Gold Mountain Via Ferrata is the newest via ferrata route in Ouray Colorado and a must-do summer activity that is fun for the whole family. It offers a different experience than the popular Ouray Via Ferrata with the mining history and views high above the charming town.
This post is your ultimate guide to understanding what a via ferrata is and the highlights of the unique Gold Mountain climbing experience.
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BOOK your summer via ferrata experience here.
FAQ: Via Ferrata
Via Ferrata History
This unique activity originated in the Italian Dolomites during World War I when soldiers needed a way to navigate the treacherous mountain terrain. Today, via ferrata routes are still a popular outdoor activity in Europe but have become increasingly popular in the United States in areas such as California, Colorado, and Utah.
What is a Via Ferrata?
Via ferrata, which translates to “iron path” in Italian, is a thrilling outdoor adventure activity that seamlessly combines elements of hiking and rock climbing. It’s an opportunity to experience the sensation of scaling rugged cliffs and ascending to great heights, all while being securely attached to a series of iron rungs, cables, and sometimes ladders that have been strategically installed along the natural rock formations.
What sets via ferrata apart from traditional climbing is accessibility. You don’t need extensive climbing experience or technical skills to embark on a via ferrata adventure. It’s a perfect choice for adventurers of varying skill levels, from beginners to experienced climbers. The safety equipment and infrastructure in place make it a thrilling yet approachable way to challenge yourself in the mountains.
What is the point of via ferrata?
Via ferrata serves as a bridge between hikers and climbers, offering a thrilling way to explore rocky terrain that would otherwise be challenging to access. The point of via ferrata is to provide adventurers with a safe but exhilarating experience of vertical ascents. It’s about pushing your limits, conquering your fears, and immersing yourself in the beauty of high-altitude landscapes… all while having fun, of course.
How does via ferrata work
Via ferrata routes are designed to make mountain terrain accessible and safe for adventurers. Here’s how it works:
- Safety First: Before setting out on a via ferrata route, participants are equipped with essential safety gear which is covered below.
- Following the Path: Via ferrata routes are marked by a series of iron rungs, cables, and sometimes suspension bridges. These elements are securely anchored into the rock. Participants follow these elements as they ascend the mountain, using the rungs as footholds and the both the rungs and cables as handholds.
- Continuous Attachment: The key safety feature of via ferrata is that participants are continuously attached to the safety cable using their via ferrata set – this means you always have at least one carabiner that is clipped in when you are transitioning between different cable sections. This cable runs parallel to the route, providing a lifeline in case of a slip or fall. It ensures that even though you’re scaling cliffs, your safety is always the top priority.
- Stunning Scenery: Along the route, you’ll be treated to breathtaking vistas, up-close encounters with rock formations, and the thrill of ascending to new heights.
- Guided Adventures: Many via ferrata routes offer guided experiences led by experienced instructors who provide safety guidance and share insights about the surrounding environment, adding an educational aspect to the adventure.
- Via ferrata combines the excitement of rock climbing with the security of hiking, making it an exhilarating and accessible way to explore the rugged beauty of Colorado’s mountains. Whether you’re conquering your fear of heights or seeking a new outdoor challenge, via ferrata offers an unforgettable adventure in the Rockies.
Double Rungs
There are bigger (double) iron rungs that are meant for both of your feet to stand on; whereas most iron rungs are meant for one foot or hand.
Via Ferrata Rentals
If you’re new to via ferrata and don’t have your own gear, fear not. Many local outdoor adventure companies offer via ferrata equipment for rent. This includes climbing harnesses, helmets, and via ferrata sets (shock-absorbing lanyards with carabiners). Renting gear is an excellent option for beginners or those who want to try via ferrata without committing to purchasing equipment upfront.
Via Ferrata Equipment
Via Ferrata Ouray Guides in the San Juan Mountains
To make the most of your adventure, consider hiring a local via ferrata guide like Basecamp Ouray. These experienced guides not only ensure your safety but also provide valuable insights into the history, geology, and unique features of the area. It’s an opportunity to enhance your via ferrata experience while exploring one of Colorado’s most picturesque regions.
