Ice Skating in South Denver: Rinks, Seasonal Outdoor Skating and Lessons

Ice skating in Denver gets busy the moment the first cold snap hits, and if you live in South Denver or the cities just south of it, you do not have to drive downtown to find good ice. The best options for families in Washington Park, University Park, Centennial, Littleton and Highlands Ranch are indoor rinks that stay open all year, keep prices low and teach beginners of every age.

This guide covers where to skate, what it costs, how to book a session, and where to sign up for lessons and youth hockey. Prices and details come from each rink’s own website, checked in late October 2026, unless we name another source.

Which Ice Rinks Are Closest to South Denver?

Here is a quick comparison. Tap a rink name to open it in Google Maps.

Rink	City	Adult public skate	Skate rental
Joy Burns Ice Arena at the University of Denver	Denver (University)	$15 per person (Denverite, Nov 2025)	Ask when booking
Family Sports Ice Arena	Centennial	$8 to $8.50 district, $10 to $11 nondistrict	$2.50 district, $3.50 nondistrict
South Suburban Sports Complex	Littleton	$8.50 to $9 district, $10 to $12 nondistrict	$2.50 district, $3.50 nondistrict
Edge Ice Arena	Littleton	$8 adults, $6 ages 6 to 17	$4

Joy Burns Ice Arena at the University of Denver

For anyone in Platt Park, University Park, Observatory Park or Washington Park, the University of Denver’s rink inside the Ritchie Center is the closest public ice. According to Denverite’s skating guide from November 2025, public sessions last an hour, cost $15 per person and are free for DU students, and you must reserve a spot online ahead of time. Session times are posted on the Ritchie Center ice programs page, where you also book.

Sessions fill up around the holidays, so book a few days ahead. The Ritchie Center also runs Jr. Pioneers Hockey and learn to play programs for younger skaters.

Family Sports Ice Arena in Centennial

Run by South Suburban Parks and Recreation, Family Sports Ice Arena on South Peoria Street has two sheets of ice, and the Colorado Avalanche practice sheet is visible from the restaurant upstairs. It is a short drive from the Denver Tech Center, Greenwood Village and Hampden South.

The district’s Family Sports Ice Arena page lists public skate at $8.50 on weekday days and $8 on Friday evenings and weekend days for district residents. Nondistrict skaters pay $11 on weekdays and $10 on Friday evenings and weekends. Skate rental is $2.50 for district residents and $3.50 for everyone else, and children under 3 skate free (rental not included). Check the ice schedule on the district site before you go, since public sessions move around hockey and figure skating.

South Suburban Sports Complex in Littleton

The South Suburban Sports Complex on East County Line Road, near the Highlands Ranch line, has three sheets of ice and is open from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on weekdays and from 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on weekends. Its posted public skate prices are $8.50 for district residents and $11 for nondistrict skaters on weekday days, $9 and $12 on Friday evenings, and $9 and $10 on weekend days and holidays. Rentals are $2.50 or $3.50.

This rink is an easy pick for families in Centennial, Littleton and Highlands Ranch, and it usually closes on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, so plan holiday skating for the days around them.

Edge Ice Arena in Littleton

Edge Ice Arena belongs to the Foothills Park and Recreation District and sits next to the Ridge Recreation Center on South Ward Street in southwest Littleton. It is open seven days a week with hours that vary, and the district asks you to register for a session on its drop in calendar to guarantee a spot. Registrations are not refundable.

Public skate costs $8 for adults 18 to 61, $7 for seniors 62 and up, $6 for ages 6 to 17, and $4 for little ones from walking age to 5, who must come with a paying adult. Skate rental is $4. The arena is closed on Thanksgiving and December 25, among other holidays.

Is There Outdoor Ice Skating in South Denver This Winter?

Not much, and that is worth knowing before you promise the kids a skate under the lights. The best known outdoor rink in the city, the Downtown Denver Rink at Skyline Park, did not open for the 2025 to 2026 season because Skyline Park is being rebuilt. Its official page says the rink will return once construction is complete, and no 2026 to 2027 dates were posted when we checked in late October 2026.

Seasonal outdoor rinks around the metro area usually announce their dates in November. We will only add a seasonal rink to this guide once its operator confirms it is opening this winter. Until then, the indoor rinks above are the sure thing, and they do not close for warm afternoons or slushy ice.

