Few places take ice as seriously as Minnesota, and the Twin Cities prove it. From a single sheet that doubles as an NHL practice facility to multi-sheet arenas and one of the largest outdoor refrigerated ovals in North America, the metro gives skaters of every kind a place to land. The rinks below are all indoor and run year-round, with a few adding seasonal outdoor surfaces when the weather turns. Public session schedules vary by rink, season, and week, so use this guide to plan, then check each rink's page for current hours, sessions, and admission before you go.
Saint Paul
TRIA Rink
TRIA Rink sits in downtown Saint Paul and serves as the Minnesota Wild's official practice facility. The single indoor sheet runs year-round, and skating where an NHL team trains gives any visit a little extra weight. Public access depends on the schedule around the team's use, so this is one to plan carefully. Check the rink's page for current sessions before you go.
Minneapolis
Parade Ice Garden
Parade Ice Garden is a major Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board rink set near downtown, with three indoor sheets running year-round. Three surfaces give it the capacity to host public skating, lessons, and hockey without the crowding smaller rinks face. That makes it a reliable stop whether you are a first-timer or a regular. See the rink's page for the latest public schedule.
Twin Cities Suburbs
Braemar Arena
Braemar Arena in Edina is one of the Twin Cities' premier multi-sheet arenas, operated by the City of Edina. It runs three indoor sheets year-round, plus a seasonal outdoor Backyard Rink when the season allows. The scale here means plenty of ice and a wide range of programs across the calendar. Confirm public sessions and the outdoor rink's status on the rink's page.
Bloomington Ice Garden
Bloomington Ice Garden, run by the City of Bloomington, carries three indoor sheets year-round, one of them Olympic-size. The Olympic surface gives figure skaters extra room, while the other sheets keep hockey and public sessions moving. It is a strong choice on the south side of the metro. Check the rink's page for current hours and sessions.
Roseville Skating Center
Roseville Skating Center pairs a single year-round indoor sheet with the seasonal outdoor Guidant John Rose MN OVAL, one of the largest outdoor refrigerated ice surfaces in North America. Operated by the City of Roseville, it gives you the comfort of indoor ice plus a remarkable outdoor experience when the oval is open. The OVAL is seasonal, so timing matters if that is your draw. See the rink's page for current details on both surfaces.
St. Louis Park Recreation Center
St. Louis Park Recreation Center, run by the City of St. Louis Park, offers two indoor sheets year-round, plus a seasonal covered outdoor rink known as the ROC. The mix of indoor and covered outdoor ice gives skaters options as the weather shifts. With two year-round sheets, there is usually a public or learn-to-skate window to find on the west side. Confirm the schedule on the rink's page.
Aldrich Arena
Aldrich Arena in Maplewood is a classic Ramsey County arena with a single indoor sheet that runs year-round. The history and feel of an established county rink make it a comfortable place to skate on the east side of the metro. With one sheet, sessions fill in around hockey and programs, so the schedule is worth a look. Check the rink's page before you go.
Brooklyn Park Community Activity Center
Brooklyn Park Community Activity Center, run by the City of Brooklyn Park, places two indoor sheets inside a community activity center on the northwest side. The two year-round sheets, paired with the surrounding center, make it an easy family destination. There is often a public or learn-to-skate window to find here. See the rink's page for current sessions.
Tips
- Public session times shift by season and week, so confirm the current schedule on each rink's page before you head out.
- Some rinks here add seasonal outdoor ice (the Backyard Rink, the ROC, the MN OVAL), which only runs part of the year. Check status before planning around it.
- Multi-sheet arenas tend to offer more public and learn-to-skate windows, which helps when your schedule is tight.
- An Olympic-size sheet, like the one at Bloomington Ice Garden, gives figure skaters extra room to work.
- Bring or rent well-fitting skates and dress in layers you can shed once you warm up on the ice.
Ready to plan a longer trip or find a rink closer to home? Browse the full directory of Minnesota rinks on the Minnesota state hub for locations, sheets, and links to every rink's page.