Discover The 10 Largest Ice Skating Rinks In Michigan This Winter

Michigan winters provide the perfect weather for ice skating. With so many rink options, you might wonder what sets some rinks apart. One thing to remember is that smaller locations may be more crowded, but the largest ice skating rinks in Michigan have more space.  

These largest ice skating rinks in Michigan are perfect for enjoying the cold, wintry weather. You can visit the ones you live closest to, or you can make a trip out of it and visit one farther away. 

When you go ice skating, you’ll want to bundle up to stay warm. Consider wearing gloves, a scarf, and a jacket that keeps you warm without restricting movement.  

1. Farmington Hills Ice Arena (Farmington Hills)

The Farmington Hills Ice Arena is inside a 70,000-square-foot building and has two ice surfaces with a seating capacity of 1,200. This facility is open year-round, but it’s popular in the winter when people look for cold-weather activities. It has concessions, locker rooms, and party rooms, so there are plenty of amenities to make your day perfect, depending on your needs. 

2. Petoskey Winter Sports Park (Petoskey)

The Petoskey Winter Sports Park is the perfect place for ice skating in Michigan during the winter. They have an ice-skating rink and a separate hockey rink so skaters of all ages and skill levels can feel comfortable on the ice. Ice skating at the Petoskey Winter Sports Park is free, but there’s a fee if you need to rent skates. 

You can also go sledding while you’re there and warm up in the warming hut, which includes concessions, a fireplace, and restrooms. Plus, there’s typically a bonfire on the weekends for a well-rounded, memorable experience. 

3. Big Bear Arena (Sault Ste. Marie)

Big Bear Arena is one of the biggest fitness and recreation centers in Michigan’s upper peninsula. You can take skating lessons or join an open skate session, and there is a timeframe for only seniors to join. Skate rentals are available, so don’t worry if you didn’t bring your own.  

4. Barnum Park Outdoor Ice Skating (Birmingham)

You can skate for free if you bring skates to the Barnum Park Outdoor Ice Rink. Signs are posted daily to make visitors aware of the ice condition.   

If it’s safe to skate that day, you can ice skate anytime or play hockey from 8:00 A.M. until 10:00 A.M., and again from 2:00 P.M. until 4:00 P.M. The rink closes after dark, so make sure you get plenty of time in before then.  

While city crews maintain the rink, they can’t always get there to shovel snow from the ice before you’re ready to ice skate. If that happens, you’re always welcome to clear the snow yourself so you can enjoy your time.  

5. Campus Martius Park (Detroit)

The ice rink at Campus Martius Park in Detroit is one of the best places for ice skating with the family. As you go around the rink, you’ll have the Detroit Christmas tree and downtown skyline in the background.  

This skating rink is open daily, even on holidays, so you can visit anytime you’re in the area. If you can, make reservations for your skating experience because it’s a popular rink that often reaches capacity.  

6. Muskegon Winter Sports Complex (Muskegon)

With two acres of natural ice, there is tons of space for ice skating and playing hockey at the Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park in Muskegon. One of the best parts of this rink is that you can skate after it gets dark to enjoy the beautiful lights.   

This sports park has an ice trail, too, so you can skate through the forest and beneath the lights along the way. The trail is a quarter mile long in the shape of a figure-eight, ensuring a unique experience as you explore the natural landscape on ice skates.  

They have dasher boards and skate trainers to help beginners get comfortable on the ice and double-bladed skates for little ones. Plus, if you go on a Wednesday night, they offer free ice skating lessons.  

If you’re there for ice hockey, they supply goal boxes. They also have rental helmets and sticks if you didn’t bring your own. You can also rent skates if you need to, with sizes ranging from toddler size nine to men’s 14.  

7. Marquette Commons (Marquette)

The Marquette Commons have a 12,000-square-foot plaza, a public support building, and an outdoor ice rink. When you enter the public support building, you’ll find a fireplace for warming up, a kitchenette, and public restrooms.   

8. Kent Lake at Kensington Metro Park (Milford) 

You can ice skate on Lake Kent at Kensington Metro Park, and the space is well-lit in the evenings, so your fun doesn’t have to stop after dark. There’s a separate rink for playing hockey, so there’s a safe space for everyone.  

You can take a break to warm up in the Boat Rental Building, allowing for a full day of ice skating. You’ll have to bring skates, however, as there is no skate rental. 

9. Rosa Parks Circle (Grand Rapids) 

Ice skating at Rosa Parks Circle in Grand Rapids is an experience unlike any other. There are fiber optic lights beneath the ice that represent the winter sky and dazzle skaters. 

This outdoor ice skating rink is open daily, weather permitting. It has refrigeration, so the rink can stay open even if temperatures increase. You have to pay to ice skate here, but rental skates are provided with the admission fee.   

10. Moran Bay (St. Ignace) 

Moran Bay skating rink is unique because it’s part of Lake Huron. You don’t often have an opportunity to skate on a Great Lake, so you won’t want to pass it up. As you skate, you’ll have a view of the Mackinac Bridge and the surrounding scenery.

It’s free to skate at Moran Bay, and you’ll have to bring skates. Little league hockey teams often practice here, and the Labatt Blue U.P. Pond Honey Championships are held here annually in February.  

Summary of the Largest Ice Skating Rinks in Michigan This Winter