofjohnston.com/1116/Crosshaven-and-Johnston-Commons-Ice-Rink
Hours: During the winter months, ice is open for hockey from dawn to noon, and open skating hours are from noon to dusk.
Admission: Free of charge
Other Notes: The Johnston ice rinks are free for public use and will be open when weather permits. A green sign will be posted at the gate to indicate that the rinks are open; a red sign will be posted when the rinks are closed. All skaters are advised that they are skating at their own risk. The rinks are not supervised, and all skaters are advised they are skating at their own risk. Bring your skates and take part in this new, free activity!
Johnston Town Center
Address: 6221 Merle Hay Road Johnston, IA 50131
Website: https://www.cityofjohnston.com/1115/Johnston-Town-Center-Ice-Rink
Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Skate rental hours Friday 5 to 8 p.m.; Saturday 1 to 8 p.m.; Sunday 1 to 5 p.m.
Admission: Free of charge unless renting ice skates is $5.
Other Notes: This outdoor ice skating rink is not supervised. There are options to rent the skating rink for special events.
McHose Park
Address: 1215 Francis Mason Drive, Boone, Iowa
Website: https://www.boonegov.com/topic/index.php?topicid=24
Hours: Tuesday + Thursday – 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.; Friday – 5:30 to 9 p.m.; Saturday – 1 to 9 p.m.; Sunday – 1 to 5 p.m. Hours subject to change due to weather and volunteer staffing.
Admission: Free of charge
Other Notes: No skating when posted. Ice skate rink has a limited number of skates for rent at $2 per pair. Supervised by volunteers.
MacRae Park Pond
Address: SW 9th and Davis Avenue in Des Moines, Iowa
Website: https://www.dsm.city/business_detail_T6_R66.php
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Admission: Free of charge
Other Notes: Ran by the Des Moines Parks and Recreation. They use a flag system to indicate if it is safe to public skate or not. a green flag indicates safe. A red flag indicates not safe. If not flag the public should assume not safe. Bring Your Own Skates. Unsupervised.
Maytag Park
Address: 301 S 11th Ave W, Newton, Iowa
Website: Ran by Newton Parks & Recreation – https://www.newtongov.org/91/Parks-Recreation
Maytag Park website – https://www.newtongov.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/Maytag-Park-6
Indianola Ice Skating Rink
Address: Indianola Activity Center, 2204 W. 2nd Avenue
Website: https://www.indianolaiowa.gov/873/Indianola-Parks-Recreation-News
Hours: Not announced yet.
Admission: Free
Other Notes: In partnership with Iowa Wild and Wells Fargo. Unsupervised. No skate rentals are available.
Raccoon River Park Ice Rink
Address: 2500 Grand Avenue West Des Moines, Iowa
Website: http://www.wdm.iowa.gov/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/152/2750
Hours: Dawn to Dusk
Admission: Free
Other Notes: In partnership with Iowa Wild and Wells Fargo. A green flag indicates the rink is open and a red flag indicated the rink is closed. Bring your own skates. Unsupervised.
South River Valley Park
Address: 725 E 13th Street Ames, Iowa
Website: Ran by Ames Parks & Recreation- https://www.cityofames.org/government/departments-divisions-i-z/parks-recreation
South River Valley Park Site – https://www.cityofames.org/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/94/471?seldept=13&npage=3
Hours: Hours have not been announced yet.
Admission: Free
Other Notes: In partnership with Iowa Wild and Wells Fargo. Unsupervised.
Sunrise Park
Address: 506 SE Peterson Drive, Ankeny, Iowa
Website:
The Skating rink is operated by Ankeny Parks & Recreation: https://www.ankenyiowa.gov/our-city/departments/parks-and-recreation
Rules: https://www.ankenyiowa.gov/our-city/departments/parks-and-recreation/community-ice-rink
Hours: Hockey – Dawn to Noon; Open Skate – Noon to Dusk
Admission: Free
Other Notes: In partnership with Iowa Wild and Wells Fargo. A green sign means safe to skate. A red sign means the skating rink is closed. The rink will stay open as long as the weather permits and the ice stays frozen. Unsupervised.
Valley Ice Plaza
Address: 4444 Fuller Road West Des Moines, IA 50265
Website: http://www.valleycommunity.center/valley-ice-plaza
Hours: Dawn to dusk
Other Notes: This is a community ice rink open daily. Weather permitting. Visit the website to stay up to date. Need to warm up? Head into the Valley Community Center for a warm beverage.
Witmer Park Pond
Address: 610 34th Street in Des Moines, Iowa
Website: https://www.dsm.city/business_detail_T6_R98.php
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Admission: Free of charge
Other Notes: Ran by the Des Moines Parks and Recreation. They use a flag system to indicate if it is safe to public skate or not. a green flag indicates safe. A red flag indicates not safe. If not flag the public should assume not safe. Bring Your Own Skates. Unsupervised.
Adel also has free ice rink.It’s located at Adel pavilion on Main.I’m not sure of hours.