Don’t let winter’s chill scare you away from outdoor recreation. Des Moines area outdoor ice-skating rinks are ready to welcome visitors for some wintertime fun. We’ve put together a list of 14 outdoor ice skating rinks and two indoor rinks in Des Moines that have opened for the winter season or plan to do so soon. Most are FREE to skate at, but you will need to provide your own skates. Weather permitting, most of these rinks are open until the beginning of spring, and all are open to the public.
For other cold-weather adventures, check out our Winter Fun Guide and visit our Events Calendar.
Editor’s Note: We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of this information. However, you should always check with the venue before heading out. Outdoor ice skating rinks are at the mercy of mother nature, so please check websites or social media sites, to check if it’s safe to skate or not.
Here’s where you can go ice skating this winter in the Des Moines area:
Outdoor Ice Skating in Des Moines
Altoona Outdoor Ice Rink
Ironwood Park • 2222 3rd Avenue SW • Altoona, IA 50009 • (515) 967-5136
Altoona’s community outdoor ice rink is located in Ironwood Park. This is an unsupervised rink and available FREE of charge during normal park hours – sunrise to sunset. Skaters will need to provide their own skates. Please watch the city’s website and social media accounts for the latest skating season
announcement and rink information.
Admission: FREE
Ankeny Parks & Recreation Outdoor Ice Rink
Sunrise Park • 506 SE Peterson Drive • Ankeny, IA • (515) 963-3570
The Community Ice Rink at Sunrise Park is open when weather permits. The City will announce if and when they’re able to open this January and February on their Facebook page. Watch for the green flag for safe skating conditions. The ice rink is FREE and open to the public. Skaters must provide their own ice skates. Hockey skating hours are dawn to noon and open skating hours are noon to dusk.
Admission: FREE
Brenton Skating Plaza
520 Robert D. Ray Drive • Des Moines, IA 50309 • (515) 284-1000
Lace up and go for a skate in downtown Des Moines. Tickets are sold on-site, but it’s advisable to complete the waiver on-line before getting there. Visit their website for operating hours. Refreshments (including snacks and hot beverages) are available and skate rentals are available in kid and adult sizes. Brenton Skating Plaza also hosts FREE Learn to Skate Classes and other fun events and activities.
Admission: Adult: $10; Child (6 – 12 years old)/Military/Senior 60+: $6; Children 5 and under FREE; Skate Rental $5/pair
Des Moines Parks and Recreation – Greenwood Park Pond
Greenwood Park Pond • 45th and Grand Avenue • Des Moines, IA • (515) 237-1386
Des Moines Parks and Recreation allows ice skating on the Greenwood Park Pond. Staff checks the ice thickness and posts a green flag when conditions are safe. A red flag means stay off. When open for skating, it is unsupervised and available FREE of charge during normal park hours – sunrise to sunset. You will need to provide your own skates.
Admission: FREE
Grimes Community Ice Skating Rink
South Sports Complex • 750 S James Street • Grimes, IA 50111 • (515) 986-2143
Once the weather permits the South Sports Complex’s Detention Basin is flooded to create an outdoor community ice rink. The rink is FREE and open to the public during park hours 5:30 am to 10:00 pm. Skaters will need to bring their own skates. Watch Grimes Parks and Recreation’s Facebook page or Twitter feed to know when the rink is open and when it’s safe to skate.
Admission: FREE
Indianola Parks & Recreation Outdoor Ice Rink
Indianola Activity Center • 2204 W. 2nd Avenue • Indianola, IA • (515) 961-9410
The opening of Indianola’s ice skating rink will be publicized on the City’s website, Parks & Recreation’s Fakebook page, and by text to those who have signed up to receive texts about the ice rink. The ice will be open for hockey from dawn to noon, and open skating hours are from noon to dusk. The rink is open when weather permits – a green sign will be posted at the gate to indicate that the rink is open; a red sign will be posted when the rink is closed. Be sure to bring your own skates to this unsupervised skating rink in Indianola.
