Welcome to the Ouray Ice Park!
Introduction
The Uncompahgre Gorge Recreation Area and the Ouray Ice Park starts at 3rd Avenue & Box Canyon Falls Road, extends south to County Road 361 then along the west side of gorge up to 100 feet south of the Ouray Hydroelectric Power Plant dam. The dam is specifically excluded.
Use of this recreation area is granted with permission by Federal Agencies, the County of Ouray, the City of Ouray, and private landowners. No person shall be denied access to this area on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, age or handicap.
Your continued use and enjoyment is conditioned on the following:
1. The permitted uses are: Hiking, Mountain Biking, Backcountry Skiing, & Rock & Ice Climbing. All other uses are specifically prohibited and violators will be prosecuted for trespass.
2. Their is no charge for your use and it is therefore subject to the Colorado public recreational use statute, CRS, 33-41-101, et seq, the Colorado landowner liability statute CRS, 13-21-115(1.5) The conservation easement provisions of CRS, 38-30.5-101, et seq. and the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act.
3. If you choose to use this recreation area you are voluntarily assuming the risks of known and unknown hazards that exists thereon including, but not limited to: steep unguarded cliffs; slippery surfaces; steep and unmaintained walkways, trails and roadways; loose and unstable rocks and ice, falling objects; and the conduct of other users.
4. Please respect the private and public ownership of this property and...
A. Act in a safe & reasonable manner.
B. Be courteous to other users.
C. Stay on existing trails and roadways.
D. Remove all trash & equipment
E. Climbers - Do not anchor to any metal or wooden objects constructed as part of the penstock system (large metal pipe).
Ouray Ice Park Rules & Regulations
Any Ouray Ice Park, Inc. (OIPI) employee or Board Member can enforce the following rules with support from the Ouray Police Department if necessary.
Crampons are required for all persons (climbers or otherwise) at all times in the established and posted “climber only” areas; this includes the bottom of the Gorge.
All persons under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult in the Ouray Ice Park. As of December 15th, 2019, all adults will be required to sign a waiver for each minor they accompany into the Park. Please email all completed copies to info@ourayicepark.com before accompanying minors into the Park.
Dogs must be leashed and not left unattended. No dogs will be allowed below the top of the gorge.
No anchoring to manmade structures including the penstock unless clearly labeled by yellow wand or tag.
All climbing must be on designated anchors established and defined by the Ouray Ice Park.
Ouray Ice Park hours are 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. on weekends and 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. on weekdays.
Only Ouray Ice Park, Inc. (OIPI) Ice Farmers shall adjust, turn off, or otherwise handle any part of the watering system - including pipes, valves, shower heads, or any other apparatus.
The maximum amount of time a group may occupy any one route is three hours.
A lead anchor must be established at the top of the climb before leading any route.
The Lead Only Area is for lead climbers and their followers only.
No climbing on closed routes or in closed areas.
Kids have ultimate priority to routes on the Kids' Wall. If any kids arrive and wish to climb there, you must yield your route to their climbing party, immediately.
Alcohol is NOT permitted within the Ouray Ice Park at any time.
Drones are NOT permitted in the Ouray Ice Park for climber safety. If you have a media request, please contact our Marketing Director Bayley Wood at bayleywood@ourayicepark.com.
BE COURTEOUS AND RESPECT YOUR FELLOW CLIMBERS!
Ouray Ice Park Etiquette
Just like on the ski slopes or your local biking and hiking trails, there are some basic steps you can take here at the Ouray Ice Park that will make your experience and that of everyone around you a better one that will be fair for all. Following the Ouray Ice Park rules is the perfect place to start!
The Ouray Ice Park closes at 4PM, seven days a week for ALL climbers. Please make sure you exit the Ice Park by 4PM. Water waits for no one!
There is no reserving of anchors and there are no unattended ropes allowed. Basically, if you are not climbing on a rope, or using an anchor, even for a couple of minutes, you should take it down so that others can enjoy that climb. Closed climbs and areas are closed for a reason, so please respect these closures at all times. Closed areas are clearly marked with bamboo, poly rope and signage.
Please set up only the number of routes you can efficiently use. For example, a party of two should only have one rope set up at a time. You should be moving onto a new route at least every three hours. If you are planning on leading a route, you should have the anchor at the top of that route occupied so other climbers know that you are below and climbing. If you see an anchor with no rope on it, there is a potential that someone is leading the route below it. Soloing is discouraged.