Can anyone do a via ferrata?
You do not need any experience to climb a via ferrata route if you are going with a guide which means anyone can do it. However, there are weight limits for the via ferrata equipment which may impact the standard gear for a via ferrata experience.
Is via ferrata kid-friendly?
Via Ferratas are kid-friendly but for children under 90 lbs, guiding companies like Basecamp Ouray will also have the child on a rope belay. This is because the child’s weight does not have enough mass to deploy the shock-absorbing element that is systematically deployed in the unlikely, but still possible, event of a significant “static” fall. Without the belay, the child’s body will absorb the static shock load which could lead to major injuries. However, the right guiding company should also know that and be able to protect the child during the climb.
The same is true for people over the gear manufacturer’s weight limit (265 lbs) as the mass will cause the lanyard to either prematurely deploy or fail to absorb the shock load, thus transferring it directly to the back and pelvis of that individual causing significant bodily injury. Please check with the guide companies for any questions or concerns about this.
Is via ferrata safe
Generally speaking, if you are inexperienced, guides help provide the education, guidance, and safety needed for the climb experience.
I would not recommend renting gear and going on your own to a free course if you lack climbing &/or any via ferrata experience. Always remember: better safe than sorry.
Specifically for the Gold Mountain via ferrata climb, Logan and his team did a component testing of the exact rock they planned to drill in to verify the integrity and strength of the rock before placing the iron rungs.
- Each rung is made of ¾ rebar and then galvanized to ensure it will be free of galvanic rusting.
- Each rung is placed into the rock approximately 6 inches and then glued in using a 2 part high strength epoxy.
- Each rung is rated over 5000 lbs as a traffic load.
- The cable section you are attached to is rated at over 25 kn and each cable section is tested by the engineer and inspected by the state of Colorado annually as well as all the safety equipment each climber uses.
Climbing is never going to be 100% safe but the guides do a good job of safely building routes to protect participants and mitigate risk along the way.
What happens if you fall on a via ferrata?
The short answer – your via ferrata lanyard will rip open to absorb your fall, extending about 6 ft to keep your back from breaking.
The via ferrata lanyards attached to your harness utilizes a shock-absorbing system that deploys when a person falls greater than one body length. As the mass of the person descending increases the static force of the fall, it is absorbed by the shock-absorbing pack made of webbing sewn together. It is designed to slowly rip open thus absorbing the shock load that would be transferred to the person who has fallen.
Are via ferratas one way?
Most via ferratas are one way so you do not need to worry about other climbers coming towards you. There are also typically sections that allow for safe passage if a faster climber wants to get around.
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Climbing Gold Mountain Via Ferrata USA
The Gold Mountain Via Ferrata in Ouray, Colorado is a new via ferrata route located in the privately owned Gold Mountain Ranch! It was built in 2021 by Logan Tyler and Xander Biachi and became fully operational in 2022.
Logan is a born-and-raised Ouray local who helped build the Ouray Via Ferrata Downstream Course and is also the owner of Basecamp Ouray. He is a very experienced climber, previously on the USA Ice Climbing Team, climbs 5.13, competes in ice festivals, is a professional mountain guide, and a route developer. I guess you can say he knows a thing or two about building this fun new route.
You can tell this route was thoughtfully built and keeps you thinking a little. There are minimal hiking sections in between each pitch, but each pitch does finish on flat ground (excluding the pitch before the main bridge), offering plenty of time and space to rest and catch your breath before starting the next.
The route starts just 5 mins from the Basecamp Ouray office where you will meet your guide. They’ll drive you over there with all of the gear rentals so don’t worry about that!
Gold Mountain Highlights
- 12 unique pitches of climbing (about a half-day adventure) with over 980 rungs
- One of the longest and highest via ferratas in the country at nearly 1,200 ft of elevation gain
- 2 suspension bridges, including the second-longest suspension bridge in the country
- First via ferrata in the US built to amplify real climbing flow with intrinsic run placement and design
- Built around an 1800 mining site to give visitors the experience of walking in the very footsteps of gold miners in the past
- Views of Ouray and Mt Abram
- Tour of historic mine and 120 yr old blacksmith shop
$10 off your tour with code followtiffsjourney – book your summer via ferrata tour here.
