Mountaineering in Colorado — Ice Climbing & Ski Mountaineering in Rocky Mountain National Park

Ice Climbing in Colorado

Rocky Mountain National Park and the surrounding Front Range offer some of the best ice climbing in Colorado. From roadside frozen waterfalls to committing alpine ice routes in RMNP’s high cirques, our Colorado ice climbing programs cover the full spectrum of difficulty. The Mountain Guides Colorado offers guided ice climbing for beginners learning tool and crampon technique on moderate flow ice, as well as advanced climbers looking to tackle steep curtains and mixed routes in Hidden Falls, The Loch, and other classic RMNP venues. All technical ice climbing gear (tools, crampons, helmets, harnesses) is provided. The season runs November through April, with the most reliable conditions in December through March.

Ski Mountaineering Camp

Our multi-day Ski Mountaineering Camp in Rocky Mountain National Park is designed for advanced backcountry skiers and splitboarders ready to push into steeper, more technical terrain. The camp covers rope systems for glacier travel and steep couloirs, alpine climbing movement with ski boots, crevasse rescue techniques, and steep skiing fundamentals. You’ll build the skills needed to safely pursue ski mountaineering objectives throughout Colorado and beyond.

Season & Getting Here

Ice climbing season runs November through April. Ski mountaineering camps run late winter through spring (February–May). Programs operate out of our Estes Park / Boulder base, convenient to Denver (1.5 hours), Boulder (45 minutes), and Fort Collins (1 hour).