Ice climbers dangle on lines along the mile-long cascade of ice sheathing the Uncompahgre River Canyon in Ouray, Colorado. Ice climbing is one of the most popular sports in this remote town located in southwestern Colorado's San Juan Mountains, nicknamed Little Switzerland because the steep mountains resemble parts of the Alps. The annual Ouray Ice Festival lures the best ice climbers in the world every January, but throughout the winter both experts and novices come here to the world's first ice park.
The ice climbing park extends from just inside city limits to more than a mile into the steep canyon. Early winter, when it's cold enough for water to freeze, locals turn on faucets set along the canyon's rim and the water dripping downward freezes. When the ice sheet is thick enough in the cracks and crevices that form tricky routes with names such as "Evil has no boundaries" and Verminator," many of the world's best climbers arrive.
Learn Ice Climbing From Pros
While there's international focus on the ice climbing festival, when there are dozens of interactive clinics led by internationally known climbers, throughout the year there are clinics for locals and visitors. One section of the wall is set up to teach youngsters.
The ice park is on a combination of land that's owned by the town, Forest Service land and Bureau of Land Management land, and there's no cost to ice climb here. But, the philosophy is definitely "Use at your own risk." The park and the annual festival are run by volunteers who live in Ouray.
Ouray Ice Festival
The three-day Ouray Ice Festival every January is a spectator event, as well as one of the most popular ice-climbing events in the world. During the festival, the competitors must climb sections of the canyon where challenges that have been created to test their skills.
Wintertime in Ouray, Colorado
After a day of ice climbing, cross country skiing or snowmobiling in the mountains that rise above town, or even driving over the pass to ski in Telluride, visitors head for one of the natural mineral hot springs to soak sore muscles. A few of the hotels have their own hot springs-fed pools, but there's a big town-owned pool complex with sections for swimming, a water slide and a shallow area for youngsters.
Summertime in Ouray, Colorado
Ouray is packed with hikers and travelers in the summertime because there are great hiking and mountain biking trails leading right from town, jeep trips up a narrow cliff-clinging road leading to Yankee Basin and some ghost towns, and trails for ATV rides.
Contacts for Ice Climbing and Visiting Ouray, Colorado
For more information visit
Ouray Ice Park. For more information about visiting the region contact the
Ouray Visitors Center or call 800/228-1876.
