The satisfying scratch of blades on ice, the cool rush of air as you glide forward, warming up with a piping-hot mug of cocoa — ice skating captures a special kind of seasonal magic that draws people to rinks across Oregon. You’ll find seasonal outdoor rinks to capture the winter moment and indoor rinks that operate year-round. Here’s your guide to where you can hit the ice across Oregon. (Be sure to check websites or call for hours, which may change due to events and the weather.)
Twirl Around the Ice in Portland and Willamette Valley
Lloyd Center’s Ice Rink is now open year-round inside the Lloyd Center shopping center in Portland. Skate under a magical snowfall during the weeks around Thanksgiving and Christmas. They keep the vibe fun all year with themed skates and special events — skate to Taylor Swift’s songs, 1990s music or ABBA. On Mother’s Day, moms get special treats like a chocolate rose.
In downtown Portland at the west end of the Morrison Bridge, Portland Winter Ice Rink is usually open mid-November through early January, a perfect stop before shopping in Portland’s downtown and West End districts. The 5,000-square-foot rink has fun themes each day, local food and beverages, and an observation deck for non-skaters, along with fire pits, heaters and board games.
The Winterhawks ICE Centers in Beaverton and Sherwood are indoor rinks set up for ice skating and ice hockey year-round. Learn to skate with low-cost lessons, or enjoy public skating sessions at both rinks. The Beaverton rink is in a wood-beamed historic building in operation since 1965, and Sherwood celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Both rinks are covered, but you’ll want to wear layers of warm clothing.
Families love practicing figure-skating spins on the newly renovated rink at Eugene’s The Rink Exchange. Glide across fresh ice at this beloved, 40-year-old institution renowned for its hockey leagues and figure-skating exhibition events. Drop in for public skating sessions, join a learn-to-skate class or celebrate birthdays in the party room. Bring your own skates or rent a pair at the rink.
Themed Skates in Southern Oregon and the Coast
Medford’s The RRRink is an indoor rink open year-round. Sueann Ripley is director of the rink’s Learn to Skate program, and she encourages people not to be intimidated, even if it’s their first time on the ice. “We go at your pace,” she says. If you visit in winter, expect holiday-themed figure-skating events. In Klamath Falls, the Bill Collier Ice Arena opens its beloved outdoor arena mid-October for ice skating and stays open through March, weather depending. After that the ice is removed and replaced with a floor for roller skating. Dress up for themed ice-skating events all year — think disco and Mardi Gras.
Near Coos Bay on the Coast, the city of North Bend’s downtown Ice-Skating Rink freezes ice in time for the city’s Christmas festival and stays open Thursdays through Sundays until mid-February. The 3,250-square-foot rink is one of the most comfortable options around, located in a covered and heated 5,000-square-foot event tent. And the high-tech synthetic ice is special, too, providing better grip and easier gliding than traditional ice. Families love music and theme nights, as well as the affordable skate-rental fees and four giant polar-bear-shaped skate assists, which help young learners balance on the ice.
Family Skate Fun in Central and Eastern Oregon
The Pavilion in Bend is an open-air ice rink in an outdoor mall that transitions to roller skating in the warmer months. Ice season is October 23 through early April, weather permitting. Within that time frame, master the art of curling, chase pucks in a hockey match or simply enjoy casual skating sessions. The Village at Sunriver Ice Rink is outdoors and fully covered. It generally opens in November and closes mid-April, weather permitting. Visitors can also watch the skaters from the windows of the warming room or stop for a bite to eat at multiple options in the complex.
Eastern Oregon’s only ice-skating rink, the Wallowa Valley Community Ice Rink, is a volunteer-led outdoor skating rink in City Park, a couple of blocks from downtown. Check the Facebook page for the most up-to-date information about opening dates and times for skating. The weather-dependent rink is outdoors with no cover, with ice in December lasting through about mid-February. Skate rentals are available. Volunteer Jim Nave says the ice attracts many people from all across the area to skate and play hockey: “On a clear day, when you can get a great view of the mountains, it’s a great place to be.”
