The Madison Ice Rink on the south side of the Spearfish City Campground is now open!
It will remain open as conditions allow and is open daily for public skating from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., except for Saturday mornings from 8-10 a.m. when it is reserved for the Northern Hills Chinook youth hockey club. It is not open to public skating at that time.
During the open public skating hours, the rink is a shared, community-use recreation space, and everyone should feel welcome to use it while it is open.
The rink holds approximately 50,000 gallons of water, and the rink is filled with water from the diversion channel by using a large pump. Once the rink has been flooded, it can take up to 72 hours for the rink to fully set, and because there is no mechanical cooling system, nature creates and keeps the ice usable, so please note if conditions change, signs will be posted at the rink indicating whether it is open or closed.
A sign at the rink outlines the rules and regulations for the rink. It states, “This rink is provided for the enjoyment of the whole community.”
The public is asked to observe the following rules to help city staff “keep the best ice surface possible” for participants to enjoy:
When the ice rink is posted closed, please stay off the rink. It has been closed for a reason, generally because it has just been flooded and the ice needs to properly freeze. Staff will remove the closed sign once the ice is firm enough to skate.
Do not walk, skate, sled, or play on the rink when it is covered with snow. This packing of the snow creates rough spots on the ice surface.
Do not throw rocks, sticks, logs, or drag picnic tables or garbage cans onto the rink. These items break through thin ice or can freeze into the ice on a warm day, ruining the surface.
Leave the yellow bumpers on the side boards. They are there for the safety of the skaters.
Keep the rink area clean. Place all trash in the garbage cans provided.
Hockey and pleasure skating do not mix. Try and share the rink with other users by doing one use at only one end of the rink.
If you witness any vandalism, please call the Spearfish Police Department at (605) 642-1300.
People are asked to clear the entire rink of snow if they arrive before the snow has been cleared off the ice, and people should plan to bring their own firewood if they plan to have a fire in the campfire ring present at the location.