ABOUT US
Our Mission
Ouray Ice Park, Inc. creates and operates a world-class ice climbing park that inspires and enhances the lives of the communities we serve.
Nestled in the magnificent Uncompahgre Gorge just outside Ouray, Colorado, the Ouray Ice Park has been the world's premier man-made ice climbing venue since 1994. Each winter, we welcome thousands of climbers from across the globe to experience our world-class climbing, which features over 200 ice and mixed routes spanning nearly two miles of the canyon. This unparalleled scale and quality have earned us the title of the ice climbing capital of the world.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Ouray Ice Park, Inc. is dedicated to keeping this incredible resource free and accessible to the public. To cover our annual operating costs, we rely on a combination of donations, memberships, corporate sponsorships, and events. The cornerstone of this effort is our largest fundraiser, the annual Ouray Ice Festival and Competition, held every January.
The park is powered by the community it serves. If you value this unique resource, please consider supporting our mission. You can become a member to enjoy exclusive benefits or make a donation today to help us keep the ice forming for years to come.
How We FARM ICE
The magic of the Ouray Ice Park begins with a simple yet ingenious recipe. We take the excess water from the City of Ouray’s spring-fed supply, channel it through a clever network of irrigation pipes, and disperse it through hundreds of ordinary garden shower heads. This entire system is set within the perfect natural canvas: the deep, cold, and shady Uncompahgre Gorge.
Each November, our dedicated "Ice Farmers" begin their craft. Night after night, they meticulously spray water down the canyon walls, cultivating awe-inspiring curtains of ice. This nightly ritual transforms nearly two miles of the gorge into a world-class winter playground, offering adventurers over 150 man-made ice and mixed climbs, 11 distinct climbing areas, and three miles of vertical terrain.
WATER SOURCE
Overflow from the City of Ouray water supply tank 0.25 mile to the west
GRAVITY FED SYSTEM
No pumps, no motors
WATER PRESSURE
Incoming water pressure is 100-150 psi; pressure on the other side of the pressure-reducing valve is 50 psi
LINEAR FEET OF IRRIGATION PIPE
7,500 feet throughout the Park
TYPE OF PIPE
Certa-lok yelomine
WATER SUPPLY
250 shower heads
AVERAGE FLOW RATE PER SHOWER HEAD
2 gallons per minute
TYPICAL WATER PRESSURE
30 psi at the South Park climbing area (farthest upstream point)
NUMBER OF GALLONS PER NIGHT
150,000–200,000 gallons
LENGTH OF PARK
Approximately 1.7 miles
CUMULATIVE VERTICAL CLIMBING TERRAIN
More than 3 miles
HIGHEST ROUTE
Pic O’ Vic at almost 150 feet high
The Ouray Ice Park Team
The Ouray Ice Park is brought to life each winter by a small, dedicated team. Our operation is powered by a year-round staff, guided by a committed Board of Directors, and supported by a team of passionate seasonal volunteers.
Our staff is divided into key roles:
Ice Farmers & Rangers: The Ice Farmers build and meticulously maintain the park's ice formations and critical infrastructure. Our Rangers ensure a safe environment for all visitors, enforce park regulations, and gather important visitor data
Administrative Team: This team works year-round to manage operations, events, and secure the funding necessary to open our gates every winter. It consists of our Executive Director and a very small team of supporting members that manage events and accessibility
The Board: The board is a guiding light that provides crucial insight in which direction the ice park should go. They are in place as a check-n-balance to the decisions the admin team makes
Interested in joining our mission-driven team? View our current job postings.
The Ouray Ice Festival
Our annual Ouray Ice Festival spans three days and four nights every January, transforming the town of Ouray into an ice climbing mecca with people from around the world gathering to celebrate the growing sport of ice climbing and helping us raise funding for our operations.
During the day, you can find yourself in a climbing clinic being taught by elite athletes from all over the world. You can wander into the Vendor Village and demo gear from all sorts of outdoor brands. You can even stand on the Lower Bridge and watch our mixed climbing competition in the Scottish Gullies.
At night, Fest-goers head into downtown Ouray for presentations and movies from some of the best climbers in the world. We even have a huge dance party every Saturday night, the Petzl Party, which has a reputation of its own.
The best part? Every dollar made during our annual Ouray Ice Festival goes directly to funding the operational costs of the Ouray Ice Park so we can continue to build a world-class ice climbing park every year that is free and open to the public!
Interested in attending? Click here to learn more!
