The Ouray Ice Park - Extreme Fun for All

February 25 2010 by Casey Bower

ouray-ice-park-wr.jpgIf wearing blades on your shoes and swinging two axes as you climb frozen waterfalls and vertical walls of ice sounds fun read on... oh yeah, don't worry that the one rope that is protecting your life is right in the path of the very blades you yield.

If you are still reading, congratulations and welcome to the world of ice climbing. The word extreme doesn't do justice to this sport, but the truth is, it is very possible to be safe, have fun, and enjoy the thrill that can be had from scaling the temporary vertical playgrounds that winter annually produces.

If you have never been ice climbing but always wanted to know more about this elite sport, here is a great place to "break your boots in." (Just be warned, this is an extremely addictive activity with only one cure, more climbing.)

Ouray Ice Park, Ouray Colorado:
A playground of ice- Climb anything from super easy terrain to the super human insane. There is enough climbing in this park to wear out even the most seasoned of climbers, and when you are tired, head to one of the more extreme overhung lead areas and watch the veterans for some added inspiration.

Make sure when you go to hire a guide, it will make for a safe outing, and you will get in much more climbing than if you try to "go it alone." Guides have the training it takes to teach you the correct basics and make sure that you get a sound foundation and introduction to the sport.

Before you go, brush up on your lingo, Ice climbers rate each climb with a short abbreviation such as WI6, or M4. These indicate the difficulty of the climb and also what you can expect along the way, for instance, when you see "M" you can know that the climb will be a mix of both rock and ice. If you see "WI" you know that you will be climbing on "water made ice." Get familiar with the difficulty scale and rankings so that you know what you are about to face when you start up each climb (here is a good place to start) . Once you get familiar with these ratings you can take a look at the Ice Park guide map and start to get an idea of where you will want to start. After you have a few climbs under your belt you will have a good idea of what difficulty you are able to climb, and you can use this guide map to find any/all other climbs in the park that are within your range.

One more bonus of the Ouray Ice Park is the Ouray Ice Festival. Each year, in early January, the ice park hosts this grand event where you can be sure to find something for everyone.


  • Professional athletes, competing on the toughest terrain for all to watch.

  • Clinics and seminars for all to take part in.

  • Products and brands unveiling the latest technologies in the sport.

  • Auctions, slide shows, dinners, parties and nightly activities


Here are two videos of the ice fest to get you pumped... One of a beginner who had never ice climbed before attending the festival, and the other, of a pro who ends his climb by slinging his feet though his axes and hanging like a bat from the top!

I hope you have a great time if you end up at the ice park! Leave me a comment below and let me know how it goes.

If you need a place to stay during your ice climbing adventure, check out the Best Western Twin Peaks Lodge & Hot Springs. You will have everything you could want at the day's end, pillow top mattresses, natural hot springs and other tons of other great amenities not to mention being only a few minutes from the ice park!

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