Ice Castles in Lincoln NH: All You Need to Know

Do you want to discover a winter fairytale in New England? In this post, I share the ultimate guide to a weekend trip to Ice Castles in Lincoln, New Hampshire.

This attraction is perfect for families with kids looking for an unforgettable winter adventure. Below, find out everything you need to know about your visit, including where to stay, what to do, and where to eat.

NH Ice Castles are open seasonally and offer fun mazes, slides, sculptures, fountains, sleigh rides, and a forest trail with LED lights.

A Little Story Behind Ice Castles

Ice Castles originated in Utah in 2011 when Brent Christensen, a father of six, came up with the idea. One day, Brent decided to build an ice structure to entertain his children outside the home.

His invention was a hit among his children and all over the neighborhood kids. They would all come together to play in a new invention called “Ice Castles.” This is how the name and idea came to life. Isn’t it fabulous?!!

Currently, the Ice Castles attract thousands of visitors annually and bring beautiful memories and adventures to many families, including ours.

You can visit Ice Castles in 4 different locations in the USA

  1. New Hampshire
  2. Utah
  3. Wisconsin
  4. Colorado
  5. New York (New!)

How Ice Castles Are Made

Making Ice Castles takes up to 2 months. Brent Christensen remains the leading Artist who designs new, unique castles every year, along with 20-40 additional ice artisans who hand-make around 12,000 icicles daily. No wonder the experience you will get is so unique and beautiful.

mom showing ice castles to her son

But this is not all! Artists also installed LED lights inside the ice structures, fountains, and a nearby trail. They all light up during the evening hours, and everything becomes bright and colorful.

We could not purchase day and evening tickets because of the limited admission. However, you won’t be disappointed if you are lucky and get both one day. Just make sure you are well prepared for a long, cold day.

Ice Castles in NH: Tickets

Always refer to their website to purchase tickets for Ice Castles in New Hampshire or other locations.

While you can buy stand-alone tickets when you arrive there, I would not recommend risking it. You may be disappointed, as tickets generally sell out ahead of time. Besides, onsite tickets are subject to higher rates.

You may purchase tickets during the daytime, the evenings, or both. Each provides a unique visual experience.

people lined up in the Ice Castles Entrance in Lincoln NH
Ice Castles NH Entrance

To guarantee yourself a ticket, purchase your desired time slot online. It is okay to arrive slightly earlier than your time slot, but beware not to be too late.

When to Visit Ice Castles in Lincoln, New Hampshire

The exact opening and closing dates of Ice Castles depend on the weather. For apparent reasons, they usually open when it starts to get colder. The 2022 season is expected to open on January 14th.

NH Ice Castles open at the End of December or Early January and stay open until late February or early March.

woman in cream sweater, uggs, and hat facing ice wall looking at the ice walls

For more accurate dates, check their website regularly and sign up for their newsletter. Once it opens to the public, tickets go quickly.

We would have gotten night tickets if we had signed up for a newsletter. I hope you can plan the trip better than we managed.

How to Dress At Ice Castles

You should dress warmly. This is another essential thing you must do besides tracking and purchasing the tickets.

Consider wearing thermal warmers underneath layers. These warmers keep a warm body temperature much better than regular clothes.

mom and son near ice castles entrance

Wear waterproof boots. There is a lot of snow on the ground, and the last thing you want is to get your shoes wet.

I removed my jacket and accessories for only a few minutes. Otherwise, I was all bundled up. The temperature inside the Ice Castles is a few degrees cooler than outside, as the place is entirely immersed in ice.

You can warm up near the fire pits if you get too cold.

father and son standing near fire pits inside the NH Ice Catles looking at it

What to do in Ice Castles, NH

Have fun! The caves, mazes, and slides are for everyone. Enjoy your little child in yourself and explore frozen adventures.

Take Photos. Try to capture as much of this beautiful place as possible with your camera. You will not regret capturing these moments.

Bird houses inside the Ice Castles Forest

Explore a forest trail. The 1/4-mile enchanted trail is arranged with lights, music, and magical vibes. Although we visited during the day, we could still see twinkling lights around the track. It’s a true fairytale.

