FAQ
Q: When does the ouray Ice Park open for the season?
A: Both the opening and closing dates are weather dependent. Typically the Ice Park will open in mid to late December and close in mid-March. Please visit our Conditions page for regular updates.
Q: What are the Ice Park's operating hours?
A: Climbing hours are Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and Saturday - Sunday 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Q: When is the best time to visit the Park?
A: We realize that the uncertainty of when the park opens and closes makes travel plans difficult. If you are traveling from out of town, we recommend that you plan your visit between January and February (travel tip: visit midweek and you'll have the park to yourself).
Q: What does it cost to climb at the Ouray Ice Park?
A: The Ouray Ice Park is a free recreational venue open for public use and run by the nonprofit organization, Ouray Ice Park, Inc. Please consider becoming a member or making a donation and help us continue to keep the park free for years to come!
Q: Where can I purchase an Ice Park Membership?
A: The best place to purchase a membership is here! The Ice Park’s very existence depends on donations and membership to operate. Your membership not only helps us make ice, but also helps us expand terrain, maintain anchors and improve operational efficiencies, to ensure that you have a world class venue to climb in. Not to mention Ice Park members get some pretty awesome perks!
Q: What kind of equipment do I need to climb in the Park?
A: Climbers are required to wear crampons and a helmet at all times while in park climbing areas. Additional equipment needed to climb are rope, anchor materials, harness, ice axes, and warm clothes.
Q: Does the Ice Park rent gear?
A: Nope, vendors that rent equipment are: Ouray Mountain Sports, Peak Mountain Guides, San Juan Mountain Guides, and Basecamp Ouray. Please reach out to them directly.
Q: What are the rules for climbing in the Ouray Ice Park?
A: Please visit our Rules Page for general rules and climbing etiquette while in the park. We have full-time Rangers on staff who help enforce these rules so please be respectful and follow their instructions.
Q: Can I schedule an ice climbing class?
A: Sorry! The Ice Park does not offer any classes or clinics. For Information pertaining to these inquiries please visit our Guide Services Page. For Ouray Ice Festival clinics, please click here for more information as these clinics are also run by commercial guiding operators, and not the Ouray Ice Park itself.
Q: Is there a minimum age to climb at the Ouray Ice Park?
A: There is no minimum age to be in the Park, as long as everyone is wearing crampons and a helmet. But kids do need to be supervised to be safe, and parents need to fill out a waiver here. If you are looking into hiring guides, you will need to find our the guide services minimum age to participate.
Q: What is Dick’s Chalet?
A: The little warming hut at the upper bridge! Stop in seven days a week while the park is open to grab a hot drink or some merchandise, sign up for a membership, and make a donation!
Q: What is the Lead Only Area?
A: The Lead Only Area is located on both sides of the Upper Bridge and is well defined by signs and orange poly rope. In this area of the park only lead climbing is allowed. There is no top-roping or rope-soloing permitted within the lead only area.
Q: What is the access to the bottom of the gorge like?
A: In some areas we have canyon access points where, with crampons and a helmet, climbers can descend and ascend a series of fixed ropes and stairs. Other areas, such as the Upper Bridge Area and the Lead Only Area are only accessible by either lowering or rappelling in to the canyon and climbing ice to get back to the canyon rim.
Q: Is there camping and/or overnight parking available during the winter?
A: Please contact the Ouray Chamber of Commerce for information pertaining to camping and overnight parking. And don’t forget, Ouray Ice Park members get discounts at local lodgings!
Q: Can the Ice Park connect me with a climbing partner?
A: Yes! Check out the Ouray Ice Park Resource Hub on Facebook. There you can find climbing partners, rideshares, and climbing gear for sale.
Q: I’m driving to Ouray, will I need a 4 wheel drive vehicle?
A: We recommend that you have a minimum of winter snow tires on your vehicle.
Q: Where can I seek and drop off lost & found items?
A: All lost and found items from the Ouray Ice Park are taken to Ouray Mountain Sports located on Main Street.
Q: Where does the Ouray Ice Park water supply come from?
A: The water we use to the farm the ice at the Park is the runoff, and some of the stored water from the two 500,000 gallon tanks that store the city water supply. These tanks are filled and replenished from the Weehawken Spring up County Road 361. The water is gravity fed to the park from the city water tanks where it reaches a vault near the Kid's Wall. From the vault it is distributed south and north throughout the Park in 2" and 4" yelomine. The very large black pipe, or Penstock has nothing to do with the parks water supply, but instead transports water from a dam south of the park to a hydro facility north of the park. The Penstock still plays a crucial role in keeping water out of the bottom of the gorge during the season which makes it much more accessible and safe.
In 2022, we began a million-dollar capital campaign to create our own independent water source that we hope to have online by winter 2023. Click below to learn more and support the campaign!
Q: What is the Ouray Ice Festival?
A: It is our largest fundraising event of the year! Every January, for three days and four nights, the town of Ouray transforms into an ice climbing mecca. Ice climbers, both novice and pro, travel from around the world to celebrate the growing sport of ice climbing and help us raise funds to keep the park free and open to the public.
During the day, Festival attendees have the opportunity to demo the latest ice tools, apparel, and gear from the outdoor industry’s leading retailers at our vendor exhibitions. At the top of the Gorge, hundreds of spectators line up to watch the world’s best ice and mixed climbing talent battle for the prize in both Elite Mixed and Speed Climbing competitions. And, with over 100 interactive and educational climbing clinics to accommodate every skill level, festival participants are sure to have an experience to remember. At night, various venues open their doors to host multimedia presentations by leading climbers with music, dance parties, and auctions overflowing with screaming deals on the latest outdoor gear! To make this event possible, over 160 volunteers from all over the country come to Ouray to help bring this festival to life!
The best part? Every dollar made during the 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!
Q: What is the Memorial?
In June, 2006, Sue Nott and Karen McNeill perished on Mt. Foraker attempting the Infinite Spur. Sue and Karen were both active alpinists, sponsored climbers, and Ice Festival athletes. Sue’s primary sponsor, Marmot, approached the Ouray Ice Park about putting some sort of memorial together for Sue and Karen within the Park. Marmot and other sponsors worked with the Park to provide seed capital and fundraise. The rest was raised via a Reverse Auction conducted by Mike Gibbs and Malcolm Daly during the January 2007 Ouray Ice Festival closing event. Part of the funds raised would erect a memorial at the Upper Bridge to honor Sue and Karen.
Per the original idea along with the Board of Directors directive, the following policies were put into place regarding the Memorial:
o The Memorial is to be specifically reserved for individuals (deceased) who made an exceptionally positive lasting and meaningful impact on the Ouray Ice Park and/or Ouray Ice Festival. It has been decided from the beginning that it is not to be a “famous climber memorial” or for people who simply patronized and enjoyed climbing in the Ouray Ice Park. Climbers included must have played a significant role in benefitting the Ice Park and/or Ice Fest to be considered for memorialization here.
o Requests for an individual to be added to the Memorial must be submitted to the Ice Park via info@ourayicepark.com. Information to include is the individual's full name and their contribution to the Ouray Ice Park and/or Ouray Ice Festival. Requests will be reviewed by the Ouray Ice Park Board of Directors.
o Many requests over the years have been made to have climbers included who have not met the above criteria. The Ouray Ice Park Board of Directors has never deviated from the aforementioned criteria, nor do they plan to in the future.