Oct 19, 20224 min read

Family Trip - Via Ferrata/Hot Springs - Ouray, Colorado 9/23-25/22

Updated: Aug 14

THE coolest and cheapest Via Ferrata in the US!

Sample Itinerary:

Friday -

2pm - 9pm (6 hr drive)

Dinner on the way - (Green River -Tamarisk; Fruita - many)

Saturday -

9am-1pm - Via Ferrata

1-2pm - Lunch

2-5pm - Drive to Silverton on the Million Dollar Hwy

5-6pm - Dinner

6-8pm - Ouray Hotsprings

Sunday -

8-9am - Box Canyon Falls or part of the Perimeter Trail

10-4pm - Drive Home

Via Ferrata Umcompahgre River Gorge - (12yr old+)- 2-4 hours

Gear- lanyard (must rent - best $25 San Juan Mountain Guides opens 8am), helmet ($10) and harness ($15) (can rent from San Juan Mt Guides for total of $45 with lanyard), leather gloves, thin knee pads (optional), hiking boots or running shoes (beginner route), rock climbing shoes/approach shoes (intermediate route).

Location - 1 min south of town, upper parking lot, hike over bridge, 100 ft left Perimeter trail, follow yellow yield signs for via ferrrata and Perimeter Trail, left trail kiosk, walk down to trailhead over pipe and second kiosk where you will meet a via ferrata ranger who will check your gear. There is a Practice Area about 100 feet down trail (closer to car) from first kiosk on the Perimeter trail where you can practice clipping in.

Beginner route - on rt of ranger kiosk, 15 min hike from car to first clip in, 2 cable bridges, walls to climb with rebar rungs, some flat walking and stairs. (2 1/2-4 hr)

Intermediate route - on left, high cable bridges, straight up free hanging cable ladder, slight overhanding sections, smooth rock - ROCK CLIMBING or APPROACH SHOES highly recommended. (3-4 hr)

- You should only do the Via Ferrata if you are 12yr old +, *>88lb <265lb, loooove ropes courses and/or rock climbing, rappelling and are comfortable with heights. Can fully commit to being on the course for 3 hrs. There are 2 places to bail, but they are up to the edge of the gorge and you will need to hike back. No going back the way you came. Be able to comfortably climb a tall ladder, do a chin up, and be solely responsible to clip and unclip yourself in to safety wires along the route.

*If you are less or more than the weight limit, you need to hire a private guide through San Juan Mountain Guide. Hiring a guide (for those <88 lb and >62 inches tall, >265 lb or those who don’t have rock climbing experience)

$159 adult (groups of 5)

$179+ youth

Hotsprings - $21 adult all day come and go, closes 8-9pm, many pools including kid ones and adult ones, put gear in lockers or on lawn. Website

Best Optional Trips:

Hikes- Cascade Falls - 0.2 mi round trip hike to waterfall

Box Canyon - 0.3 mi hike to waterfall in gorge ($5-take card)

Drives- 30-45 min one way drive to Silverton (Million Dollar Hwy)

Ghost Towns - Camp Bird Mine is best south of town

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Telluride, CO - Free Gondola rides

Other Optional Trips (*favorites): Ouray

*Hike – Perimeter Trail (6 mi)
Hike – Baby Bathtubs (0.7 mi, small pools for little ones)
Hike – Lower Cascade Falls (0.2 mi)
*Hike – Upper and Lower Box Canyon Falls (0.6 mi for both $5)
Hike – Chief Ouray Mine (4.3 mi)*4 wheeling – Yankee Boy Basin (18 mi, 1st half easy/2nd half hard) or
*4 Wheeling – Engineer Pass Rd (20 mi, mines, alpine loop, Capitol City ghost town) or
*4 Wheeling – Imogene Pass (17.5 mi, 2nd highest drivable pass in Colorado)
Ghost Town – Camp Bird
Ghost Town – Steffels
Rock Climbing – Pool Wall, Waterfall Wall, Overlook Cliff
Mt Biking – Ridgeway Area Trails
Horseback Riding – Action Adventure Trail Rides
Eating – Colorado Boy Southwest Pub (pizza)
*Eating – Mouses Chocolates and Coffee
Eating – Historic Western Hotel and Saloon (original saloon!)
Eating – Brickhouse 737 (local food)
Glassblowing - Ouray Glassworks and Pottery