Ice Climbing in Southwest Colorado

The San Juan Range of southwestern Colorado contains some of the best ice climbing terrain in the North America. RMI has partnered with Southwest Adventure Guides LLC, to offer climbing courses in this beautiful area. The guides have been climbing and guiding in the San Juan Range for years and are excited to share with you the sunny weather, consistent ice, and the wide variety of beginner to advanced climbs the Range has to offer.

These are great programs for gaining technical skills and confidence on icy terrain. We consider them essential training if you are considering a climb on the West Rib of Mt. McKinley, an ascent of Mt. Rainier's Liberty Ridge, or if you just want to have a fun couple of days swinging your ice tools this winter.

The guides enjoy teaching people how to climb, not just how to follow a guide all day. Our low client-to-guide ratios on these courses make certain that you receive the most personalized instruction possible. Climbing movement and technique, gear use, safety and decision making are all taught and tailored to an individual's pace.

Whether you are new to ice climbing, need an ice climbing refresher after a year or two, or you would like to get onto some longer routes in the Colorado backcountry with a personal guide, we have a program for you. Sign up for a two-day course, a three-day course, or hire a guide on a private basis and come climbing this winter on some San Juan ice!

Program	Cost	Days	Difficulty
Colorado (December - February)
Intro to Ice Climbing This is the program we recommend for first time climbers. These courses take place in Colorado's San Juan Mountains, home to some of the best ice climbing in the lower 48.	$375	2
Intermediate Ice Seminar Our Intermediate Ice Seminar builds upon the skills learned in our Intro to Ice Climbing course.	$495	1
Private Guided Programs 1:1 guiding $350 a day. $150 a day for each additional person. Client to Guide Ratio - 1:1 to 4:1. A $20 transportation fee will be charged for Private Guiding in Silverton.	Varies	1-5

San Juan Colorado has more ice to climb than we can manage in a winter; but we would like to try, and we want you to join us!

Our ice courses are taught in the Durango, Silverton, and Ouray areas in Colorado's San Juan Mountains. This is a program organized by Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. and led exclusively by Southwest Adventure Guides, (SWAG). SWAG is based in Durango, CO and is an authorized permit holder in the San Juan National Forest, Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests under priority use permit from the Forest Service, USDA.