10+ Ice Skating Rinks in Des Moines, Iowa

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10+ Ice Skating Rinks in Des Moines, Iowa

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 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 for 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.

Check out other fun Winter activities in the Des Moines area:

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

Website: https://www.dsm.city/departments/parks_and_recreation-division/places/brenton_skating_plaza/index.php

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 in this open-air facility. Do not miss a special tree lighting ceremony that happens every year before Thanksgiving. Looking for skate classes? Brenton Skating Plaza offers ‘Learn to Skate’ clinics throughout the season and offers birthday parties too!

Metro Ice Sports Facility

Address: 5100 NW 72nd St., Urbandale, Iowa

Website: https://metrosportsfacility.com/

Hours: Hours vary. Take a look at the Metro 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. These outdoor ice-skating rinks most of the time 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 – Open from 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 safety. A red flag indicates not safe. If not flagged or if there is a closed sign the public should assume not safe. Bring Your Own Skates. Unsupervised.

Grimes Ice 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 Ice Rink

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 are 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 $7.

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 safety. A red flag indicates not safe. If not flagged 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 listed.

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

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.

Urbandale

Address: Located just south of the Urbandale Public Library at 3520 86th St, Urbandale, IA 50322

Website: No website could be found

Hours: Dawn to dusk

Other Notes: This is a community ice rink open daily. Bring your ice skates! Please take a look at the flag posted to know if is safe to skate.

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 some hot beverages from their cafe.

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 safety. A red flag indicates not safe. If not flagged the public should assume not safe. Bring Your Own Skates. Unsupervised.

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Erin Huiatt

Erin is a reliable resource and stepping stone for women and families to find support and make connections within our community. She wants families to feel confident to reach out and ask for help and advice to get pointed in the right direction. She enjoys traveling and exploring with her two children in tow!

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