Ice skating at Bear Mountain

New York State's Bear Mountain State Park (nysparks.com), nestled along the western bank of the Hudson River, attracts many tourists every year to outdoor activities there that include skiing, hiking and fishing. One major draw is the outdoor Bear Mountain Ice Rink (bearmountainicerink.com), which is open seasonally.

Location

Bear Mountain State Park is situated in the town of Bear Mountain, about five miles south of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Nearby lodging options for those traveling from out of town include the Bear Mountain Inn (visitbearmountain.com), the Holiday Inn Express Hotel West Point-Montgomery (hiexpress.com) and the Thayer Hotel at West Point (thethayerhotel.com). Looking for local grub after your skating session? Try the Barnstormer BarbeQue (barnstormerbbq.com) or the Peekskill Brewery (thepeekskillbrewery.com).

Rink Amenities

Bear Mountain Ice Rink is a fenced-in, open-air facility, so it's important to bundle up. Lockers are available to store your valuables. Choose to bring your own ice skates or rent a pair. Rentals are available in a child's size 8 through an adult size 13. Grab a cup of hot chocolate at the snack bar to help stay warm.

Rink Activities

Open between late October and early May, the Bear Mountain Ice Rink offers public skate sessions five days a week, as well as private figure-skating lessons. The Bear Mountain Hockey Club also uses the facility for practice. You can rent the rink during for birthday parties or special private events by contacting guest services at the Bear Mountain Inn. Check the rink's website to see if it's open, since inclement weather may cause temporary closures.

Rink Rules and Regulations

During public sessions, skaters may skate in one direction only; figure skating is permitted in the center of the rink only. You must wear skates to step out on the ice. Eating, smoking and drinking are prohibited on the rink. Singles or doubles skating only are permitted. Backwards, fast and dangerous skating may get you kicked out of the facility. Children cannot be carried on the ice, and electronic devices must be kept off the rink.