Top 2 Ice Climbing Walls in Colorado

Of all the winter activities in Colorado, ice climbing lands on the lesser known end of the list. That doesn’t mean there is not a lot to offer, you’ll just need to know where to go. To help get you started, we found top 2 ice climbing destinations for all skill levels.

Ouray Colorado Ice Climbing

The Ouray Ice Park is a full on Ice Mecca and has been the largest man-made public ice climbing park in the world since 1994. It’s free to the public and each year they welcome thousands of climbers.

Every November the ice wall is “farmed” using excess water from the Ouray’s water supply tank followed by an intricate plumbing system and 250 garden shower heads. The system is gravity fed and requires no added pumps. Building this in a cold shady gorge allows for a giant ice wall to form with over 150 different climbing routes. Check their website for opening times, as of now, they are aiming for mid-December.

Each year, Ouray hosts their annual Ice festival. A 3-day event where people of all skill levels can come and advance their climbing knowledge or check out the latest climbing gear. The festival is held every January and this year it’s going to be held between 19th-22nd, 2023.

If you are exploring the Ouray area, you may want to check out our list of top snowmobiling in Colorado.

Lake City Colorado Ice Climbing

Lake City Ice Park is a great option for anyone looking for smaller crowds that the Ouray park can draw, or someone just looking for new routes. This is also a free park, but built on BLM land. Here you can explore their over 40 routes that offer 60 to 110+ foot pitches. The wall is open between December and March.

If you are more experienced and want a more natural climb, check out the nearby Sherman Falls, a backcountry waterfall that freezes in winter months.

Check out the Lake City Ice Climbing festival where you can watch men and women compete in the Top Rope Speed Climb competition, explore the many food and gear vendors, or try your own hand at some ice climbing.

Basic Equipment For Ice Climbing

• Mountaineering Boots
• Technical Crampons
• Ice Tools
• Climbing Helmet
• Climbing Harness with Ice Clippers
• >30L Backpack
• Belay Device and Locking Carabiner

Before going climbing, it’s important to know the risks of what you’re getting into and to be properly trained or with a trained guide company.