Montana is home to majestic mountains, picturesque valleys, crystal clear lakes, and endless blue sky. It is also the perfect destination for winter fun and entertaining outdoor activities.
Montana natives will tell you that some of their fondest memories involve ice skating with friends and family in the wintertime.
You can find frozen lakes and ponds amid snow-covered trees all across Montana. Still, you may not want to take the added risks of skating on a body of water that professionals don’t continuously monitor.
You must be diligent in looking out for any holes and cracks in the ice, which quickly turns into a dangerous scenario.
Instead, check out these top ten facilities that provide well-maintained rinks and other amenities. Grab a cup of hot cocoa and find the best ice skating in Montana.
The Best Ice Skating in Montana
- Glacier Ice Rink
- Veterans Park
- Great Falls Ice Plex
- Stumptown Ice Den
- Haynes Pavilion
- Helena Ice Arena
- Butte Community Ice Center
- Woodland Ice Center
- Havre Ice Dome
- Winninghoff Park Ice Rink and Arena
1. Glacier Ice Rink
Glacier Ice Rink is in Missoula, Montana, located on the county fairgrounds.
The facility includes an indoor rink and outdoor rink; both are open to the public every week. On the weekdays, admission is $6, and skate rentals cost $2. Weekends are usually busier, access is $7, and skate rentals are $3.
Be sure to register before you show up, as you may be turned away if the rink is too crowded. Glacier Rink also offers open figure skate times and pick-up hockey games.
If you’re looking to increase your ice skills, sign up for one of their classes or join a hockey team.
2. Veterans Park
This 10-acre park is in Billings, Montana, and features recreational activities every season.
Go sledding and ice skate in the winter on the well-maintained frozen pond. Play baseball and watch movies on the grass in the summer.
The park and the seasonal rink are public and accessible to everyone. Bring a thermos with delicious soup and hot chocolate, and bundle up with blankets while you watch the kids play.
The area is used for family BBQs and picnics at the nearby covered pavilions in the summer.
3. Great Falls Ice Plex
Spend your weekends at this ice plex in Great Falls, Montana, and bring the whole family!
Great Falls Ice Plex is a family-friendly facility for public skating, figure skating, hockey, classes, private events, and outdoor sports.
Public skating is open for everyone on Sundays between 3 PM and 5 PM and during certain holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Admission is only $5 for adults and $4 for youth between 6 and 17; children five and younger are free. You can also schedule hockey and figure skating sessions through their website.
The facility provides restrooms, concessions (snacks and drinks), and friendly staff.
4. Stumptown Ice Den
Stumptown Ice Den is a non-profit ice rink in Whitefish, Montana, offering year-round ice activities. Stumptown prides itself on being the only ice rink in Montana that stays open for 12 months every year.
This rink provides public skating, lessons, youth hockey, adult hockey, figure skating, and party rooms. The facility offers daily open skate for $7 and rentals for $3. Children five and under get in free.
Enjoy your regular winter activities or take a break from the heat during the summer. You can also join a competitive hockey league or train for the annual figure skating show.
Rent out the rink and a party room for your next birthday party. Bring food and a cake!
5. Haynes Pavilion
In Bozeman, Montana, this ice skating rink is open seasonally from October through April and offers hockey, public skating, figure skating, lessons, and curling.
Haynes Pavilion is on the Gallatin County Fairgrounds and is one of the only fully enclosed rinks between Butte and Helena.
Doubling as an event center, you will find competitive games and holiday events like Skate with Santa. Day passes for open skate are $6 for adults, $4 for 12 and under, and $1 for five and under. Skate rentals are $6 per pair.
If you plan on skating regularly during the season, consider buying a season pass for $110 (adults) and $70 (youth).
6. Helena Ice Arena
Helena Ice Center in Helena, Montana, is open for people of all ages to enjoy recreational activities and competitive sports.
Enjoy activities like open skate, lazer skate, stick & puck, lunch hockey, pick-up hockey, and curling. Helena residents flock to the arena for local and affordable fun on the weekends.
The facility has open skate times every week and is a great spot to hang out during winter break. Admission is $7 for all ages and includes skate rentals.
If you’re looking for something different, try lazer skate on weekend nights (check their Facebook page for dates and times). Enjoy hanging out and skating with friends to rave music and strobe lights.
The arena also has concessions like hamburgers and fries at their in-house cafe.
7. Butte Community Ice Center
Butte Community Ice Center is in Butte, Montana, and provides open skate, hockey, and curling. Join a recreational hockey league or watch the local Copper City Kings play on the ice!
Volunteers run the facility, where you will find large locker rooms, a concession stand, showers, and a club room. Open skate is open every Sunday during the winter, and admission is $5 per person if you have your skates and $8 if you need to rent skates.
You can also rent a private room for birthday parties and have your friends and family enjoy the rink. Concessions are available during open skate times and include hot cocoa, candy, popcorn, and more!
8. Woodland Ice Center
This open-air ice skating rink is located in Kalispell, Montana, in the heart of the Flathead Valley.
The Woodland Ice Center is a non-profit business run by the Flathead Valley Hockey Association. You can enjoy open skate, toddler skate, lessons, stick & puck, and hockey leagues during the winter months.
Open skate is held every Sunday evening during the season and costs $7 for adults and $6 for youth. Rental skates are free for children and only $3 for adults.
Be sure to check their Facebook or online calendar for up-to-date information.
9. Havre Ice Dome
You can skate with friends and family every October through April at this ice rink in Havre, Montana.
The Ice Dome is home to an organized hockey league but offers public skating and curling club. Stop by and watch a hockey game, have fun during open skate times, or plan your next birthday party.
10. Winninghoff Park Ice Rink and Arena
Located in Philipsburg, Montana’s small, charming town, the Winninghoff Park Ice Rink sits in the historic district where a 40-year-old rink once stood.
The rink is open every winter and is available seven days a week until 10 PM. Enjoy skating and hockey games every week during the cold season and a live music venue during the summer.