
Ouray Ice Park
Experience one of the Premier Ice Climbing venues in the World!
From mid-December through late-March Ouray is full of climbing activity and good cheer. Jim Donini, former president of the American Alpine Club, calls the Ouray Ice Park “the best venue in the world to develop ice-climbing skills,” and it’s easy to see why. A manmade ice climbing venue operated in a spectacular natural gorge. The Ice Park is home to more than 200 ice and mixed climbs, most within a 15-30 minute walk from downtown Ouray.
The Park is an engineering marvel, utilizing a gravity-fed plumbing system that routes more than 150,000 gallons of water a night to “farm” and maintain the famous blue ice. The Park and its infrastructure are jointly owned and managed by the nonprofit Ouray Ice Park, Inc. (OIPI), the City of Ouray, and a mix of other private and public landowners.
The Park is funded by your Membership! Learn more about the benefits of becoming a Member of the Ouray Ice Park on our website. Many of our Local Business Partners, who also support and help fund the Park, offer members a discount during the season.
In addition to the support of the community, and you, the climbers, each winter OIPI hosts the Ouray Ice Festival to celebrate the Park and raise funds for its operation. Despite the high cost of its maintenance, the Park remains free and open for public use.
Carpooling is recommended as parking is limited. Arrive early to secure the best spots! To keep things fair for all climbers, no parking or loading is available by the Park entrance.
Adults and Guides are required to yield to children at all times. Visit our website to check out Park Rules & FAQs.
Gear Rental is available locally. Learn more at: ourayicepark.com/gear-rental
If you are new to the sport, you can hire an experienced local guide or attend one of the many seasonal clinics that have something for every group from beginner to expert, kid to adult, able-bodied to amputee.
Video & Photo Credit: Aaron Carrion, Aaron Wilcox, Brook Hayer, Dan Dalton, John LaGuardia, Scott Walker, Shredded Elements Photography and The Guide Guru. - All of which were volunteers at the 2019 Ouray Ice Fest!
