High in the mountains above Telluride in southern Colorado, you can actually take a 1,000 foot walk against a cliffside.
And you can do it safely.
It’s a “trail” – the word is used loosely–known as the Telluride Via Ferrata. Italian for “iron path,” it’s a system of cables and bolts and ledges above dizzying drop-offs. Hikers wear a climbing harness and if they do it right, are almost always anchored to something in case of a slip.
Up to 8,000 people do the route each year, and only one person has ever fallen.
“There’s nothing like it. It’s accessible enough that anyone who’s moderately fit can have an experience that previously was reserved for people who put years of time learning how to rock climb,” says Todd Rutledge, a guide for Mountain Trip who leads tours of the via ferrata.
“You get to face your fears. We’re all afraid of heights. It’s part of our evolution. You get to face that fear up close and personal, look it in the eye.”
Long popular in Europe via ferratas have only arrived in Colorado in recent years. For many years Telluride had only one, but now, those with adventurous spirits have many options for defying gravity.
This is your guide to the via ferratas of Colorado. Since snow and ice would make a dangerous endeavor even more so, most are only done in warmer months.
Telluride Via Ferrata
A breathtaking shot of the Telluride Via Ferrata • Photo by Matt Kroll
The route began as an illegal venture by renowned Telluride climber Chuck Kroger, who put a series of iron rungs on Ajax Peak above town. He died of cancer in 2006, and one of his last wishes was for his friends to make the route safe enough that his wife could someday do it.
For many years the route was under the radar, but then the U.S. Forest Service ordered the bolts and rungs removed. By that time, the via ferrata had become a beloved community resource and the agency gave in to public pressure. In 2018 volunteers hauled up and attached 1,600 feet of cable along the “trail.”
It begins as a hike and progresses to a steep scramble on an 8-foot wide ledge. Soon the ledge narrows to 3 feet and visitors hit the first stretch of cable. Equipped with a climbing harness and two separate clips, one should always have at least attached to the cable even while switching sections.
Soon the ledge is only 18 inches wide with an 85-foot drop-off – “a good warmup,” says Rutledge.
There aren’t cables along the entire route, but Rutledge says spots where a fatal slip could occur, have bolts in the rocks so groups can employ climbing ropes.
After passing through a waterfall, you eventually reach “The Main Event, “ where you might be suspended 1,000 feet above Telluride.
The whole route is only 2.2 miles, but it still takes 4 to 5 hours round-trip. Hikers are advised to take the east-to-west route since there is little space to safely pass anyone moving in the opposite direction. Once on the route, there is very little opportunity to bail out.
You aren’t required to hire a guide, but Rutledge says it’s a good idea for first-timers.
“People who have a healthy fear of heights, people for whom the experience is really pushing the envelope of their comfort zone, are probably going to feel better about their experience and have a better time if they’re with a guide,” he says.
“I still get butterflies in a couple places. You are way off the deck.”
For first-timers who conquer their fears, he says, it can be a transformative experience.
“It’s some peoples’ Everest. You work through a lot of emotions on the route.”
Does he consider the via ferrata safe?
“There’s nothing safe about walking across a ledge on a cliff but if you employ best practices and you’re thoughtful about it, you can do it with a high level of security … If you run the numbers back to 2007, well over 20,000 people have gone across and we’ve had one accident.”
For more information visit TellurideMountainClub.org.
Ouray Via Ferrata
Just across the jagged spine of the San Juan Mountains, in the picturesque town of Ouray, is another thrilling via ferrata.
In winter, ice climbers flock here for the most famous park in Colorado, but in summer you can experience this majestic box canyon high above it. The route has 4,000 linear feet of cables and rungs, including a thrilling “sky bridge” over the entire Uncompahgre Gorge.
The nonprofit Friends of the Ouray Via Ferrata raised $200,000 to build the via ferrata. It’s free to use, but the organization recommends first-timers consider hiring a guide. All climbers are required to have a helmet, climbing harness and energy-absorbing leash, which spreads out the force of a fall so any one part of the body doesn’t absorb all the shock. The gear can be rented at San Juan Mountain Guides in Ouray.
For more information visit OurayViaFerrata.org
Estes Park Via Ferrata
More physically demanding than some others on this list, this route ascends a 600-foot cliff known as Peregrine Arete. Built by the Kent Mountain Adventure Center, it offers stunning views of Rocky Mountain National Park and a steep drop-off, that will thrill your senses and get the adrenaline pumping. Only guided trips are allowed.
For more information visit KentMountain.com/programs/via-ferrata/
Cave of the Winds Via Ferrata
Climb along the hills above Manitou Springs on this via ferrata, an easy day trip for Front Range residents.
The route will take you around cliffs and ledges for about 3 hours, a trip suitable for all skill levels. Once you’re done, you can take a thrilling zipline ride back to the parking lot, which is included in the price of the tour.
Only guided trips are permitted on this via ferrata.
For more information visit caveofthewinds.com
Granite and Mount Evans Via Ferratas
Located in a canyon near Buena Vista, in the Arkansas River Valley, this 3-hour route will take you up and down bridges and ladders and across thrilling ziplines, all with breathtaking views of the Collegiate Peaks.
The via ferrata was built by Arkansas Valley Adventures, which allows only guided trips. The company also operates a via ferrata in Idaho Springs, known as the Mount Evans Via Ferrata, an easy 45-minute drive from Denver.
The via ferratas can only be accessed on guided trips.
For more information visit ColoradoViaFerrata.com
Royal Gorge Via Ferrata
Royal Gorge Via Ferrata • Photo by Ben Black, Courtesy of Royal Gorge Bridge and Park
Generations of Coloradoans have enjoyed defying gravity on the Royal Gorge Bridge or rafting the whitewater of the Arkansas River in the gorge. Now you can experience the Royal Gorge in a new way, on the side of its famous cliffs. There are options for a 3-hour or 5-hour tour.
Only guided trips are permitted, and climbers must also pay the entrance fee to the bridge and park.
Unlike others on this list, the via ferrata is open year-round.
For more information visit www.RoyalGorgeBridge.com
Captain Zipline Via Ferrata
This commercial via ferrata offers four routes of varying difficulty, located along the limestone cliffs above the Arkansas River near Salida. They range in difficulty from the Mountain Goat route, primarily an instructional session for beginners, to the Victory Ridge route, which requires intermediate rock-climbing skills.
The routes are open to guided trips only.
For more information visit Captainzipline.com/via-ferrata-tour/