Admission: FREE
Johnston Town Center Ice Rink
Johnston Town Center • 6245 Merle Hay Road • Johnston, IA 50131 • (515) 727-8091
The Johnston Town Center ice rink is open for the season. The rink is open 10:00 am to 8:00 pm daily. Skate rental is Friday 5:00 to 9:00 pm; Saturday 12:00 to 9:00 pm; and Sunday 12:00 to 6:00 pm. In addition, the rink can be rented out for birthdays, holidays, team building parties and other group activities. They also have a concession stand available for skaters to grab a snack.
Admission: FREE; Skate rental $5/pair
Johnston Parks and Recreation Outdoor Ice Rink
Johnston Commons • 6169 Northglenn Drive • Johnston, IA 50131 • (515) 727-8091
The City of Johnston offers not one, but two opportunities to go ice skating on a community rink. Be on the lookout for signs that will let skaters know when it’s ok to hit the ice at Johnston Commons. And, you’ll need to bring along your own skates to this unsupervised ice-skating rink. The rink is open for hockey from dawn to noon, and open skating hours are from noon to dusk.
Admission: FREE
Urbandale Parks & Recreation Outdoor Ice Rink
Urbandale Public Library • 3520 86th Street • Urbandale, IA 50322 • (515) 278-3945
The Urbandale Ice Skating rink is located just south of the Urbandale Public Library. When it’s cold enough for the ice to freeze, skating is open from sunrise until sunset. Just like the other outdoor rinks listed here, families will need to bring their own skates to this unsupervised patch of ice. Signs will be posted to let skaters know whether it’s ok to skate or not.
Admission: FREE
Valley Ice Plaza
Valley Community Center • 4444 Fuller Road • West Des Moines, IA • (515) 327-6000
The Valley Ice Rink is a FREE and fun way to get out of the house this winter to enjoy outdoor activities! The rink is unsupervised and open dawn until dusk daily. The Valley Community Center is open from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday. Free coffee and Wifi available. Watch their webiste and social media for additional family ice skating hours, pick up broom ball and other special events!
Admission: FREE
Waukee Parks & Recreation Outdoor Ice Rink
Grant Park • 605 SE Driftwood Lane • Waukee, IA 50263 • (515) 978-0007
The Waukee Ice Rink is open during winter months when weather permits at Grant Park. The ice rink is FREE and open to the public. Skaters must provide their own ice skates. Hockey skating hours are dawn to noon and open skating hours are noon to dusk. A green sign will be posted at the gate to indicate when the rink is open; a red sign will be posted when the rink is closed.
Admission: FREE
West Des Moines Parks & Recreation – Raccoon River Park Ice Rink
2500 Grand Avenue • West Des Moines, IA 50265 • (515) 222-3444
Located near the Softball Complex and Dog Park in Raccoon River Park, the Raccoon River Park Ice Rink will be open for skating throughout the winter season, weather permitting. An open/closed sign has been installed at the rink and will be updated by West Des Moines Public Services staff based on ice conditions. The rink is not supervised and there is no skate rental available. It’s open during park hours, dawn to dusk.
Admission: FREE
Indoor Ice Skating in Des Moines
Oakmoor Sports Facility
5100 NW 72nd Street • Urbandale, IA 50322 • (515) 276-7200
Oakmoor Sports offers Public Skate times at their facility in Urbandale. Public skate is open to all ages and skill levels and ideal for family outings, birthday parties and group events. Figure skates and hockey skates are available for rent. Skaters must pre-register and pay in advance to attend public skate. Be sure to check their website for public skate times.
Admission: General Admission $7; Skate Rental $3
MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex
The RecPlex features two ice arenas, the Abel Ice Arena (Rink 1) and the Patty and Jim Cownie Family Ice Arena (Rink 2). There are numerous activities possible at the RecPlex ice arenas, including ice skating, Learn To Skate classes, curling, broomball, and more. Their public skate times allow people of all ages and skills the opportunity to skate for a couple of hours. Birthday party packages or other special events are also offered during public skate times. Skate rental is available during all sessions.
Admission: $7 per skater; Skate Rental $4/pair
Did we miss your favorite ice-skating rink in the Des Moines area? Let us know where you skate in the comment section below!
Dallas Center has a skating rink. If a volunteer is there; Skates will be available for free too. Otherwise bring your own