Ouray Ice(less) Festival 2026

The 2026 Ouray Ice(less) Festival is ON!

Hey Ice Park Community,
The Ouray Ice Park is a collaboration between human effort and the natural world. We farm the ice, but nature provides the canvas.

This season, the temperatures have been uncharacteristically warm. We have been listening closely to the canyon, and right now, the ice simply isn't forming to a standard that is safe for climbing. Out of respect for the environment and for the safety of our climbers, we are cancelling on-ice climbing clinics for the 2026 Ouray Ice Festival and relaunching a new line up clinics shortly.

While the clinics are updating, the rest of The Fest is still ON. We are moving full steam ahead with the 2026 Ouray Iceless Festival.

🔒What is Locked In?
The ice is just one part of why we gather. The true spirit of Ice Fest is in the community, the shared passion, and the celebration of our lives in the mountains. Here is what is happening:

✅ The Elite Mixed Climbing Competition
The world’s best are coming to showcase their skills.
✅ The Parties:
The music, the dancing, and events are happening as planned.
✅ The Vendor Village:
Connect with your favorite brands and see the newest gear.
✅ The Community:
We are gathering to celebrate the sport and community we love.

📅 Mark Your Calendars
The new clinics drop Tuesday, January 13th.
Adaptability is the core skill of any alpinist. Since we cannot be on the ice, we are shifting focus to the skills that get you to the ice and home safely.

Our staff, guide partners, and athletes are currently creating a brand new lineup of clinics. We are launching Ice(less) clinics focusing on technical systems: dry tooling techniques, crevasse & self-rescue, anchor building, and outdoor movement and survival. These are the skills that make you a better, safer climber in any environment.

⚠️ Already Registered For a Clinic?
We gotchu fam! If you currently hold a registration for a cancelled on-ice clinic, you do not need to do anything right now. Note that not every clinic we offered is cancelled, just the on-ice clinics.

We will be sending you an email this Thursday, January 8th containing a form with all your options. You will be able to choose to receive a full refund, convert your registration into a donation, or receive a Priority Voucher to be first in line to use toward the new clinics launching next week. Please keep an eye on your inbox 👀

🤝 A Note to Our Community
We aren’t going to sugarcoat it: This season is testing us all.
The Ice Fest has never been Ice(less). It is hard on you, and it is heartbreaking for us. The reality of this season has forced us to make incredibly difficult operational decisions, including laying off valued staff just to ensure the Park can keep its gates open. We know the community around us is hurting, too.

The City of Ouray relies on this festival, and we rely on them. Just as the ice supports our Park, the local businesses, guides, hotels, and restaurants are the anchors that hold us steady. We are an interconnected ecosystem, and this season, we need to lean on each other more than ever, and you can help.

We humbly request: Don't cancel your trip.
Come for the education. Come for the celebration. Come to take in the incredible views, soak in the springs, and come to support the town that warmly hosts our community every winter. Let’s show that our love for this place runs deeper than just the ice conditions.

Coming Soon 👀
We are working on a special initiative to connect y’all with the town, support our local partners, and get you kitted out for the season. Keep your eyes peeled next week for a new way to engage with the community (and get entered to win some incredible gear).
With Gratitude,
The Ouray Ice Park Team