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. During the day, Festival attendees have the opportunity to demo the latest ice tools, apparel, and gear from the Outdoor industries 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 Ice Festival goes directly to funding the operating costs of Ouray Ice Park, Incorporated, so we can keep the Ouray Ice Park open and free to the public every season.