Rock Climbing in Ouray, CO
Celebrating 26 years of trips, tours, and courses in Ouray and the San Juans! Learn to rock climb with Ouray’s only comprehensive and most experienced professional climbing school and guide service.
Rock climbing in Ouray is a great option for anyone looking for some high adventure! No experience is necessary, and we have access to exceptional climbing terrain for people of all ages and ability levels. We offer discounts for families and organized groups of 4 or more, so please call ahead to book your rock climbing trip with us while you’re in Ouray!
Half or Full Day?
A popular question is whether or not participants should sign up for a half-day or full-day rock climbing adventure.  The answer is – it depends on what your goals are for the trip.  If you are just looking for a short half-day adventure while you are in Ouray and want to get a taste of the sport of rock climbing, or have younger kids, then the half-day adventure is probably right for you.
If you are looking to accomplish more specific learning objectives and gain a better understanding of the technical and safety systems that are utilized for the sport of rock climbing then the full-day option might be the better choice.  Either way we work hard to make sure that all of our trips are safe, successful, and rewarding – no matter what your goals may be!
$119/per person
2024 Dates
Offered Daily Upon Request
May – October
Costs
Half Day
4:1 – $119 pp
3:1 – $149 pp
2:1 – $199 pp
1:1 – $329
Full Day
4:1 – $179
3:1 – $199
2:1 – $279
1:1 – $399
Includes:
- Guiding and instruction with an AMGA Certified/Trained Guide
- All rock climbing gear (harness, helmet, rock shoes, etc.)
- Round-trip transportation to and from rock climbing area and our office
Rotary Park Wall
The Rotary Park Wall is a family-friendly crag with many options. Located just minutes from out office; this area will be sure to make your rock climbing experience in Ouray a memorable one!
Pool Wall
The Pool Wall sits right above the Hot Springs Pool in Ouray. It is home to loads of great climbs for every ability level. We climb there a bunch with families and individuals looking for excellent climbing in a beautiful setting with a short approach. The main wall sports lots of harder bolted routes, but also a handful of more moderate traditional climbs.
Canyoning Equipment List
| Backpack | Description | Guide's Pick |
|---|---|---|
 | The Osprey Mutant 38 represents an excellent all around performer for Ice Climbing trips in the Ouray Ice Park and surrounding San Juan backcountry. |
| Water Bottles | Description | Guide's Pick |
|---|---|---|
 | We recommend wide mouth Nalgene (or similar) water bottles for the majority of our programs. Two 1 liter bottles is the standard for days in the mountains. |
| Personal Food | Description | Guide's Pick |
|---|---|---|
 | Lunch begins when breakfast ends and ends when dinner begins. Bring what you like to eat and consider the length, relative difficulty, weight, and other factors when deciding what to bring in the mountains with you. A variety is always best. Don't be afraid of Mr. T. |
| Sunscreen | Description | Guide's Pick |
|---|---|---|
 | Essential for all of our programs. SPF 30 would be our minimum recommendation. Typically a 4 oz. bottle will suffice but consider trip length when deciding how much to pack. |
Training & Follow Up Climbs
As always, being in excellent physical shape is an important component of our our programs. A good mixture of cardiovascular fitness, muscular fitness, and especially core strength will help you to maximize the potential rewards that are possible on a great climbing trip.
Before Your Trip
Can you climb a ladder? Are you excited to try new things? This would be awesome for you!
There are no prerequisites for the Portland Creek Canyon trip.  All you need is a great attitude, sense of adventure, and the gear.  We’ll take care of the rest!
Follow Up Climbs
Ouray, Colorado: Getting Here
Ouray is located in the SW corner of Colorado, approximately 30 minutes south of Montrose. Known as “The Switzerland of America”, the town of Ouray is a vibrant outdoor oriented community. All local businesses are very friendly to the ice climbers who flock each winter to climb in the Ouray Ice Park and surrounding areas.
 The best option for flying to the area is to fly into Montrose, CO. Many airline options exist, and most connections originate from Denver, CO, however, many airlines now offer direct flights into Montrose – especially during the summer and winter months.
It is also possible to fly into Grand Junction, Durango, Telluride, or Denver CO. It may be necessary to rent a car and drive to Ouray if you’d like to fly into one of these airports.
 Below are some approximate driving times if you’d like to drive to Ouray. If you plan on renting a car, please consider the winter weather when selecting your vehicle and at a minimum choose something that offers either front wheel or all-wheel drive.
- Montrose, CO: 45 minutes
- Durango, CO: 2 hours
- Denver, CO: 5.5 hours
 Ouray has a number of great hotels, suites, and vacation rentals for you to stay in while you’re in the area. Give our office a call at 800-642-5389 if you have any questions about what would suit you best for this trip!
Program Policies
Registration & Cancellation
Advance Registration is required for this program. You have the option to either call our office and register via phone or utilize our secure Online Reservation System. All participants must read and sign an Assumption of Risks/Liability Waiver and agree to our Reservations and Cancellations Policies.
Inclusions
- Guiding and instruction with an AMGA Certified/Trained Guide
- All rock climbing gear (harness, helmet, descending device, rock shoes)
- Round-trip transportation to and from rock climbing area and our office
Exclusions
- Transportation to Ouray, CO
- Hotel costs before, during, or after the program
- Guide gratuity
- Lunch food or snacks
- Personal hiking/climbing clothing
- Trip Cancellation Insurance (recommended)
- Costs associated with weather delays or other variables beyond the control of San Juan Mountain Guides
Book This Trip!
We Offer Online Registration
- Click on Book This Trip
- Select your Program dates
- Enter your Info and Payment
Or, call 800.642.5389 to register
