San Juan Mountain Guides, LLC

San Juan Mountain Guides, LLC mtnguide.net The Local Experts. San Juan Mountain Guides, LLC This educational approach and supportive atmosphere is the foundation of all our programs.

San Juan Mountain Guides is dedicated to offering professional instruction and guiding that will contribute to a lifetime of safe and successful climbing. Our guides not only help you get to the top of your next big climb, they also share their methods and decision making processes so you can benefit from their years of experience. During our courses and climbs, we also seek to build and maintain

friendships, and we pride ourselves on securing partnerships that last for many years. Our school is based in Ouray, Colorado located in the heart of the San Juan Mountains. We offer both open registration courses and custom programs designed to fit individual goals. Custom programs allow us the flexibility to structure the curriculum to meet each person or self-organized group's specific needs and objectives. Either way, your outdoor experience will be not only instructional, but also personalized and fun.

06/08/2026

The first sign you’ve arrived in Ouray, CO: Mt. Abrams (12,801 ft) rising above town.

Just below this iconic peak sits the heart of our community, the place we get to call home and where we have welcomed adventurers for decades.

Captured last week showing the hillsides turning green; summer in the San Juans is well underway.

A view that never seems to get old.

🎥 Ingrid Vanderploeg

Love the Via Ferrata? Trade the rungs for rock. Guide’s view yesterday - Tyrolean Traverse - Red Mountain Pass area, Our...
06/03/2026

Love the Via Ferrata? Trade the rungs for rock. Guide’s view yesterday - Tyrolean Traverse - Red Mountain Pass area, Ouray CO

Finished the Via Ferrata and wondering what’s next? If clipping into cables sparked your interest in vertical terrain, rock climbing is a natural progression. The Ouray Via Ferrata can be compared to a 5.6 (Downstream route) or 5.7 (Upstream route), even though vias are not officially comparable with climbing terms.

SMJG Guide Steven van Sickle : “We climbed PEMA, 5.7 and Master Blaster 5.9, on the Misfits wall on Red Mountain Pass. Each route is 4 pitches of mixed bolts and gear with a fun Tyrolean traverse over a waterfall to get there.” (Swipe till the end…!)

Reach out if you are ready to level up!

05/31/2026

Legendary Colorado Ice Climbs - Ames Ice Hose - Telluride/ Ophir, CO

This epic, challenging multi-pitch route on Ames Wall climbs approximately 600 feet and is graded WI5/M6. Conditions can vary greatly throughout the season; mixed climbing and careful route finding are required. As with many ice climbs in the San Juans region, conditions change throughout the winter, making each ascent different.

Our AMGA/IFMGA-trained guides have decades of climbing and guiding experience in the San Juans and understand how to navigate the route’s unique conditions.

👉 If you want to take on this classic Telluride ice climb this winter 26/27 ❄️ reach out to . This climb needs preparation and planning. Let’s go!

🎥 / compilation of two separate climbs

05/27/2026

Rock in summer. Ice in winter. Ouray’s climbing season is year round.

From summer rock climbing courses to climbing frozen waterfalls, our guides teach movement and mountaineering skills all year in the San Juan Mountains.

From first-time climbers to experienced adventurers our AMGA/IMFGA trained guides will elevate your skillset.

This is an opportunity to join a guided group for the Ouray Via Ferrata Downstream - no private booking needed! This THE...
05/24/2026

This is an opportunity to join a guided group for the Ouray Via Ferrata Downstream - no private booking needed!

This THE signup option for solo adventurers, couples, and other small groups. 

📞 Call our office at 970.946.0713 to join a guided group on the following dates:

👉JUNE 
- 8am June 2nd - 4 spots left
- 8am June 7th - 3 spots left
- 10am June 14th - 3 spots left 
- 8am June 27th - 2 spots left 
- 8am June 29th - 3 spots left

👉JULY
- 8am July 12th - 4 spots left 
- 8am July 21st - 3 spots left

👉September 
- 8am September 3rd - 4 spots left 

🔗 Sign up (link in our bio) for a date to your own liking; we just need a minimum of 2 people to run the deal!

Join us to experience for yourself the Skyladder, the Suspension Bridge, Stairway to Heaven and the Sky Climb along 4,000 ft of Via Ferrata inside the stunning Uncompahgre Gorge.

