This September, I tackled my first-ever Via Ferrata in Ouray, Colorado! It was an exciting experience, and the upstream route I chose was perfect for beginners.
As someone who loves to plan, I wanted to be fully prepared for the adventure. Since I organized the trip with a group, I took on most of the planning and created an itinerary and notes document. I figured sharing it in this guide could be helpful for others looking to try the Via Ferrata in Ouray!
Table of Contents
- What is a Via Ferrata?
- When can you climb Ouray Via Ferrata?
- What do you need to climb Ouray Via Ferrata?
- Trail Details
- What can I expect on the trail?
- Final Thoughts
What is a Via Ferrata?
A via ferrata, which means “iron path” in Italian, is a protected climbing route that typically consists of fixed cables, ladders, and other secure attachments along a mountain or cliff face. These routes provide climbers with a safer way to ascend steep terrain without requiring advanced rock climbing skills.
When can you climb Ouray Via Ferrata?
Season: Typically from early May – November
Days: 7 days a week
Hours: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm;
Check the Ouray Via Ferrata official website for more information.
What do you need to climb Ouray Via Ferrata?
Gear rentals: You can rent all the required gear to climb the Via Ferrata a couple spots in Ouray. See all the recommended options here.
Gear list:
- Required: EN958 Certified Via Ferrata Energy Absorbing System (EAS) aka Via Ferrata landyard
An EAS is a safety feature designed to reduce the force experienced by a climber in the event of a fall, typically incorporating a shock-absorbing lanyard that extends during a fall to dissipate energy. You can purchase this online on Amazon from Black Diamond and CAMP. There are other brands that sells them like Petzl, but they are not available online. - Required: EN12492 Certified Helmet – Mountaineering
Any rock climbing helmet would work in this scenario. Some popular brands include Black Diamond (I have two of these) and Petzl. - Required: EN 12277 Certified Harness – Mountaineering
Any rock climbing harness would work in this scenario. My partner and I own Black Diamond Womenn’s & Men’s harness. - Recommended: A Personal Anchor System (PAS) is nice for extra redundancy
An EAS catches you in the event of a fall. A PAS allows you to clip in to any fixed hardware/rung and rest. A PAS system includes a sling and a carabiner (I own this sling by Metolius and this locking carabiner from Petzl). You loop the sling through the belay loop of your harness, clip your carabiner through one of the loop into the sling and using the same carabiner clip it to the fixed hardware or iron rung on the face of the wall. Do not clip it on the cable unless it is the start of the cable, attached to a fixed gear. If you clip in the middle of the cable and let go, your carabiner will slide (and you with it) along the cable until it catches against a fixed gear. - Recommended: Hydration pack if you like
A hydration pack allows you to stay hydrated while climbing without the hassle of fumbling for a water bottle or worrying about it slipping away. - Recommended: Phone lanyard or something like it
I love capturing photos during my adventures. One of my biggest worries with the Via Ferrata is accidentally dropping my phone off the side of the mountain and losing it forever. A phone lanyard allows me to freely take photos while giving me peace of mind. - Gloves if you like
I personally find gloves unnecessary, as they can make it a bit harder to grip the rock and iron rungs on the side of the mountain. However, they can be helpful for protecting your hands. Any basic work gloves would do the trick in this case.
Trail Details
Trail map: Upstream trail map
Trailhead: Google Maps
Parking: Parking is along Camp Bird Rd. The trailhead is also on this road. There are limited parking spots, so if you are worried about getting a spot, aim to get here before 10am.
Best time to start: The sun can get pretty intense, so for the best experience, start between 9-10am. The trail can takes about 2 hours, plus or minus some time depending on the amount of people on it.
What to expect:
- It is a short hike from the start of the trailhead to the start of the Via Ferrata experience. There will be many signs a long the way to keep on the right path. Right before the cables start, you’ll find a ranger who will check your gear and move you along the way.
- The start of the experience is a quick down climb to a steel cable tight rope (I know, what a start right?). But don’t be too worried– there are two more metal cables to the left and right of your that you can hold onto for support while you are walking. Make sure to do this part one person at a time to reduce the amount of shakiness on the line.
- From there you traverse to the left (upstream) along the side of the mountain. There is a downstream route which is more difficult. The traverse is not very high from the ground compared to other Via Ferrata so I think this is an excellent trail for beginners.
- There are a couple of vertical climbs along the trail which all have steel rungs for your hands a feet. Climbing this, everything feels very solid, but a lot of folks get tired here. This is a good spot to use your PAS system to rest.
- There are a lot of resting points/flat areas along the way. Some parts of the trail are like hike– at these parts you really don’t even need to have your EAS clipped in.
- There are two options to finish the trail:
- Easier ending: which I think may be the more scenic and interesting way to end. It is a flat steel cable ladder (similar to the tight rope in the beginning, but instead of just a singular cable to walk on, it looks like a horizontal ladder.
- Harder ending: the harder ending is another vertical climb. This is the one I finished with. It is pretty similar to the other verticals along the trail, which is why I think this is the less interesting ending. However, this climb puts you in a fantastic spot to snap photos of your friends crossing the cable bridge. So, if you’re with a group, it’s a great chance to split up and get some awesome shots!
Final Thoughts
As someone who enjoys outdoor rock climbing, I found this experience to be a longer, easier version of what I’m used to. While there were a few sections that could be a bit tricky, I believe it’s something most people can handle—and I think many would find it exhilarating! If you’re already comfortable climbing rock faces like I am, you might want to consider tackling a harder route or a taller Via Ferrata for an even more exciting challenge.
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