Gold Mountain Route – Notable Pitch Details
I think there was really only one pitch that was not very interesting, more of a going-through-the-motions kind of climb, but overall, this route was really fun!
Pitch 1 “The Transfer”
We started our climb at 9 am and while most pitches go vertically up, the first pitch is a bit more dynamic to start than I would have expected – but that’s also what makes it fun. When I say dynamic, I mean you’re not just climbing straight up and down like on a ladder; the cable shifts from side to side so you have to be more mindful about clipping as opposed to robotic pattern.
I always get nervous on the first pitch of any climbing just because you’re getting off the ground for the first time again, so naturally, I was nervous.
The first pitch is designed to weed out the weak links before you are fully committed. There is one bail-out point after pitch 4 if you decide it’s too much for you.
They say if you feel fine and comfortable on the first pitch, you’ll be fine for the remainder of the course. I’d agree to this for all pitches except the optional hard pitch and the long bridge pitch, but those have more to do with my fear of heights as opposed to the climbing itself.
Pitch 2 “The Bench Claim Traverse”
This was a cool little traverse that wrapped around the mountain a bit more without crazy exposure. It’s a nice mellow pitch to recover from the first one if you need some time to manage your anxiety like I do. Personally, I think this one was some nice photo ops that you won’t have to feel stressed about your position and holding on for dear life.
Pitch 4 “Bonanza Step”
At the top of this one when you detach, you’ll reach a historic mine and learn more about the rocks you can find there. While you cannot access the mine, you get right below it. You will also see the first suspension bridge in the distance above you and the “Don Wall”.
This point is also the only bail-out point if you do not wish to continue. This hike out is 1.5 miles back to the car. There’s no shame in leaving, but if you’ve made it this far and can handle suspension bridges, definitely go on!
Pitch 5 “Golden Relics”
At the top of pitch 5, you can decide if you want pitch 6 to be an easy standard route or a challenging route… and I have a lot of thoughts on the challenging route.
Pitch 6 “Don Wall”
Pitch 6 is the only pitch that offers two route options – an easy and a challenging one, but let’s talk about this challenging option.
The “Don Wall” was named after Don Fehd, a local legend and rescue team member who passed away in 2022.
This route is classified as a 5.9 climb with more exposure than any other section of this via ferrata route, excluding maybe the second bridge. The overhanging section resembles rock climbing more than via ferrata climbing even though the iron rungs line your entire route.
The route starts with a steep vertical climb into an overhanging traverse, which leads to another traverse along a cliff side with only rungs for your feet. This pitch is approximately 200 ft long with 60 ft of air beneath you, but believe me – it feels more like thousands.
My Experience: Climbing with a Fear of Heights
I’ll admit, I was nervous about this pitch. I am always nervous about the crux of any climb. I know many of you think I’m not scared of heights because of the things that I do… but believe me, that fear is still very real. I just learn to manage it better the more I climb but the fear never really goes away. Even though I am attached to the mountain and won’t go anywhere if I were to fall, the fear of falling is still very real and always a mental struggle.
The overhang section made me nervous because I’ve been feeling weak lately so I was afraid I wouldn’t be strong enough. It may not look like a big overhang but don’t ever underestimate any overhang if upper body strength is not your strong suit.
Well, physically I was strong enough. Mentally… well let’s just say I’ve gotten good at staying out of my head (once I’m in my head, I freeze up and it’s game over for me) so I had Logan (guide/ owner of Basecamp Ouray Guides) stay very close and pushed through quickly when I started to think too much. Personally, I like having people close by when I might be scared of heights as it limits the exposure for me. I’m also scared of traverses from climbing more than anything because you see so much more in your peripheral vision going sideways than upwards… which is more exposure.
