Ouray Ice Climbing Festival

The Ouray Ice Festival, held in January, is an international gathering of ice climbers, gear manufacturing exhibitors, and ice climbing voyeurs simply thrilled to watch at a safe distance from the precipitous edges. The festival was first held in January of 1996 and promoted by ice climbing pioneer Jeff Lowe. In 2001 Lowe sold the Ouray Ice Festival to Ouray Ice Park Inc. (the local non-profit group that runs the ice park). The festival is now recognized as the premier international gathering of its kind. Events over this weekend include various climbing clinics from beginning to advanced. The Festival isnt just for climbers-we also have gear auctions, film and slide show presentations and weve added a Kids Climbing Wall away from the gorge to get the little tykes started off right.