Gullen’s Pond is located at 490 Hibbard Road, next to the Winnetka Ice Arena.
Cost: Gullen’s Pond is free during public skate hours. Personal rental is 175$/hour and $290/2 hours.
Ice Quality: Gullen’s Pond is covered with fresh ice after each session, and a Zamboni adds to the high quality ice.
Availability: Over 15 years old- Mon 7:15-8:45 PM, Wed 7:30-8:45 PM, Sat 2:00-4:00 PM, Sun 11:45-1:45 PM. Personal rental hours vary.
Overview: Gullen’s Pond is a great place for intermediate to advanced hockey players to play free of charge with great ice quality. Due to its limited availability, the ice is usually crowded, and there will almost certainly be a pickup game. Because of this, beginner skaters may want to look for alternatives.

“Pond on Green” at Indian Hill is located at 131 Wilson Street, Winnetka.
Cost: Free
Ice Quality: “Pond on Green’s” ice quality varies. The pond is iced with a zamboni infrequently. This leads to very poor quality ice on some occasions. It is outdoors, so it melts frequently.
Availability: The ice is available 24/7, unless they are in the process of making fresh ice, but there are no lights at the rink so nightime skating is not recommended.
Overview: “Pond on Green” at Indian Hill is a great option for beginner skaters looking to get the hang of skating. Free of charge and always available, it is a convenient rink. It should be noted that there are no provided nets to shoot on, so if you are looking for a pickup game, you should look elsewhere.

North Shore Ice Arena is located at 2111 Founders Drive, Northbrook.
Cost: North Shore Ice Arena’s studio rink is available for rent at $165/hour or $75/hour if reserved within 48 hours.
Ice Quality: North Shore Ice Arena’s ice is indoors and also has a Zamboni. The ice quality is as good as it gets.
Availability: All ice time is reserved at the time of your choice. However, times are limited when booked within 48 hours of the session.
Overview: North Shore Ice Arena is a great option for players of all skill levels. Renting with a group of friends can level off the high price for ice time. NSIA also stocks a fully loaded snack bar and is an indoor facility so there is no need to pile on layers of clothing. The indoor experience has significant advantages when inclement weather occurs.

Watts Ice Arena is located at 305 Randolph Street, Glencoe.
Cost: Watts Ice Arena’s open skate is $7 per day. The main rink (full size) is available for rent at $253/hour, and the studio rink (smaller) is available for rent at $150/hour.
Ice Quality: Watts Ice Arena’s ice is covered with fresh ice after each session. The Zamboni adds to the high quality ice. Near the end of the sessions, the ice will deteriorate.
Availability: Under 17 ages- Fri 3:00-5:15, Sat 9:30 AM-10:45 AM. 13 and Up- Tue Wed 7:15-8:45, Thur 4:30-6:00.
Overview: Watts Ice Arena is a mixed bag. On some days, the ice will be open for all to skate around, regardless of skill. On other days, there are fast paced, competitive games that will leave beginners in the dust. Watts is an outdoor rink so inclement weather, such as warm temperatures or rain will affect ice conditions. All in all, Watts Ice Arena is a great place to skate if you’re looking for good ice quality but don’t want to spend big bucks at a North Shore Ice Arena, or if Gullen’s Pond is not available.