As the winter months approach, everyone is looking forward to the fun activities of the season like skating and sledding. Keep reading to know the best frozen hotspots around the Monadnock Region.
Indoor Skating
Keene ICE (Keene, NH)
Looking for a place to skate indoors with friends and family? Look no further than Keene ICE located just 5 minutes away from downtown Keene. For only $5 per person (and an additional $5 for rental skates), everyone is welcome to skate! Visit their website and check their calendar frequently for additional public skate times as they’re always updating.
Outdoor Skating
Brown Memorial Field (Swanzey, NH); Adams Playground (Peterborough, NH); Wheelock Park (Keene, NH); The Pond at Robin Hood Park (Keene, NH); Humiston Field (Jaffrey, NH); Norway Pond (Hancock, NH)
Each of these six locations has its own pond that’s great for skating. The Brown Memorial Field rink is maintained by the Swanzey Recreational Department and is open to everyone. But be aware that if the gates are closed, the ice is off-limits for safety. The other locations are also free to the public. Look out on the town’s Facebook pages and websites to learn about available skating times. And don’t forget to bring your own skates!
Sledding
The Inn at East Hill Farm (Troy, NH)
Stay at the Inn at East Hill Farm during their family weekends and school vacations to experience their winter activities. From arts and crafts to petting bunnies in their barn to cocktail parties, the Inn has a variety of activities for all ages. Most notably, they have a whole block for sledding on a hill nearby in their Winter Sample Activity Schedule (if the weather permits sledding). So book a weekend at the Inn at East Hill Farm and enjoy their winter activities!
Robin Hood Park (Keene, NH)
Not only known for skating but also for sledding, Robin Hood Park features a 300 to 400-foot run that is awesome for sledding. Named one of the best parks to sled in, its 25-degree angle allows for a perfect drop to gain speed and send you flying. Be careful of those around you, bundle up, and, most importantly, have fun!
Miller State Park (Peterborough, NH)
For the daredevils out there, the auto road on Miller State Park’s Pack Monadnock is the sledding spot for you. The road, which is mainly used for hiking in the other seasons, is usually closed during the winter and makes for a 2,290-foot winding path full of packed snow. It is advised that this be used only by experienced sledders and not by those just starting out (we recommend any of the previous options above for beginners).