If you’re not scared of heights at all and can rock climb, you’ll enjoy this. If you’re a little hesitant about heights, the exposure will test you a little bit.
There was just one step along the Don Wall traverse that made me very hesitant to move forward – it could also have been because Logan went ahead so I could see all the exposure in the direction moving forward, but then after I got through it, one of my friends also hesitated too so I know it’s not just one of my moments. The step was just… harder to see and put your trust in it. The wall also protruded a little bit so it was just less comfortable overall.
Once you get off this via ferrata section, you’ll walk through a short tunnel and end up at your first suspension bridge.
Pitch 7 “Memphis Mine Bridge”
The first suspension bridge is shorter and is basically like highlining with handholds. The bridge is comprised of three cables, one for your feet and one for each side of your hands to hold onto. It’s about 40 feet long with 20 feet of air below you.
You can actually see directly into the original Memphis Mine while you’re crossing this!
Once you reach the other end, you’ll get to explore a 120-year-old blacksmith shop! Aside from the climb itself, this may have been the most unique thing we got to experience. Ouray is an old mining town so there are remnants of it in the mountains but not typically easy, or more importantly, safe to access.
From this shop, you can actually look back and see the overhanging Don Wall.
Quick History of the Memphis Mine and Why It’s Worth Checking Out:
There are several mines on Gold Mountain but this was one of the lowest points on the mountain which made it crucial for transporting the mined ores. The mining carts full of ore, which you can see from the bridge, would move through the haulage tunnel to get sorted; the good ones get sent down to a mill on Uncompadghre River and the bad ones get discarded down the hillside. The mining tracks and sorting house still stand but unfortunately, the aerial tramway no longer exists (it supposedly went 30 mpg!)
Pitch 10 “Bedrock Push”
This is directly below and leads you to the second suspension bridge. It didn’t click for me that the top of this pitch would also be the start of the long suspension bridge… or I would have taken a little more time to prepare myself mentally.
Pitch 11 “Bridge of Heaven”
This is the highlight of the trip. It’s the second longest suspension bridge in the US at 273 ft long with nearly 200 ft of air beneath your feet. It is comprised of 1 cable above which you are clipped into for the duration of the bridge, cables that act as handrails, and a 4-inch wide metal platform to walk on.
If you’ve followed my journey through Nepal, you’ll know I absolutely hate suspension bridges. They literally terrify me more than climbing itself. I struggle with exposure and I struggle with traverses because you see so much more in your peripheral vision yet somehow, I constantly find myself doing the things that terrify me… like this.
We chose to cross one at a time (more like I insisted) — personally, I want the bridge to be as stable as possible so although crossing it myself scares the living bejeezus out of me, it minimizes the bridge bouncing. With my bad luck, I was the only person in my group of friends that crossed the bridge while it was breezy which of course made me more scared and go even slower.
I’ll admit, it took me a lot longer to cross this bridge than all of my friends and I almost chickened out near the beginning but it was the only way to go so I had to go. Mind over matter – don’t think, just go. I inched my way through it like a turtle while my friends all powered through it like a rabbit 😂
The adrenaline seekers will love this pitch!
If you look really closely, you can even see the next town nine miles away!
Pitch 12 “Last Ditch Pitch”
The final pitch is very short and tops you out on an open and wide-ish ledge that overlooks Ouray below.
Ta-da! You’re done. The views from up here give you a stunning vantage point of the Switzerland of America.
The exit is a 5-minute hike to a shuttle point where the guides will arrange a ride down for you.
Overall Thoughts on Ouray’s Newest Via Ferrata Route
Gloves were definitely helpful, especially if you get nervous with heights and sweaty palms. I will also say that fingerless gloves only go so far – after pitch 8, my hands did start to feel extra sensitive like blisters were going to form, but it never did.
The price point might seem a bit high but for this truly unique experience in the US, it’s worth it. I can’t promise anything, but I bet it will be an unforgettable experience and a highlight to your San Juan Mountains trip.
How does Gold Mountain Via Ferrata differ from Ouray Via Ferrata?