Trees decorated with lights inside the ice castles NH

Sign up for a sleigh ride. A 15-minute Horse-drawn sleight ride is another way to get the most out of the trip. Get more details below.

Ice Castle Sleight Rides

A horse-drawn sleigh ride is a bonus when visiting the Ice Castles in NH. Tickets to sleigh rides are purchased in addition to the general admission fee.

You can add it during your checkout. Dates and times may vary. If you have already purchased the tickets and want to add the sleigh ride, I recommend buying them online through their website.

Purchasing them on site may work—that is how we did it. But we were lucky to get the tickets as the rides were almost entirely sold out.

horse drawn sleigh ride

Sleight rides last approximately 15 minutes. They take you through the woods around the castles. It is a breathtaking and peaceful experience, and our toddler loved it as well.

Besides visiting the main attraction for the weekend, there are other fun things to do in Lincoln, NH, in winter. I recommend staying at least two nights in the area.

Hotels Near the Ice Castles in Lincoln, New Hampshire

When you are planning a visit to NH Ice Castles, try to find hotels nearby. Both are only minutes away. If you need some ideas about other attractions in the area, below are my top recommendations.

1. Riverwalk Resort at Loon Mountain

If you want an upscale family resort in Lincoln, NH, consider Riverwalk Resort at Loon Mountain. We did not stay here overnight but toured the property during the day.

Riverwalk Resort is a luxury family resort. It is located only 7 minutes away from Ice castles.

Because of its ideal location in the White Mountains, tourists can enjoy all winter activities such as skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobile, cross-country skiing, and snow tubing.

In addition, the resort offers an ice staking rink in its backyards during the winter months, surrounded by a heated pool and fire pits. It is undoubtedly a perfect little escape for the family.

mom and son standing in front of a family friendly resort near ice Castles Lincoln, NH.
Riverwalk Resort NH

If you are not looking for any winter activities, the resort offers a game room for the whole family, a day spa, an inside resort winery, and Italian cuisine.

outdoor heated pool in Riverwalk resort.
Outdoor Heated Pool in Riverwalk Resort

2. InnSeason Resorts Pollard Brook

If you are looking for a slightly more budget-friendly, stay but a very family-friendly resort, Inn Season Resorts Pollard Brook is another option to consider when visiting Ice Castles in New Hampshire.

Huge rooms equipped with a kitchen. In addition to massive rooms, there are many options for kids and families to enjoy on your short stay here, including the game room, gym, pool, and a heated jacuzzi.

Most importantly, this resort is only a few minutes from NH Ice Castles. We spent two nights here.

There are no onsite restaurants at the Riverwalk Resort. However, there are a few excellent spots nearby where you can eat. I am listing our favorites below.

indoor pool in resort near ice castles
Indoor Pool in Inn Season Resorts Pollard Brook
game room in  Innseasonresorts Pollard Brook
Game room in Inn Season Resorts Pollard Brook

Restaurants Near Ice Castles NH

Here are some of the best options to eat near Lincoln, New Hampshire, during your weekend trip to ice castles:

  1. White Mountain Bagel Company is a good option if you are looking for quick bagels and refreshments on the go.
  2. Woodstock Inn Brewery: This local restaurant is trendy in town. Expect a bit of a wait line, but it is totally worth it. The food was exactly what we needed after a long wintery adventure. Besides, they have a kid menu and plenty of options. The place is super casual and loud, so if you are traveling with kids, this is the place for wild little humans.
  3. Flapsjack Pancake House is considered the most popular breakfast place in the area. It is first come, first served. We recommend getting there as early as possible to avoid long lines. I definitely recommend it if you want to start a day with a good country-style breakfast.
burger and fries on the plate
Woodstock Inn Brewery
pancakes lined up on each other with some butter on it
Flapjack Pancake House

Have you ever been to NH Ice Castles or any other locations? How was your experience? Leave comments and let me know if you have additional questions regarding our weekend trip.

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