Ice Castles 2024/25

Disclaimer: Our visit to Ice Castles was hosted. All photos and opinions re my own.

Colorado’s most magical Winter experience is back, and this year there’s twice the magic!

That’s right - Ice Castles have returned for another season of wonder and awe with not one, but two Colorado locations. The spectacular structures made from ice crystals return to the tiny mining town of Cripple Creek, just two hours south if Denver, along with a new location in the mountain town of Eagle.

We recently checked out the Cripple Creek location and I’m sharing this awe inspiring Winter wonderland with you today. Prepare for lots of sparkly ice crystals photos along with all the tips you need to know for a visit of your own. Plus, a discount code!

Let’s check it out…

If you’ve been following along for a while, you’ll know that Ice Castles are always my favorite Winter attraction here in Colorado. You may not see us hitting the slopes at a ski resort or hiking a snowy national park, but Ice Castles will always get me pulling the Winter woollies out of the closet for a chilly adventure each Winter. The sparkling ice crystals, the stunning archways, the towering walls of ice stalactites… It all makes for a magical outing like no other.

Ice Castles have been delighting visitors with their spectacular structures since 2011, with locations across the country in Colorado, Utah, Minnesota and New Hampshire. A literal Winter wonderland, each Ice Castles location is created by hand, one ice crystal at a time. Whether you visit during the day, when the ice shines blue and twinkles in the sunlight, or in the evening when the castle walls are lit by colorful LED lights, a visit to Ice Castles is a magical experience.

Visiting Ice Castles truly is an immersive experience. Not only are the ice structures a wonder to behold, the walls hold interactive fun including multiple ice slides (for visitors big and small), caverns and tunnels to wander through, an ice throne, ice sculptures, photo opportunities galore, and a network of tunnels that kids are sure to love crawling through. 

Visiting Ice Castles requires a timed entry ticket, but once you enter you’re able to stay for as long as you like. My favorite time of day to visit is around 3pm to 4pm. At this time of day you’ll get the chance to experience Ice Castles during daylight and as the sun starts to set. If you can handle the cold, you can even stay long enough to see the full spectacle of the colorful LED lights as they shine of the ice against the dark sky.

This year, Ice Castles features an ice bar complete with wintry themed cocktails and spiked hot chocolates. For non-alcoholic beverages and tasty snacks a food truck is located within the castle walls. You’ll also find fire pits in this area. We bought ourselves hot chocolates and warm mini donuts as the sun set and took a break to warm up by one of the fire pits.

Now for all the information you’ll need to know to visit…

Ice Castles Colorado locations can be found at 339 Irene Avenue, Cripple Creek and 794 Fairgrounds Road, Eagle.

As of now, Ice Castles will be open through late February, but this may be extended depending on the weather. If it stays cold enough it may be extended into March, but I'd plan on going sooner rather than later just in case.

Timed entry tickets can be purchased in advance at www.icecastles.com. Walk ups may be available, but I definitely recommend booking in advance to avoid any disappointment. Tickets are $29.00 for adults (ages 12+) and $23.00 for kids (ages 4 - 11) during peak times. Peak times include Fridays through Saturdays, public holidays and Winter breaks. Off peak tickets are a little cheaper at $21.00 for adults and $16.00 for kids. Off peak times include Wednesdays and Thursdays. Kids ages 3 and under are admitted free of charge.   

Save 15% on tickets with my discount code HICCUPS15.

As you can probably imagine, the ice is pretty chilly, so you'll definitely want to rug up with layers, a warm jacket, beanie, and gloves etc. Snow pants are a great option, but if you're like me and prefer to wear dresses/skirts then these fleece tights are good too. Make sure to wear warm shoes with good grip. Disposable hand warmers and foot warmers are handy for a little extra warmth. 

Porta-potty restrooms are available just outside of the entry to Ice Castles. Re-entry is not permitted once you leave Ice Castles, but if you need to use the restroom during your visit speak to one of the staff members at the exit and they will help you out.

Strollers are not permitted, so if you are visiting with a baby or toddler consider using a baby carrier. You can also bring a small sled to use instead of a stroller - but keep in mind that sledding is not allowed. We used this small sled for Mathilde the first time we visited Ice Castles and it was very handy when she got too tired to walk.

Please respect the ice! I know it seems kind of obvious, but breaking icicles off the Ice Castles, punching holes in the ice walls, and licking the walls are all a no-no. 

If you plan on staying in the local area or just plan to eat dinner locally please be aware that most restaurants in Cripple Creek are located inside of casinos and limit guests to those ages 21+. We stayed overnight last year and only found two restaurants open in Cripple Creek that allowed children, both of which had very long waits due to limited staff and high demand, so please plan accordingly and bring plenty of snacks

For more information visit https://icecastles.com/.

Thanks to Ice Castles for hosting our visit!