Evergreen Lake is the foothills postcard you have seen on holiday cards: a 55-acre mountain lake ringed by pines in Evergreen, with paddleboards and kayaks in summer and one of the biggest groomed outdoor ice rinks around in winter.

The lake sits in Dedisse Park, which is owned by the City and County of Denver as part of its mountain parks system and managed by the Evergreen Park & Recreation District. A 1.25-mile trail loops the shoreline past picnic tables and the Evergreen Dam, completed in 1928, where water pours down the spillway beside a mountain man statue. The rustic log-cabin Evergreen Lake House sits on the shore; it rents boats in summer, turns into the skating center in winter and hosts weddings and events year-round. The lake is stocked with trout, and fishing is allowed with a Colorado fishing license.

Winter is the big draw. When the ice is ready, the district grooms multiple rinks on the frozen lake for open skating, hockey and broomball. For the 2026/27 season, posted prices are $15 for all-day admission, $20 with skate rentals and $10 for rentals alone, with kids 4 and under free; season passes cost $200 and a 10-punch pass is $120. The district had not set an opening day as of late October 2026, because the ice decides. Make a day of it with a hike at Mount Falcon Park, a stop at the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave on Lookout Mountain, or a summer drive up the Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway.

Insider tip: Always call the Boating/Skating Hotline at 720-880-1391 before you leave home, since hours change daily with weather and ice. Lake House parking fills fast on winter weekends, so use the free shuttle from the lower lot at Stagecoach Park (3229 El Pinal Drive), which runs on weekends and holidays.

Evergreen Park & Recreation District says information about the 2026/2027 ice skating season will be released once an opening day is set (updated Oct. 28, 2026). Season passes ($200) and 10-punch passes ($120) are already on sale. Watch evergreenrecreation.com or call 720-880-1391 for the latest.