Alaska is pretty much a giant frozen wonderland in the winter, and that means opportunities for ice skating are abundant. Here in our state, we wouldn’t dare spend the day in an indoor ice skating rink. After all, there are SO many outdoor ice rinks in Alaska that are worth checking out. The ice skating lagoon featured below is a treasured winter destination for many Alaskan families. Boasting tons of room for you to speed around the ice and heavenly views, this lagoon is about to become your favorite place to spend a winter day ice skating in Alaska.
Make your winter one to remember and spend some time at this incredible ice skating lagoon. Westchester Lagoon is a wild oasis just a short walk away from downtown Anchorage, and it’s a must-visit destination this season.
Anchorage Parks and Recreation/Facebook
Westchester Lagoon is where the locals come to play all year long. However, it’s a particularly wonderful place to visit during the winter. Once the temperatures begin to drop, the 50-acre lake turns into a marvelous frozen wonderland—perfect for ice skating.
dancingnomad3/Flickr
The lagoon is simply massive, giving skaters plenty of space to spread out and skate to their heart’s content. As you zip around the lake, you’ll enjoy tremendous views of the wooded hillsides and the stunning Chugach Mountain Front.
Travis/Flickr
Westchester is an especially popular destination for families. On the weekends you’ll usually see a casual skirmish of hockey being played and plenty of people warming up around the huge metal barrels of fire scattered around the lake.
Travis/Flickr
Another big draw of the lagoon is Family Skate, which takes place every Saturday afternoon in January and continues through the middle of March. Family Skate is free to join and boasts free hot chocolate, games, and a different theme for each week.
Travis/Flickr
The lagoon is routinely monitored and maintained throughout the winter once the ice grows to at least 12 inches thick. This ensures that visitors can continue to skate regardless of snowfall or other weather conditions.
Emma Forsberg/Flickr
Of course, it always pays to make sure the lagoon is currently skate-able, be sure to check out the Ice Conditions Forum here for the latest updates. Westchester Lagoon is located at 1824 W 15th Avenue Anchorage, AK 99501. Make some wonderful winter memories and be sure to visit soon!
Mel Green/Flickr
Some of the best ice rinks in Alaska are simply on lakes and ponds like this one. Have you had the chance to visit this ice skating lagoon? Tell us about your favorite places to go ice skating in Alaska in the comments! For more seasonal things to do in Alaska, check out our list of 18 awesome places to visit in Alaska this winter.
Anchorage Parks and Recreation/Facebook
dancingnomad3/Flickr
Travis/Flickr
Emma Forsberg/Flickr
Mel Green/Flickr
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Address: 1824 W 15th Avenue Anchorage, AK 99501
The OIYS Visitor Center
More Indoor and Outdoor Ice Rinks in Alaska November 12, 2022 Chris Muras What are the best ice rinks in AK? Since Alaska is such a big state it’s impossible to pick the very best ice rinks in Alaska. However, there are a few very good ones near Anchorage. The Diamond Ice Chalet and Ben Boeke Indoor Ice Arena stand out as two of the best. Then you have the Treadwell Ice Arena further down the coast in Douglas, Alaska. But if you are looking for the best outdoor skating venues you simply have to look at your local lake or pond. Here are some of the best places for outdoor ice skating in and around Anchorage: Eklutna Lake. Found in Chugach State Park about 37 miles from Anchorage, it’s a seven-mile long fiord that freezes over in the winter making it a great place to hike, bike, and even skate. Potter Marsh. Only 12 miles from downtown Anchorage, Potter Marsh is a wonderland of wildlife. In fact, it’s in a wildlife refuge. When it freezes over it provides a wonderful maze of frozen trails that open up to hidden ponds to skate. Portage Lake. A dazzling glacier lake in warmer months and a skater’s paradise in winter. You’ll find it about 50 miles from Anchorage in Portage Valley. Wasilla Creek and Rabbit Slough. 38 miles from town are these frozen channels with miles of natural skating trails across the Palmer Hay Flats State Game Refuge. Westchester Lagoon. Of course, our featured spot has to make the list. For a more traditional ice skating venue this is the perfect spot. You just can’t beat the community feel of a local skating spot with fire barrels to keep those fingers nice and toasty.
The OIYS Visitor Center
More Indoor and Outdoor Ice Rinks in Alaska
November 12, 2022
Chris Muras
What are the best ice rinks in AK? Since Alaska is such a big state it’s impossible to pick the very best ice rinks in Alaska. However, there are a few very good ones near Anchorage. The Diamond Ice Chalet and Ben Boeke Indoor Ice Arena stand out as two of the best. Then you have the Treadwell Ice Arena further down the coast in Douglas, Alaska. But if you are looking for the best outdoor skating venues you simply have to look at your local lake or pond. Here are some of the best places for outdoor ice skating in and around Anchorage: Eklutna Lake. Found in Chugach State Park about 37 miles from Anchorage, it’s a seven-mile long fiord that freezes over in the winter making it a great place to hike, bike, and even skate. Potter Marsh. Only 12 miles from downtown Anchorage, Potter Marsh is a wonderland of wildlife. In fact, it’s in a wildlife refuge. When it freezes over it provides a wonderful maze of frozen trails that open up to hidden ponds to skate. Portage Lake. A dazzling glacier lake in warmer months and a skater’s paradise in winter. You’ll find it about 50 miles from Anchorage in Portage Valley. Wasilla Creek and Rabbit Slough. 38 miles from town are these frozen channels with miles of natural skating trails across the Palmer Hay Flats State Game Refuge. Westchester Lagoon. Of course, our featured spot has to make the list. For a more traditional ice skating venue this is the perfect spot. You just can’t beat the community feel of a local skating spot with fire barrels to keep those fingers nice and toasty.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Since Alaska is such a big state it’s impossible to pick the very best ice rinks in Alaska. However, there are a few very good ones near Anchorage. The Diamond Ice Chalet and Ben Boeke Indoor Ice Arena stand out as two of the best. Then you have the Treadwell Ice Arena further down the coast in Douglas, Alaska. But if you are looking for the best outdoor skating venues you simply have to look at your local lake or pond.
Here are some of the best places for outdoor ice skating in and around Anchorage:
Eklutna Lake. Found in Chugach State Park about 37 miles from Anchorage, it’s a seven-mile long fiord that freezes over in the winter making it a great place to hike, bike, and even skate.
Potter Marsh. Only 12 miles from downtown Anchorage, Potter Marsh is a wonderland of wildlife. In fact, it’s in a wildlife refuge. When it freezes over it provides a wonderful maze of frozen trails that open up to hidden ponds to skate.
Portage Lake. A dazzling glacier lake in warmer months and a skater’s paradise in winter. You’ll find it about 50 miles from Anchorage in Portage Valley.
Wasilla Creek and Rabbit Slough. 38 miles from town are these frozen channels with miles of natural skating trails across the Palmer Hay Flats State Game Refuge.
Westchester Lagoon. Of course, our featured spot has to make the list. For a more traditional ice skating venue this is the perfect spot. You just can’t beat the community feel of a local skating spot with fire barrels to keep those fingers nice and toasty.
