Ouray Via Ferrata
The Ouray Via Ferrata is Colorado’s newest adventure route, completed in spring 2020. The route travels an engaging and varied climbing course above the river and along the cliffs of the famed Uncompahgre Gorge. Mountain Trip is pleased to be the only Telluride-based guide service permitted to offer trips on both the Ouray Via Ferrata and the Telluride Via Ferrata.
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The Downstream Route
Utilizing both natural features and European-style amendments, including the 75-foot “Skybridge” (the first ladder-bridge of its kind in North America), on the Ouray Via Ferrata climbers spend essentially the entire route hanging from iron rungs while attached to a cable for protection, with movement constantly varying between vertical and horizontal terrain. The Ouray Via Ferrata now has two separate routes, and we most frequently guide the Downstream Route.
The route is directly across from the Ouray Ice Park, a world-class ice climbing attraction in the winter. The brainchild of passionate local climbers, the Ouray Via Ferrata was built in conjunction with savvy engineers and designers. Each element of the route has been meticulously tested and built to high international via ferrata standards, while also being fun and imaginative.
The Upstream Route
If you’re looking for an added challenge, the new Upstream Route of the Ouray Via Ferrata provides just that. A more climbing than traversing focused route, this climb offers fewer rungs and more natural rock features. Rock climbing experience or previous experience on the Downstream Route of the Ouray Via Ferrata is required for this trip. Check out the specifics by visiting the Ouray Via Ferrata website.
Ouray vs. Telluride
There are more than 1,500 different via ferrata routes across North America, and we’re lucky to host two of them in the beautiful San Juan Mountains. For those who have enjoyed the Telluride Via Ferrata, you’ll find the Ouray Via Ferrata to be a complimentary, but different, adventure. While the Telluride route gains elevation along the base of Ajax Peak high above the valley below, the Ouray Via Ferrata follows the course of the Uncompahgre River through a deep gorge, sometimes only a couple of feet above the sluicing rapids. While Telluride maintains the feeling of an adrenaline-laced, assisted airy traverse, the Ouray route feels more “physical”—more like a proper rock climb than an exposed hike.
On the Fletcher/Smith Italian Via Ferrata Rating scale, the Ouray Via Ferrata is rated as 4b, which means the route can be technical and physically challenging. The upstream route is rated 4.5b. By comparison, the 2b rated Telluride Via Ferrata has much more intimidating exposure, while the Ouray Via Ferrata has more actual climbing on rungs. But we’ll let you make the comparisons yourself!
The route, in length, travels only approximately 0.8 miles along the canyon wall, but typically takes between 3-4 hours to complete, and perhaps longer for larger groups.
The Details
Managed by Friends of the Ouray Via Ferrata and owned by the town of Ouray, the route was made possible by donations. The route is managed by a daily Via Ferrata Ranger, who helps check people into the route, ensures that everyone has the proper gear, and completes the route from south to north in one direction. Access is closed at the end of public daily hours.
Certain groups may require a greater guide ratio to be compliant with the Ouray Via Ferrata. Route regulations also mention that participants should have a 62-inch reach, and that those under 85 pounds and greater than 265 pounds may need an additional belay for the vertical climbing sections of the route. The route mandates the use of a proper climbing harness, helmet, via ferrata-specific load-limiting lanyard attachment (provided by Mountain Trip), gloves and proper footwear. We suggest that participants bring along a daypack to carry water and snacks to last you the duration of the trip, a rain jacket (just in case!) and a camera to capture special moments along the way.
Check out the Telluride Via Ferrata for another way to take in the splendor of San Juan high country from above.
Please Note: We ask that those with minors under 16 years of age book a private trip. Please let us know if anyone in your group is under 85 pounds or over 265 pounds, as via ferrata lanyards require certain considerations be taken for folks outside that weight range. Additionally, open Ouray Via Ferrata trips require at least three people to be signed up by the day before departure for the trip to run. In the case we don’t, you will have the opportunity to upgrade to a private trip should you still wish to attend.
If you have questions, please contact the Mountain Trip office at [email protected] or (970) 369-1153.
