Discover 5 of the Largest Ice Skating Rinks in Minnesota this Winter

Minnesota is known for its rich ice skating culture. This Midwest state has a long history of producing legendary Hockey players (like John Mayasich and Neal Broten) and extraordinary figure skaters (like Kristi Yamaguchi). As such, it’s no surprise that Minnesota is home to some of the largest ice skating facilities in the world. If you’re looking to discover some of the largest ice skating rinks in Minnesota this winter, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s explore some of Minnesota’s most impressive ice sheets!

#5. National Sports Center Super Rink in Blaine — 19,600 square feet

The state of Minnesota contains a great many hockey arenas. These are ice rinks that are 200 feet long by 85 feet wide (17,000 square feet), which is the National Hockey League (NHL) regulation size. Some arenas are even bigger than NHL-regulation-sized rinks. Olympic-regulation-sized rinks, for example, measure 200 feet long by 98 feet wide (19,600 square feet).

The National Sports Center (NSC) in Blaine is famous for its Super Rink (formerly called the Schwan Super Rink), which is comprised of eight ice rinks. Four of these rinks are NHL-regulation-sized and four of them are Olympic-regulation-sized. It has a grand total of 300,000 square feet of ice, making it one of the largest ice arena complex on the planet! The NSC Super Rink is home to the U.S. Women’s Olympic Hockey Team. It is one of many facilities in the state of Minnesota that maintain Olympic-sized ice skating rinks.

#4. Four Seasons Centre in Owantonna — 30,000 square feet

The Four Seasons Centre in Owantonna hosts two gigantic ice skating rinks; one is 20,000 square feet and the other is a whopping 30,000 square feet. These indoor rinks are used for figure skating shows and hockey tournaments. Four Seasons Centre also offers public skating on its sizeable ice sheets. Check their calendar to find out when you can hit the ice.

#3. Guidant John Rose Minnesota OVAL in Roseville — 110,000 square feet

Coming in at number three is the Guidant John Rose Minnesota OVAL in Roseville. This 110,000 square-foot rink is hailed as the largest outdoor, refrigerated skating facility not just in Minnesota, but in the entire world! It is an Olympic-sized bandy ice sheet. Bandy is a game that is similar to hockey, with players hitting a ball rather than a puck. The Guidant John Rose Minnesota OVAL has hosted band championships at the national and international levels.

#2. Riverbend Skate Path in Warroad — 2.5 miles long

For those who love to skate while enjoying natural scenery, Minnesota has plenty to offer. That includes a very long, winding ice trail in the City of Warroad called the Riverbend Skate Path. This skate path gained notoriety in the 2021-2022 winter season, when it reached a length of 5.2 miles and was dubbed the longest skating trail in the the United States. Riverbend Skate Path workers have since returned the trail to a length of 2.5 miles, which is still enough to keep it high on the list of the largest ice skating rinks to discover in Minnesota this winter. The Riverbend Skate Path began as a pandemic project linking the homes of two brothers and a friend before it expanded into a record-breaking ice trail.

#1. Centennial Lakes Park in Edina — about 435,600 square feet

Minnesota parks often turn their frozen lakes and ponds into outdoor skating rinks. Since these bodies of water are so huge, they make for the largest ice rinks available. When it comes to frozen-lake skating, it’s best to opt for ice that is managed and monitored for safety. Parks that host frozen-lake skating monitor the ice to make sure it’s safe for skating. They post notices about safety conditions and close the ice to skaters when the weather creates a safety risk.

A prime example of a large, outdoor ice rink is that of the famous Centennial Lakes Park in Edina. This man-made lake becomes a roughly 435,600 square-foot ice rink in the winter. That’s 10 acres just for skating! It’s composed of three ponds that are connected via curving canals. Admission is free to this beautiful, enormous rink, which features fireplaces for post-skating warm-ups.

Summary of 5 of the Largest Ice Skating Rinks in Minnesota to Discover this Winter