Although these are both via ferrata routes in the San Juan Mountains, they are on opposite ends of the town of Ouray and offer unique climbing experiences. There are two main differences between these two routes.
- Climbing Direction & Views: The Gold Mountain Via Ferrata route trends mostly vertically (about 1,000 ft) above the town, whereas the Ouray Via Ferrata route trends horizontally through a canyon. Both are unique in their perspectives, it just depends on whether you want to get high up and see some views and experience more of a rock climbing style, or traverse along a river through a canyon with a bit more hiking style. To put it simply, one has more exposure and open views and one is tucked in a canyon.
- Costs: Gold Mountain is on private property and Basecamp Ouray is the only guiding service that can take you on this route, whereas Ouray Via Ferrata is on public land and anyone with the proper equipment (there is a ranger to check) and experience can go. You can also hire a guide for the Ouray Via Ferrata route which Basecamp Ouray guides as well.
If you’ve experienced one, do not rule out the other route as they both offer different climbing experiences and very different views.
Click here to read my Guide to Climbing Ouray Via Ferrata Without a Guide
The Wrap-up: Via Ferrata Colorado
The Gold Mountain route was very fun – the best way I can describe it is its dynamic. You can tell there’s more thought put into how the route was built so it keeps you engaged. The climbing on the Gold Mountain route requires you to clip on different sides and really move more. The Ouray VF starts off with a bridge and finishes with a cool ladder but the rest of it wasn’t much thinking, not too engaging, and you’re kind of just going through the motions of it; the continuous view of the canyon and river was amazing though.
Is Ouray worth visiting?
Ouray, a charming town in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, is known as the Switzerland of America and with good reason. It is renowned for its exceptional via ferrata routes, breathtaking alpine lake hikes, and jagged and colorful mountains in the Summer and Fall. In the Winter, it’s known for some world-class ice climbing offering an arena for both newcomers and aspiring alpinists who are looking to learn, practice, and grow.
Ouray is personally one of my favorite mountain towns in the USA and 100% worth visiting!
Places to stay in Ouray Colorado
Ouray is a mining town which is what gives it its charm, so don’t expect any modern-style rooms.
- Budget-Friendly: Ouray Main Street Inn – this lodge is a bit outdated but it’s clean, conveniently located in the middle of town, pet-friendly, spacious with a friendly host. They offer suites and individual rooms. This place is a gem.
- Mid-Range: Box Canyon Lodge & Hot Springs – this is one of the most popular lodgings in town and for good reason. This charming Victorian-style hotel is located slightly off the main street to provide more seclusion and has 7 cedar hot tubs that are filled with the nearby mineral hot springs and only accessible to guests.
- Luxury: Beaumont Hotel & Spa – this was once recognized as one of the Best Places in the World to Stay according to the CN Traveler, and if you are looking for a nicer and bigger room, look no further. This is an adult-only hotel with a full-size spa. While luxury in style, the price can be less than the lodges with hot springs.
Things to do in Ouray CO
- Blue Lakes Trail in Southwest Colorado
- Backpacking to Island Lake in San Juan National Forest
- Hike Red Mountain 3 in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado
- Ouray Via Ferrata: Everything You Need to Know to Climb Unguided
- Learning to Ice Climb in the Switzerland of America
This post was sponsored by Basecamp Ouray; however, all writing and opinions are my own.
Tiff, the owner and author of Follow Tiff’s Journey, is a California/ Colorado-based adventurer and outdoor connoisseur who divides her heart between the Eastern Sierra Mountains and the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Despite her fear of heights, she’s become a seasoned mountaineer, ultralight hiking and backcountry camping enthusiast, expert road trip planner, and a fervent explorer of alpine lakes, natural hot springs, and sandstone canyons.
With 10 years of experience exploring the outdoors, her blog is your go-to source for all things wilderness, offering invaluable insights and pro tips, essential gear recommendations, and awe-inspiring stories from her adventures.
Join Tiff on her quest to share the wonders of nature and inspire others to follow their own path in the great outdoors.
