Ouray Ice Park Open

Hi Everyone,

The wait is officially over. Mother Nature finally chilled out, the cold snap delivered, and our operations team has confirmed that we have enough ice to climb safely.

The Ouray Ice Park officially opens for the season Tomorrow:

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

This has been a historic and challenging start to the winter, but thanks to the tireless work of our ice farmers and the support of this community, we are thrilled to welcome you back into The Ouray Ice Park. Here is everything you need to know about Opening Day and the upcoming Fest.

Opening Day Details

When: Wednesday, Jan 21st (Tomorrow). Members get in early :)

Where: The Park is open for recreational & guided climbing according to the open areas listed on the conditions page below!

Conditions: While it’s not a "fat" year yet, the transformation over the last 72 hours has been incredible. Expect the ice to be in early season conditions, but plenty of fun to be had. You can check the latest route openings and photos on our Conditions Page.

Check Your Inbox: Membership Cards

We’re just about to hit send on your brand-new membership cards to all active members. They look rad, they live on your phone, and you will need yours tomorrow so you can be first on the new ice.Early Access: As a reminder, Members get early access to the park on Opening Day, and every day of the season!If you want first tracks on the fresh ice tomorrow morning, pull up the membership card email we just sent you, save the card to your phone, and show it at the gate to get in before the general public:

The Fest: The Best of Both Worlds

Because the ice arrived just in the nick of time, we are in a unique position for The Ice(less) Ice Fest this weekend (Jan 22–25).

1. The Clinics Are Sticking to "Ice(less)" To ensure a high-quality, organized experience, we are sticking to our Ice(less) curriculum for all festival clinics. We have an amazing lineup of dry-tooling, alpine techniques, and educational sessions prepared, and we want to deliver the amazing experience we promised.

2. AND The Ice Is Open for Climbing! While the clinics are focusing on skills you can take anywhere, the actual ice is open for you! Recreational Climbing! Check the conditions page to stay truly up to date, but right now it’s looking like 160-ish routes will be open!

3. Private Guiding: In a massive break from tradition, Private Guiding is allowed during the Festival. Usually, all guides are tied up with clinics, but this year, you can book a private guide to take you into the park during Fest weekend. If you’ve been waiting to learn, **Contact a Local Guide Service **immediately to book a slot.

Special Event: The Via Ferrata

Since we are doing things differently this year, we have secured special permission to open the Via Ferrata exclusively for the Festival weekend!This is a rare & unique opportunity to experience the VF in winter conditions. This is a once in a lifetime chance.These slots are guided-only and will be available to book via the Clinics Page very soon. Keep an eye out!

The Deeper Than Ice Raffle

The slow start to our season has been tough on the Park’s staff and our local economy. We’ve had to lay off our Rangers, the Thai place has empty booths, and the Ouray Brewery has extra beer in its vats (the real travesty). To help us bounce back, we’ve launched the Deeper Than Ice Raffle.The Prize: Twin Peaks has generously donated a 2-night stay (with breakfast & hot springs access), our Industry Sponsors are adding more jackets, backpacks, and equipment everyday, and more local business prizes are being added daily.How to Enter: Enter and learn more on the Raffle PageEvery ticket helps ensure we can keep our staff employed and help support the town. You can have a direct impact and win rad prizes!

Thank You For Your Support

We appreciate your patience as we go with the flow of the season, and we can’t wait to see you in the gorge. Sharpen your points and get over here!

Stoked to see you soon,

The Ouray Ice Park Team