Ice Climb the Ouray Ice Park

Over a mile of the Uncompahgre Gorge is farmed for ice every year and they have gotten very good at it!! The ice park begins at the southern edge of town and continues south through the gorge for approximately 1 mile. The ice park is typically open from mid December-late March.

If you enjoy getting your crampons and ice tools out every winter then you will love the Ouray Ice Park! Some areas can be quite crowded, especially during weekends, but many areas remain uncrowded if you are willing to walk upstream. If you are unsure of climbing there are also many viewing areas where you can watch the climbers give it there all on the ice.

Those that have ice climbed understand how intense and ultimately rewarding an activity it can be! For those who have not yet experienced it, do yourself a favor and give it a shot! It can be cold, humbling, difficult, intense, numbing, but ultimately very rewarding. There's something very special about hearing the ice pick make solid contact with ice and start kicking your way up with crampons. When done correctly it can look like a vertical dance on ice and that's just cool!

Disclaimer-this is not meant to teach you to ice climb, if you are unsure of your abilities/gear please consult guides and professionals for guidance. Also check out http://ourayicepark.com for more information