The Ouray Via Ferrata is an exciting adventure for beginner and veteran climbers alike. This new climbing experience opened in Spring 2020 and is located in Ouray, Colorado, a town also known as the Switzerland of America! For beginners, a professionally guided climbing tour will take you to new heights within the scenic Uncompahgre River gorge. For experienced climbers, the Ouray Via Ferrata is a unique opportunity to climb self-guided and for free!
So what is a via ferrata? A via ferrata, meaning “iron way” in Italian, is a climbing route with steel cables and rungs fixed to a rock wall. Climbers attach themselves to the cables, which makes via ferrata routes a protected and accessible way to rock climb. During World War I, Italian armies used these types of routes to travel through the Dolomites. Today, via ferratas are built for recreational use and are gaining popularity in the United States, including Colorado.
Ouray Via Ferrata Climbing Route Details
The Ouray Via Ferrata traverses through a gorge teeming with waterfalls. At the beginning of the route, you’ll cross a cable bridge to reach the far side of the gorge.
The route traverses horizontally along the bottom of the gorge, then a series of rung ladders and upward climbing brings you high above the riverbed.
The climb continues past gentle waterfalls cascading down on the opposite side of the gorge.
A final cable bridge spans the gorge and leads to the end of the route.
The climb took us about 3 hours at a relaxed pace. The via ferrata route map is available at https://ourayviaferrata.org/.
Guided Trips
For inexperienced climbers, hiring a professional guide for the Ouray Via Ferrata is HIGHLY recommended. Guided trips are available with local guide services including San Juan Mountain Guides and Basecamp Bouldering, which are located right on Ouray’s Main Street. Mountain Trip in Telluride also provides guide services for the Ouray Via Ferrata. As experienced via ferrata climbers, Jordan and I didn’t use a guide, though the guides we saw while climbing were really knowledgeable and helpful with their groups. All of the climbers in the guided groups were having a blast!
Self-Guided Climbing (Experienced Climbers Only)
Colorado’s Ouray Via Ferrata is incredibly special in that it is free to the public. Unlike the via ferratas in Europe, most via ferratas in the U.S. are not free to the public and require a guided tour. For the Ouray Via Ferrata, experienced users with the proper equipment may climb self-guided. (Note: Inexperienced users should use a climbing guide service for safety reasons.)
The via ferrata in Telluride is another example of a route that is free to the public, however, the climb has several exposed areas where there are no cables to clip into. The Ouray Via Ferrata meets modern safety standards and has cables for climbers to clip into for safety from start to finish. If you are deciding between the Telluride and Ouray via ferratas for a self-guided climb, Ouray’s route is not to be missed!
Via Ferrata Equipment
All via ferrata climbers require a climbing harness, a via ferrata lanyard, a climbing helmet, gloves, and hiking shoes/boots. Professionally guided trips will typically provide the necessary equipment.
If you are an experienced climber and need rental gear, San Juan Mountain Guides provides gear rentals. We rented via ferrata lanyards from them for a great price.
Using the proper equipment is essential to safety – a non-climbing helmet or a homemade lanyard are not safe! Different helmet types are designed for different types of impacts so a climbing-specific helmet is required. A via ferrata lanyard is specially designed for energy absorption in the event of a fall on the cables so don’t DIY a rope safety system – just get a via ferrata lanyard.
How to Climb a Via Ferrata
For those that are new to via ferratas, it is nice to have an idea of how the clipping system works before your trip. Guides will provide an overview of how to use the equipment and stay safe as well.
The main rule of thumb for via ferrata climbing is to always stay attached to the steel cables. The via ferrata lanyard has two main carabiners, one at the end of each arm. Both carabiners should be clipped onto the steel cables at all times except when you reach the end of a cable section and need to transition to the next cable. At these transition points, one carabiner will always stay clipped as you transfer the other carabiner to the next cable. I like to use one hand when clipping to ensure I can only unclip one carabiner at a time.
Other Things to Do in Ouray
After climbing the Ouray Via Ferrata, stop by Ouray’s Main Street for a meal. The quaint mountain town is lined with novelty shops, restaurants with outdoor dining and live music, and stops for tasty treats. The Himalayan Winter Chai Milkshake from Mouse’s Chocolates & Coffee was the bomb.
If you’re ready for more adventure, you’re in the right place – take a drive along the scenic Million Dollar Highway, take a dip in the hot springs, or go on a 4WD off-road excursion in the San Juan Mountains. Ouray, Colorado is full of options for adventure.
For additional adventure destination ideas, head to our Colorado travel page.