Lots of lakes and ponds dot the outskirts of the city, and when temperatures drop below freezing — and stay there — these spots afford quieter skating with tree-lined views an hour or less from NYC.
Authorities warn skaters to only venture onto snow-free ice verified as safe. “We do not allow people to go out unless there is 4 inches of ice,” says Peter Tartaglia, deputy commissioner of Westchester County Parks. Call ahead to ensure conditions are ready, he adds. New York State warns people to not skate alone, and to avoid ice if you see cracks, holes or slush. Look for posted signs that indicate skating is safe.
Pack your own skates for these spots: You won’t find a rental booth — or a hot dog vendor, for that matter — lined up at these au naturel rinks, but you will get in for free.
Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park, 2957 Crompond Road, Yorktown Heights, NY; 914-245-4434
The 108-acre Mohansic Lake in FDR State Park lets visitors truly skate among the trees just 40 miles from the city.
Holmdel Park, 44 Longstreet Road, Holmdel, NJ; 732-946-9562
Families flock to this Monmouth County, NJ, park for ice skating — plus sledding — and for the historic Longstreet Farm, where kids can milk cows and collect chicken eggs.
Mountain Lakes Park, 201 Hawley Road, North Salem, NY; 914-864-7312
This 1,082-acre park, which boasts miles of trails and hardwood forest, offers ice skating on Spruce Lake, one of its five lakes, as well as year-round camping.
Tenafly Nature Center, 313 Hudson Ave., Tenafly, NJ; 201-568-6093
The 400-acre nature preserve in Bergen County, NJ, allows ice skating on its small pond when weather permits. Bring your cross-country skis to further roam the grounds.
Tibbetts Brook Park, 355 Midland Ave., Yonkers, NY; 914-231-2865
Smack dab in the middle of Yonkers, this conveniently located Westchester oasis might be better known for its summertime water park, but you can skate on the pond for free in the winter.
Turkey Swamp Park, 200 Georgia Road, Freehold, NJ; 732-462-7286
Visitors will think they’ve landed much farther away than Jersey when skating on this 17-acre lake set among a 2,000-plus-acre forested park.
Wampus Pond, Route 128, Armonk, NY; 914-273-3230
This natural pond once helped supply water to New York City, but now you can skate from dawn to dusk at this pretty spot.
Veterans Park Pond, Narragansett Avenue, Ossining, NY; 914-941-3189
Skate into the night at this local-favored hockey-rink-size pond, where officials keep the lights on until 9 p.m. on weekdays and 7 p.m. on weekends. Warm up next to the staff-tended fire under the park pavilion.