Chapman Hill is the answer, and you will find it at 500 Florida Road. The City of Durango Parks and Recreation Department runs a refrigerated rink there that hosts public skating, drop-in hockey, stick and puck, figure skating, league games and lessons on one sheet of ice. Next door sits the small in-town ski hill, which means a family can split a Saturday between the two. Here is what the season looks like in 2026-27, what it costs, and how the kids' programs stack up.
When does the Chapman Hill ice rink open?
In September the city announced that crews were installing ice and that the first day of skating would be Tuesday, September 22, 2026 (City of Durango). That video description is an archived copy of the city's own post. The city does not publish a closing date for the ice season, so treat the end of winter as weather-dependent and watch the Parks and Recreation social channels. The rink is closed on New Year's Day, Easter, the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas (City of Durango).
Public skate times, drop-in hockey and special events all appear on the city's rink events calendar. Those times move around with lessons, leagues and rentals, so check the calendar the day you go. The rink phone is 970-375-7395.
How much does public skate cost?
The city's ice rink page lists these prices:
| Item | Day price | 20-punch pass |
|---|---|---|
| Ages 3 and under | Free | n/a |
| Youth, ages 4-17 | $7 | $100 |
| Ages 18-61 | $8 | $120 |
| Senior, ages 62 and up | $7 | $100 |
| Drop-in hockey or stick and puck | $10 | $160 |
| Skate rental | $3 | n/a |
| Skate sharpening | $10 overnight | $180 for a pass |
A skater aide costs $5. Buy passes online through the city's Register4Rec site or in person at Chapman Hill or the Recreation Center. A 20-punch pass for ages 18 to 61 works out to $6 a visit, which beats the $8 day rate once you skate at least 15 times.
What is the Friday night skate?
- Friday evenings: 7:30 to 9 p.m., lights turned low, dance tracks from the 1970s to current pop
- Saturday evenings: skate nights at varying times, so check the rink calendar
- Price and crowd: the same as regular public skate, and the city says all ages are welcome, which makes it the easiest first visit
Can kids and beginners take lessons?
Yes. The rink runs several programs, and it helps to know which comes first:
- Youth Ice Skating School: for ages 4 to 15, progression-based, and it includes skate rental and free skating before or after class. Bring a helmet; the city says a bike, ski, skateboard or hockey helmet works
- Introduction to Figure Skating: for ages 6 to 18, covering edge work, forward and backward crossovers, three-turns, spins and jumps, and you must finish Youth Ice Skating School first
- Youth hockey: the Durango Area Youth Hockey Association takes ages 5 to 18 at durangohockey.org, and it is not part of the city
- Hockey for players 18 and older: leagues and drop-in sessions run through the Parks and Recreation registration site at durangorecreation.com
- What to wear: the city says the rink runs about the same temperature as the air outside, and it recommends gloves because they protect your hands from ice burns when you fall
What does Chapman Hill do when the ice is gone?
In warm months the same surface becomes a roller rink with public roller and inline sessions, and roller skates rent for $3. Chapman Hill also has the in-town ski and snowboard hill, which is a separate pass from the ice. If you want to know what a Durango winter actually looks like before you commit to skates, our winter guide and the answer on how much snow Durango gets are a good place to start. Birthday packages book through the rink at 970-375-7395, and the city lists a private ice rental at $200 an hour, or $290 with skates included.