EXPLORE: Winter Wonderland
By Sofia Legaspi Dickens
When the weather outside is frightful, being outdoors can still be delightful with these winter activities.
BRENTON SKATING PLAZA
520 Robert D. Ray Drive, Des Moines
brentonplaza.com
Glide your way through a good time — and an excellent workout. Brenton Skating Plaza offers open-air skating with a stunning view of the Des Moines skyline along the Des Moines River. Admission is $9.50 for adults, $5.75 for children and seniors, and free for those younger than age 5. Don’t have skates of your own? Rent a pair for $4.50. Open starting Nov. 18, with skating clinics held throughout the season.
MORE COMMUNITY ICE RINKS
If you have your own skates, these community ice rinks offer free or inexpensive skating options once the weather allows. Be sure to check posted signs and flags before getting on the ice.
SLEDDING HILLS
If there’s a hill, there’s a way. Ready, set, wheeeeeeeee!
CROSS COUNTRY SKIING
We may lack hills here in the Midwest, but that doesn’t mean you can’t swish and swoosh along the snow. Check out these popular trails for cross-country skiing:
SEVEN OAKS
1086 222nd Drive, Boone
sevenoaksrec.com
Find all sorts of winter recreation less than an hour drive from downtown Des Moines. Seven Oaks offers skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing and more fun activities. Rent equipment on site, and if it’s your first time on the slopes, visitors ages 7 and older can take free mini ski and snowboard lessons.
When the weather outside is frightful, being outdoors can still be delightful with these winter activities.
BRENTON SKATING PLAZA
520 Robert D. Ray Drive, Des Moines
brentonplaza.com
Glide your way through a good time — and an excellent workout. Brenton Skating Plaza offers open-air skating with a stunning view of the Des Moines skyline along the Des Moines River. Admission is $9.50 for adults, $5.75 for children and seniors, and free for those younger than age 5. Don’t have skates of your own? Rent a pair for $4.50. Open starting Nov. 18, with skating clinics held throughout the season.
MORE COMMUNITY ICE RINKS
If you have your own skates, these community ice rinks offer free or inexpensive skating options once the weather allows. Be sure to check posted signs and flags before getting on the ice.
- RIVER VALLEY PARK, 1200 E. 13th St., Ames
- SUNRISE PARK, 506 S.E. Peterson Drive, Ankeny
- GREENWOOD PARK POND, 100 45th St., Des Moines
- MACRAE PARK POND, 1021 Davis Ave., Des Moines
- WITMER PARK POND, 610 34th St., Des Moines
- INDIANOLA ACTIVITY CENTER, 2204 W. Second Ave., Indianola
- JOHNSTON TOWN CENTER, 6245 Merle Hay Road, Johnston
- JOHNSTON COMMONS, 6700 Merle Hay Road, Johnston
- CROSSHAVEN PARK, 7909 N.W. 95th St., Johnston
- CHARLES GABUS MEMORIAL TREE PARK, 3600 86th St., Urbandale
- METRO SPORTS FACILITY, 5100 N.W. 72nd St., Urbandale
- GRANT PARK, 605 S.E. Driftwood Lane, Waukee
- RACCOON RIVER PARK, 2500 Grand Ave., West Des Moines
- VALLEY ICE PLAZA, 4444 Fuller Road, West Des Moines
SLEDDING HILLS
If there’s a hill, there’s a way. Ready, set, wheeeeeeeee!
- LIONS PARK, 507 13th Ave. S.W., Altoona
- NORTHCREEK PARK, 2301 W. First St., Ankeny
- OTTER CREEK GOLF COURSE, 4100 N.E. Otter Creek Drive, Ankeny
- CAMPBELL PARK, 12385 Woodlands Parkway, Clive
- COUNTRY CLUB GLEN PARK, 16335 Sheridan Ave., Clive
- MERCY WEST CLINIC, 1601 N.W. 114th St., Clive
- BLANK GOLF COURSE, 808 County Line Road, Des Moines
- GRANDVIEW GOLF COURSE, 2401 E. 29th St., Des Moines
- CAPITOL HILL, 1111 E. Court Ave., Des Moines
- EWING PARK, 5300 Indianola Ave., Des Moines
- GREENWOOD PARK, 4500 Grand Ave., Des Moines
- MACRAE PARK, 1021 Davis Ave., Des Moines
- UNION PARK, 725 Thompson Ave., Des Moines
- WAVELAND GOLF COURSE, 4908 University Ave., Des Moines
- BEAVERCREEK ELEMENTARY, 8701 Lyndhurst Drive, Johnston
- POINTE VISTA PARK, 9612 Enfield Drive, Johnston
- DOANES PARK, 5050 Doanes Park Road, Pleasant Hill
- WINTER PARK, 5110 N.W. 72nd St., Urbandale
- WARRIOR PARK & SLEDDING HILL, 1050 Fourth St., Waukee
- JORDAN CREEK ELEMENTARY, 4501 Fuller Road, West Des Moines
- PEARSON PARK, 1256 19th St., West Des Moines
- SOUTHWOODS PARK, 350 S. 35th St., West Des Moines
CROSS COUNTRY SKIING
We may lack hills here in the Midwest, but that doesn’t mean you can’t swish and swoosh along the snow. Check out these popular trails for cross-country skiing:
- BIG GREEK STATE PARK, Polk City
- CHICHAQUA BOTTOMS GREENBELT, Maxwell
- RACCOON RIVER VALLEY TRAIL, Waukee to Jefferson
- WALNUT WOODS STATE PARK, West Des Moines
- VOAS NATURE AREA, Minburn, 515-465-3577
- JESTER PARK, Granger, 515-323-5330; also offers snowshoe rentals
SEVEN OAKS
1086 222nd Drive, Boone
sevenoaksrec.com
Find all sorts of winter recreation less than an hour drive from downtown Des Moines. Seven Oaks offers skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing and more fun activities. Rent equipment on site, and if it’s your first time on the slopes, visitors ages 7 and older can take free mini ski and snowboard lessons.