What sports are the most watched during the Winter Olympics? Anything with ice skates! But you don’t have to do gold medal quadruple jumps to get the heart-healthy, mind-calming, spirit-soaring benefits of ice skating. 

Head to Escanaba to find some of the best indoor and outdoor ice rinks in the Upper Peninsula. Bring your family, gather up your best friends  — or take your partner on one of the most romantic dates this winter! 

Hannahville Ice and Turf Complex, Escanaba

Formerly Wells Ice Arena | 906-786-3995

This indoor ice rink is located at 1647 17.4 Road behind the Delta Do-It Center in Escanaba. Its sheet of ice offers open public skating for all ages, hockey, figure skating and curling. Non-skaters can do heart-healthy winter walking on the free indoor track. 

Catherine Bonifas Civic Center, Escanaba

Free outdoor figure skating area and hockey area | 906-786-3551

This lighted outdoor rink at 225 21st St., typically opens in mid-January, weather permitting. If you don’t bring skates, you can borrow some at no cost. The Civic Center offers a variety of sizes. Check them out on Mondays through Fridays, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and keep them up for 48 hours. That way you can enjoy weekend skating or use them at other area rinks. 

Outdoor Ice Arena, Gladstone

Gladstone Beach House | 906-428-9222

Enjoy this wonderful lighted rink along the scenic Little Bay de Noc. It is on the south side of Van Cleve Park, 1224 Lake Shore Drive. Public skating is available Monday through Friday, 4-8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 1-7 p.m. Bring your skates, rentals are not available. 

Stay in Escanaba — these rinks are nearby

Winter vacationers are discovering that staying in Escanaba is a perfect base camp for reaching favorite attractions in the U.P. Find the hotel rates and amenities you want, including gorgeous waterfront views of the Bays de Noc. 

When you spend your nights here, you are just a day trip from skating at the rinks listed below. Before or after skating, you can experience some of the most outstanding scenery and winter adventures. 

Little Bear West Ice Arena, Manistique

This ice rink on 180 N Maple St., is the closest day-trip destination and is just minutes from Kitch-iti-Kipi, one of our most popular sightseeing experiences. Little Bear offers public skating and private ice rentals. Call 906-341-2290 for details. 

Lakeview Arena, Marquette

This indoor rink in the Upper Peninsula’s largest city is at 401 E Fair Ave. It offers open skating, drop-in hockey and figure skating, plus skate rentals. Outdoor ice rinks are planned for 2024. For more information, call 906-228-0460.

Alger Centennial Ice Arena, Munising

One of the Upper Peninsula’s best indoor ice skating rinks is at 120 E Varnum St. An added benefit is you are just minutes from the must-see Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. This is a fun rink for open skating, pickup hockey games and birthday parties. Call 906-387-3169 for hours and information. 

Let’s meet on the ice soon. Skating is way more fun than working out at the gym!