If what you want is a festive winter outing, pair a skate with a drive past the lights in our guide to Christmas lights in South Denver. South Suburban also hosted Skate with Santa sessions and free holiday ice shows at Family Sports and the Sports Complex in mid December 2025, so keep an eye on the district’s news page for this year’s dates.

Where Can Kids Take Skating Lessons Near South Denver?

Every rink in this guide teaches beginners, and most South Denver families can find a class close to home.

• South Suburban Parks and Recreation: Learn to Skate classes run at both Family Sports and the Sports Complex, from Parent Tot through Level 6, taught by certified instructors. Sign up through the district’s online catalog. Figure skating classes do not include skate rental.
• Foothills Park and Recreation District: Edge Ice Arena offers Learn to Skate, figure skating and hockey classes, listed on the district’s Ice Sports page. Figure skating ice time costs $10 for 45 minutes or $13.50 for 60 minutes.
• University of Denver: The Ritchie Center runs learn to play programs alongside public skate.

For a first lesson, have your child wear warm layers, thin socks and a helmet. Edge Ice Arena notes that it has beginner double runner skates for small children, starting at size 5, according to 5280’s skating guide from December 2025.

How Do Kids Start Youth Hockey in South Denver?

Hockey is a big deal south of Denver, and the path in is easier than many parents expect.

• Family Sports and the Sports Complex: South Suburban runs Learn to Play Hockey classes for all levels plus recreational and travel youth hockey programs. Take A Shot sessions, capped at 25 players with full gear required, cost $11 for district residents and $13 for nondistrict players on weekdays at Family Sports.
• Edge Ice Arena: Hockey classes and leagues are listed on the Foothills Ice Sports page. Stick and puck costs $12 a visit or $120 for a 12 visit card, with a limit of 20 skaters per session, and drop in hockey is $12.
• University of Denver: The Ritchie Center’s Jr. Pioneers Hockey program is the closest option for families in central South Denver.

Start with a learn to skate or learn to play class before buying a full set of gear. Most programs want players skating forward, stopping and getting up on their own before they join a team.

How Can You Save Money on Ice Skating?

A few easy ways to keep a family skate cheap:

• Check your district. If you live inside the South Suburban Parks and Recreation district, you pay the lower district rate at Family Sports and the Sports Complex. The difference is $2.50 to $3 per skater per session.
• Bring your own skates. Rental adds $2.50 to $4 per person.
• Go on a weekday or a weekend day, not Friday night. Friday evening sessions at the Sports Complex cost the most.
• Bring the toddlers. At both South Suburban rinks, children under 3 skate free (rental not included).

For more low cost family outings, see our list of free things to do in South Denver and our fall things to do in South Denver guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does public ice skating cost near South Denver?

Public skate runs $8 to $12 at the South Suburban rinks depending on the day and whether you live in the district, $8 for adults at Edge Ice Arena in Littleton, and $15 per person at the University of Denver, per Denverite’s November 2025 guide. Rentals add $2.50 to $4.

Is the Downtown Denver Rink at Skyline Park open in 2026?

The Skyline Park rink was closed for the 2025 to 2026 season while the park is rebuilt, and its official page had no 2026 to 2027 dates as of late October 2026. Check winterindenver.com before you plan a trip.

Do I need to reserve a public skate session?

At the University of Denver, yes: you reserve online through the Ritchie Center. Edge Ice Arena asks you to register on its drop in calendar to guarantee a spot. South Suburban posts public sessions on its ice schedule, and calling ahead around holidays is wise.

Which rink is closest to Washington Park and Platt Park?

Joy Burns Ice Arena at the University of Denver, on the Ritchie Center campus near East Jewell Avenue, is the closest public ice for Washington Park, Platt Park, University Park and Observatory Park families.

Are ice rinks open on Thanksgiving and Christmas?

Edge Ice Arena lists Thanksgiving and December 25 among its closed days, and the South Suburban Sports Complex closed on both holidays last year with early closings on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Check each rink’s holiday hours before you go.

Prices and hours come from each rink’s own website, plus Denverite (November 2025) and 5280 (December 2025) where noted, checked October 28, 2026. Rink schedules change often, so confirm before you head out.