Outdoor ice skating is a classic way for families to enjoy Michigan winters. Metro Detroit has plenty of rinks where kids can practice their skills, parents can join in the fun and everyone can warm up with hot cocoa afterward. Whether you’re looking for a free neighborhood rink, a metropark with trails and picnic areas or the festive downtown atmosphere at Campus Martius, these skating spots are worth a visit.
Updated September 2025.
Best outdoor ice skating rinks in metro Detroit
Dodge Park Ice Rink
Opens Dec. 1, 2025
Noon–9 p.m. Monday–Thursday; noon–10 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Sunday
- Address: 40620 Utica Road, Sterling Heights
- Cost: Residents free with ID; non-residents $5; skate rentals $4; skate sharpening $5; Recreation Passports available for kids under 18 with non-resident caregiver
- Area: Macomb County
- Age fit: All ages
- Indoor/outdoor: Outdoor
- Stroller-friendly options: No details provided on stroller access
- Parking: Free on-site lot
- Accessibility: Sensory Friendly Sundays available the second Sunday of each month (Dec.–Feb.), 11 a.m.–1 p.m.; otherwise no accessibility info listed
Glide into winter fun at this community rink, offering open skate hours and monthly Sensory Friendly Sundays with dimmed lights and no music. Skate trainers are available on a first-come basis, and kids can use Recreation Passports for free entry when accompanied by a non-resident caregiver.
FAQ
- When are Sensory Friendly Sundays? The second Sunday of each month (Dec.–Feb.), 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Lake St. Clair Metropark Ice Rink & Hockey Rink
Opens for winter season, hours vary by weather
- Address: 31300 Metro Parkway, Harrison Township
- Cost: Daily vehicle/boat pass $10; annual passes available; no additional fee for skating listed
- Area: Macomb County
- Age fit: All ages
- Indoor/outdoor: Outdoor
- Stroller-friendly options: No details provided on stroller access
- Parking: On-site parking with daily vehicle pass required
- Accessibility: Comfort station and warming station nearby; no sensory hours listed
Families can enjoy outdoor ice skating and hockey at West Playfield, with picnic tables and a warming station close to the parking area. Check conditions and closures before heading out, as hours depend on weather.
Bear Creek Nature Park Ice Rink
10 a.m.–5 p.m. daily, conditions permitting
- Address: 740 W. Snell Road, Rochester
- Cost: Free
- Area: Oakland County
- Age fit: All ages; children 12 and under require adult supervision; helmets required for kids 6 and under
- Indoor/outdoor: Outdoor
- Stroller-friendly options: No details provided on stroller access
- Parking: Free gravel lot at Snell Road entrance; additional parking at Oakland Township Hall with trail access
- Accessibility: ADA accessible limestone trails; rink itself not listed as ADA accessible; no sensory hours noted
Families can enjoy open-air skating on this community rink, with boardwalks, trails, and a playground nearby. The rink is unsupervised, so children must be accompanied by an adult, and helmets are required for younger kids. Call the hotline (248-651-4440, ext. 289) to check weather-related closures before visiting.
FAQ
- Is the rink supervised? No, children must be accompanied by an adult.
- Are helmets required? Yes, for kids 6 and under.
Follow Metro Parent on Instagram.
There is also an indoor ice rink located inside the Sterling Heights, Michigan mall, Lakeside Mall. On Hall Road between Hayes and Schoenner Rd.