How Outdoor Ice Skating Became a Winter Tradition in Yosemite National Park

Long before lift lines and après-ski became part of winter culture, Yosemite National Park was already carving out its own cold-weather tradition: outdoor ice skating beneath towering granite walls.

Yosemite’s first ice skating rink was built in 1929, sparked by the possibility that the park could host the 1932 Olympic Winter Games. While Yosemite ultimately didn’t land the Olympics, the ambition left behind something lasting. The original rink covered roughly 60,000 square feet and sat in what is now the Curry Village parking lot—one of the coldest, shadiest spots in Yosemite Valley during winter.

Each night, park staff would flood the area with water, allowing it to freeze overnight and create a massive natural skating surface by morning. The rink quickly became a winter hub, even hosting Olympic speed skating tryouts for the West Coast. Over the years, it also served as a venue for figure skating exhibitions, hockey games, curling matches, winter carnivals, and even tug-of-war competitions on ice.

As winter recreation evolved, so did the rink. In the 1970s, it was relocated to the Curry Village Recreation Center, where it remains a beloved seasonal attraction today. Modern visitors can rent skates on site and warm up by a nearby fire pit, all while gliding across the ice with views of Half Dome rising in the distance.

Today, outdoor ice skating remains one of Yosemite’s most magical winter experiences. The rink typically operates from mid-November through mid-March, conditions permitting, continuing a tradition that has warmed winter memories in the park for nearly a century.