For your own safety, it is a good idea to always be alert and aware of climbers near you. Keep your head up, and never turn your back to the ice. Belayers should always position themselves in an area where they are out of the line of fire from falling ice. While you are climbing, whenever you knock loose a piece of ice you should be yelling "ICE!" to alert all of those around you to the potential danger, and never throw the ice to one side or the other. Instead, let it drop below you.
Knocking ice down for the sake of knocking it down is frowned upon. The ice farmers are working hard to build that ice and try and get it to connect to the rest of the climb. Another thing to keep in mind is the proximity of yourself to other climbers. If someone is way up on a route and your rope is nearby, you should probably wait until they return to the ground until you start your ascent to minimize the potential of you getting hit by their ice chunks. This is also true when a climber is down low on a route and you are in the same proximity as them, where you will be lowering from the top; wait until they get back up to avoid knocking ice down on them. Often times climbing side by side is a convenient way to address the previous two situations.
There are many different styles of climb, belaying and setting anchors. If someone is doing something different than you are used to, that doesn't mean it is wrong. If you are very concerned for their safety either contact the Ouray Ice Park staff or politely have a conversation with them.
Please use the outhouses and porta-potties to relieve yourself. If you do take a pee in the Park, kick some snow over it and do so away from the ice, anchors and any other Park infrastructure.
Smokers, please be aware of and respect those around you. There is no weed smoking allowed in the Park.
Parking is only allowed in town, at the turn on county road 361 between the rescue barn and the upper bridge, or at the large parking area located at the turn on U.S. Highway 550 across from the Five Fingers area. Drop-offs in any area other than the two parking lots are not allowed; the ice farmers and staff need this access. The only exception to this are for handicap access and with special permission from Park staff.
Membership Rules
EARLY ACCESS TO THE OURAY ICE PARK
Ouray Ice Park members for the '23-'24 climbing season will be able to access the park 30 minutes early, seven days per week beginning opening day through closing day this winter.
Members MUST check-in at the gate at Dick's Chalet with an Ice Park Ranger and show your digital membership card (that is emailed to you upon registration) in order to gain early access into the Ouray Ice Park.
If you did not receive a membership email with your digital membership card, please check your spam folder. If you still cannot find it, please email us at info@ourayicepark.com.
Membership operating hours for the '23-'24 season will be 7:30am - 4pm Monday through Friday, and 7am - 4pm Saturday and Sunday (this includes holidays).
Normal operating hours for non-members are 8am - 4pm, Monday through Friday, and 7:30am - 4pm, Saturday and Sunday.
Groups, Couples, Families: Every adult within your party must have a '23-'24 Ouray Ice Park membership in order to climb during membership hours. There are no group discounts.
Persons under the age of 18: Minors must be accompanied by an adult who is a current Ice Park member, but minors DO NOT need an Ice Park membership in order to climb during membership hours.
Guides: If you are a guide operating in the Ouray Ice Park, you must have a valid '23-'24 Ouray Ice Park Membership in order to bring your clients into the Ice Park during membership hours.
If you are climbing during membership hours without a current Ice Park membership, you will be asked to leave by an Ice Park Ranger and re-enter during our normal operating hours.
Ouray Ice Park Rules: Ouray Ice Park rules and etiquette still apply during membership hours. This includes:
The maximum amount of time a group may occupy any one route is three hours.
There is no reserving of anchors and there are no unattended ropes allowed.
No climbing on closed routes or in closed areas.
The Ouray Ice Park closes at 4PM, seven days a week for ALL climbers, regardless of membership. Please make sure you exit the Ice Park by 4PM. Water waits for no one!
ALL AMBASSADOR MEMBERS:
Early access to the ouray ice park ONE WEEK BEFORE WE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
We will send you a separate email in early December with more details, including the exact date early access will open for Ambassador-level members, conditions, rules, etc.
This benefit is condition-dependent. You will be required to follow all rules provided by our Ice Park Rangers that will be in the email we send you in December, or you will be asked to leave the Ice Park.
If you are climbing in the Ice Park during this 1-week early access window and you are NOT an Ambassador-level Ice Park member, you will be asked to leave by an Ice Park Ranger.
If you are an Ambassador-level member and your climbing partner is a Basic or Pro-level member, they WILL be permitted to climb with you during this 1-week early access window.
If you are a guide and you are an Ambassador-level Ice Park member, you may climb in the Ice Park during this 1-week early access window, but you may not commercially guide clients. All commercial guiding does not begin until we open to the public.
Banner Photo By: Adam Peters