The winter season brings cold, windy weather.  It doesn’t mean you have to hide indoors. Grab your helmet, snow pants and ice skates and head to your local pond to skate with friends. Check out the list below of popular ponds and lakes in your area.

Click here to check out best ice skates for kids learning to skate

The Boston Globe said it best in 1887, “There is certainly no outdoor winter exercise so invigorating or so enjoyable as iceskating, and none so inexpensive,” wrote the Globe.

SAFETY TIPS THAT WILL KEEP YOU GLIDING ALL WINTER

NEVER SKATE ALONE

In any emergency, you’ll need someone else’s help.

CHECK THE ICE SURFACE FOR CRACKS, HOLES OR DEBRIS

At lakes and ponds, walk around the perimeter of the area you want to skate and look carefully at the ice. It should be smooth, thick, blue or clear-colored, with ice that looks at least 6 inches thick. Light grey, dark black or slushy ice is not safe. The ground around the edge of the ice should be frozen, with no flowing water near the edges of the ice. If the surface looks safe, slowly skate the outside area, looking and listening for cracks. Go slow and back away if you encounter thin ice.

CONTACT LOCAL POLICE OR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR CONDITIONS AT A SKATING POND

Only skate on ice that is monitored for safety.

If while skating, the ice starts to crack beneath you, get down on all fours (distributing your body weight evenly), stay low and crawl to safety.

Also, check out Best Ice Skates For Kids and Beginners

Make sure to bookmark the Boston, Massachusetts Ice Skating Guide or the Guide to Accessible Ice Rinks

Ice Skating Ponds in Amesbury

Clarks Pond

Cedar Street

Bailey Pond

Pond View Avenue

Access this pond through the parking area on Summit Ave.

Patten’s Pond

Main Street

Lake Attitash

Lake Attitash Road

P.O Box 503

http://lakeattitash.org/

Lake Gardner

80 High Street

http://www.lgia.org/

Ice Skating Ponds in Boston

Frog Pond on Boston Common

Bounded by Charles Street, Beacon Street, Park Street and Tremont Street

617-635-2120

www.bostonfrogpond.com

Ice Skating Ponds in Easton

Yardley-Wood Rink

Depot Street

Ice Skating Ponds in Essex

Chebacco Lake

Chebacco Road

Ice Skating Ponds in Hingham

Hidden Pond, Derby Street Shoppes

92 – 98 Derby Street

781-749-7800

www.thederbystreetshoppes.com/info/hiddenpond

Ice Skating Ponds in Ipswich

Clark Pond

Parking lot at the end of Bowdoin Road, Great Neck

Curiosity camp at Simons rock

Ice Skating Ponds in Lenox

Laurel Lake

Routes 7 & 20

413-243-5505

Ice Skating Ponds in Leominster

Leominster State Forest – Paradise Pond

90 Fitchburg Road / Route 31

508-874-2303

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Ice Skating Ponds in Methuen

Hills Pond (Also known as Baremeadow Pond or Hillsies Pond)

Along Milk Street

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Ice Skating Ponds in Needham

Horsford Pond

Central Avenue, entrance to Town Forrest

Lights are turned on Friday through Sunday and holidays

Farley Pond

South Street near Chestnut Street intersection on right

Reservoir

Off of Dedham Avenue, behind Department of Public Works.

The lights are turned on Friday through Sunday and holidays.

Sportman’s Pond

Great Plain Avenue, between Central Avenue and MarkedTree Road

Ice Skating Ponds in Newbury

Pine Island Pond

Pine Island Road

From 1A turn onto Pine Island Road and the pond is on the right 400 feet from the corner.

Quills Pond

Hay Street

Ice Skating Ponds in Quincy

Butler’s Pond

32-40 Merrymount Road

www.butlerspond.org

Sailor’s Home Pond

Rice Road

Gates are opened when the ice is 4 inches thick.

Ice Skating Ponds in Rockport

Mill Brook Meadow Park

15 Beach Street

508-874-2303

Camborne Pond

Penzance Road

South Hamilton

Patton Park

5 Willow Street

978-468-2178

http://www.hwrecreation.com/info/facilities/details.aspx?FacilityID=14704

Ice Skating Ponds in Walpole

Turner Pond

Elm Street

www.walpoleponds.com/Walpoleponds/turner-pond

Walpole residents can sign up for a November through March winter pass for $20 per family; non residents $30. A day pass is $5.

July 14-27, 2024 Curiosity Camp at Bard

Ice Skating Ponds in West Newton

Dolan Pond

24 Henshaw Terrace

617-969-6222

http://www.newtonconservators.org/5dolan.htm

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Ice Skating Ponds in Weymouth

Whitman’s Pond

Off of Middle Street

Ice Skating Ponds in Winchester

Winter Pond

12 Woodside Road

 

Do you have a favorite ice skating pond in Massachusetts we didn’t mention? Tell us in our “Review this Article” section!

For a list of ice skating rinks in Massachusetts

Also, check out Best Ice Skates For Kids and Beginners

Read our article How to Teach a Child to Ice Skate