Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, offers a variety of free outdoor winter activities for residents. One popular destination is the ice skating rink in downtown Manitowoc.
Before stuffing the kids into snowsuits and gassing up the car, check out our list of places to ski, skate and more throughout Manitowoc County. Then, have fun!
Ice Skating in Manitowoc
The portable rink is adjacent to Burger Boat Park and the Briess parking lot in the 700 block of Quay Street. The rink opens when the ice is ready, and this cold weather helps. Century 21 Aspire Group donated a small warming hut for people to lace up their skates. There are lights and rubber mats so skaters don't have to worry about dulling their skate blades as they walk from the hut to the ice.
Skating is free, but you’ll need to take your own skates - there are no rentals. The rink is strictly open for recreational use, with no organized hockey or other events.
Ice skating with a view. Wow, what a view!
The Manitowoc County Ice Center (MCIC)
On October 1, 1995, the Manitowoc County Ice Center opened, thanks to a group of Youth on Ice promoters who had a vision to make indoor skating available to our local youth. The building provides the skating community with a modern facility that is no longer dependent on the outdoor weather.
Read also: Snowmobiling in Manitowoc County: What You Need to Know
In 1982, Manitowoc Youth on Ice began a hockey program in the cattle barn of the Manitowoc County Fairgrounds. In the first year, 20 to 30 youth participated in the program. A few years later, "Learn to Skate" classes were added for figure skating. By 1993, participation in the skating programs had increased dramatically, bolstering the need for a new indoor temperature-controlled skating facility.
Today, the MCIC offers skating to those who wish to learn, as well as those wishing to pursue participation in figure skating, hockey and recreational skating at an affordable rate. The MCIC is also available on a rental basis to groups wishing to rent ice time or floor space in the off-season. MCIC is now run entirely by volunteers for the ice skating season. Volunteers are a combined effort between MCYHA and MCFSC.
For information on renting the facility for non-ice events, please contact the Expo Office at 920-683-4378.
Other Winter Activities: Sledding and Skiing
If skating isn't your thing, the city also provides a sledding hill at Silver Creek Park set on the shore of Lake Michigan. Silver Creek, 3001 S. 10th St., has more than 70 acres that become a popular winter destination for cross-country skiing, snow tubing and even fat-tire biking. The park trails offer multiple paths for everyone, from seasoned skiers to beginners. The hill has set hours, and residents can use it at their own risk. The hill is lighted with public restrooms nearby.
If you have children or if you want to indulge in a favorite childhood memory, there are many places to go sledding in Manitowoc County. Some other sledding locations have included the bowl at Wilson Middle School, 1200 N. Ninth St. and Mishicot Village Park, 5 Rockway St., Mishicot.
Read also: Winter Fun at Hamilton Ice Arena
You can also head to Washington Park, 2901 Adams St., Two Rivers, to enjoy another popular sledding hill. Henry Schuette Park, 3800 Broadway St. in Manitowoc - also a city-owned park on the Manitowoc River - is open for snow-shoeing and cross country skiing, although, again, areas are not groomed specifically for those activities.
A few other locations in Manitowoc County where you can strap on your snowshoes or cross country skis and get some exercise are Woodland Dunes Nature Center & Preserve (3000 Hawthorne Ave., Two Rivers), the Manitowoc County Ice Age Trail (5000 Memorial Drive, Two Rivers), Camp Sinawa (9113 Sinawa Road, Valders) and Point Beach State Forest (9400 County Road R, Two Rivers).
Those who want to hike or use fat-tire bikes also can head to Camp Vits, 97 S. Park View Road, a 78-acre park on the Manitowoc River with bluffs, ravines and wildlife areas, and where the city's first public mountain bike trail opened a few years ago.
| Activity | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ice Skating | Quay Street Rink | Free, BYO skates, recreational use only |
| Ice Skating | Manitowoc County Ice Center | Indoor facility, rental available |
| Sledding | Silver Creek Park | Lighted hill, public restrooms |
| Cross-country Skiing | Silver Creek Park | Multiple trails for all levels |
| Snowshoeing/Skiing | Henry Schuette Park | Areas not groomed |
| Snowshoeing/Skiing | Woodland Dunes Nature Center & Preserve | |
| Snowshoeing/Skiing | Manitowoc County Ice Age Trail | |
| Snowshoeing/Skiing | Camp Sinawa | |
| Snowshoeing/Skiing | Point Beach State Forest | |
| Hiking/Fat-tire Biking | Camp Vits | Mountain bike trail |
Read also: Ice Skating in Great Neck