The state of Maine should be your preferred destination if you figure skate, play ice hockey, or want to become either one. Indeed, the state has enough indoor and outdoor venues so that even recreational skaters can find plenty of options regardless of the season. Of the state's eight regions, only the Downeast & Acadia areas fail to offer an indoor skating rink, but this is more than offset by the rest of the state's 35 indoor arenas.
Maine Indoor Ice Skating Rinks
There are different types of indoor rinks in Maine, with varying degrees of public accessibility. Some indoor arenas are municipal facilities, open to the public for small fees. Call ahead of time or check the schedule, as many municipal facilities not only schedule recreational skating but also serve as game arenas for local recreation hockey leagues and high school teams. Some facilities also rent private time for figure skating instruction. Colleges, universities, and some private schools also have indoor arenas with limited degrees of public access. Call ahead before showing up with your skates. Finally, some private business owners have opened arenas open to the public. Again, call ahead or check an online schedule to assure that the rink will be available for your needs.
Aroostook County
Aroostook County offers three indoor arenas for skating:
- John A. Millar Civic Center in Houlton
- Madawaska Ice Arena (Multipurpose Center) in Madawaska
- The Forum in Presque Isle
Cross Insurance Arena, Portland, MaineGreater Portland & Casco Bay
The Portland Area offers five indoor arenas for skating:
- Cross insurance Arena in Portland is the home arena for the EDHL Portland Mariners hockey team
- William B. Troubh Ice Arena in Portland
- Family Ice Center in Falmouth offers both indoor and outdoor facilities
- USM Ice Arena on the University of Southern Maine campus in Gorham
- Travis Roy Ice Arena on the North Yarmouth Academy campus in Yarmouth
Kennebec & Moose River Valleys
The Augusta/Waterville  offers four inside arenas for skating:
- Maine Ice Vault in Hallowell is the home arena for the Maine Moose U-18 Midget hockey team
- Alfond Athletics Center on the campus of Kents Hill School in Kents Hill
- The Jack Kelley Rink at the O'Neil | O'Donnell Forum on the campus of Colby College in Waterville
- Sukee Arena & Events Center in Winslow
Photo Credit: The Colisee Ice Rink, Lewiston, MaineMaine's Lakes & Mountains
The Lakes Region offers five indoor arenas for skating:
- Norway Savings Bank Ice Arena in Auburn
- Robinson Arena on the campus of Hebron Academy in Hebron
- Androscoggin Bank Colisée (formerly Central Maine Civic Center) in Lewiston
- Underhill Arena on the campus of Bates College in Lewiston
- Chalmers Ice Arena on the campus of Bridgton Academy in North Bridgton
MidCoast
The MidCoast Region offers two indoor arenas for skating:
- Sidney J. Watson Arena on the campus of Bowdoin College in Brunswick
- Midcoast Recreation Center in Rockport
University of New England ice hockey game, Biddeford, MaineThe Maine Beaches
Saco-Biddeford offers one indoor arena for skating:
- Biddeford Ice Arena in Biddeford
The Main Highlands: Bangor, Katahdin, Moosehead Lake
The Greater Bangor Area offers three inside arenas for skating:
- Sawyer Arena in Bangor
- Penobscot Ice Arena (formerly T.J. Ryan Center) of Brewer
- Alfond Sports Arena of the University of Maine in Orono
Deering Oaks Park, Portland, MaineMaine Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks
This list is by no means an exhaustive list of outdoor skating venues in Maine. Many lake areas have traditional coves utilized by locals for seasonal ice skating. Inquire as to the availability of these areas from the local citizens, the town office, or the local Maine Warden Service. The Warden Service should also be consulted as to the ice safety of any body of water that appears appropriate for skating.
In addition to relatively unknown lake coves, the very large and well-known winter ski resorts typically offer an outdoor rink for ice skating. An example of a resort rink would include Sugarloaf‘s NHL-sized ice rink.
Maine's outdoor ice-skating experience can range from rural Haley Pond's warm—and free!—welcome all the way up to Portland's urban Deering Oaks Park.
Aroostook County
Aroostook County offers five outdoor skating rinks:
- Ashland Area Recreational Ice Rink in Ashland
- Teague Park Ice Rink in Caribou
- Jalbert Park Skating Rink in Fort Kent
- Riverside Park Ice Rink in Presque Isle
- Van Buren Ice Rink Van Buren
Greater Portland & Casco Bay
Deering Oaks Park in Portland is the city's historic and famous 52-acre park, designed in 1879 and originally intended to remain in a relatively natural state. Luckily for current citizens, the park now contains a baseball field, tennis courts, children's playgrounds, and a pond. The park's pond is located at the intersection of State Street and Park Avenue and is open each year from December to February, from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Call 207-756-8275 or 207-874-8801 for any updates or questions about the pond's availability. If unavailable due to weather, you can always switch your location to Portland's Ice Arena.
Pond Hockey Tournament on Haley Pond, Rangeley, MaineMaine's Lakes & Mountains
The Lakes Region offers four outdoor skating rinks:
- Sunday River Ski Resort rink (White Cap Fun Center) in Bethel
- Bethel Ice Rink, seasonally open, in Bethel
- Sugarloaf USA Skating Rink in Carrabassett Valley
- Haley Pond in the Rangeley Lakes area is the site of the annual February New England Pond Hockey Tournament. It offers free skating and free skate rentals to visitors.
The Main Highlands: Bangor, Katahdin, Moosehead Lake
The Bangor / Highlands Region offers six outdoor skating rinks:
- Chapin Park Rink of Bangor
- Bangor Gardens Park Ice Rink in Bangor
- Broadway Park Ice Rink in Bangor
- Dexter Skating Rink of Dexter
- Dover Rink of the Dover-Foxcroft community
- Katahdin Pride Park in Millinocket