🗓2026 Dates: May - October

🕢Start Time: 8:00 A.M.

💰Cost: $219 per person (includes AMGA-certified guide and all gear)

📍Meet at the SJMG headquarters in Ouray, CO and enjoy a 4-hour adventure through the rocks and rungs of the Ouray Ice Park this summer!

Email 📧 [email protected] or call us at 970.946.0713 with any questions or assistance with the booking process or click link in our bio for more info!

05/18/2026

Last week’s situation: Via Ferrata in Telluride. Spring runoff is here to add to the excitement!

🍃Springtime in the mountains = snowstorms (like today) followed by blue bird skies and fresh mountain runoff.

The Via Ferrata in Telluride, blends the best of mountain hiking with a traditional Via Ferrata rung/cable system. Don’t miss out on this exciting adventure when you are visiting the area!

Ready for the Telluride Via Ferrata? From Ouray to Telluride we’ve got your Via Ferrata adventure covered with guides and rental gear.

📸 Footage is from Luke Brigham, taken last week. Thanks to Luke and our clients for sharing these moments with
us!

05/17/2026

Wemuniche Wilderness - Alpine Lakes Traverse - Colorado’s wildest places

Join us this summer on a six day, five night backpacking trip deep in the remote Weminuche Wilderness of the San Juan Mountains.

Trek through hidden alpine basins, run into white bighorn sheep (at 0.09 secs in the reel), camp beside pristine alpine lakes, and explore iconic destinations like Vestal Basin, Stormy Gulch, Leviathan Lake, and Jagged Mountain.

This off-the-beaten-path Colorado hiking trip combines expert local knowledge, stunning mountain scenery, and true solitude for experienced hikers seeking an unforgettable backcountry experience.

Only a couple of spots remaining!
🥾July 19-24
🥾August 9-14

To book this trip or more info and full itinerary check out our website, mtnguide.net (link in bio).

05/12/2026

Ski mountaineering camp - Yankee Boy Basin - footage from May 7-9, 2026

Ski guide Steven and got to enjoy fresh (!) powder during a four day ski mountaineering camp in Yankee Boy basin last week. A much needed spring storm came through on May 4-5, creating excellent conditions in the high country for a ski mountaineering camp in the San Juan’s. They skied the Cross Couloir and Stony peak couloirs. 💙

Thanks for sharing these images !

Ouray’s Via Ferrata - Highlights and Tips on what to bring and wear on this adventure!The has 8000’+ of cable-protected...
05/10/2026

Ouray’s Via Ferrata - Highlights and Tips on what to bring and wear on this adventure!

The has 8000’+ of cable-protected climbing through the Uncompahgre Gorge, also the home of the . It’s rated 4b on the VF rating system, which means there are fun and challenging features for everyone. This trip is perfect for families and groups with children that are 8 years and older.

👉 Highlights :

☑️ Two route options: Upstream (harder) and Downstream (easier).

☑️ Open daily (free access) from 8:00-4:00PM from May until October: a park ranger will meet with all visitors before entering the park.

☑️ @ Sanjuanmtnguides you can rent Via Ferrata gear (harness, helmet and lanyard) or hire a professional AMGA guide to make your adventure smooth and fun!

☑️ Pro-tip: if you feel comfortable climbing the Sky Climb (optional) on the Downstream route, you are ready to take on the Upstream route which has less rungs and requires more climbing skills. The Sky Climb is a VF5 rated climb that brings you to the highest point above the canyon bottom.

☑️ Both routes include vertical climbs and traverses along the steep cliffs using iron rungs and cable bridges with stunning views of Mount Abram’s and Twin Peaks.

☑️ It will 2-4 hours to get through one of the routes.

👉 Tips on what to bring and wear:

☑️ Small, snug backpack (20-30L) to carry sunscreen/ lip balm, phone, a snack and water!

☑️ Comfortable lightweight hiking pants/ clothing, a hat and closed-toe hiking or approach footwear with good sticky rubber soles for grip on the rocks.

☑️ Pro-tip: proper climbing or Via Ferrata gloves to protect your hands from the iron cables.

Email 📧 us at [email protected] or call 970. 946.0713 with any questions or assistance with the booking process for this must-do adventure in Ouray! (or click link in our bio)

📸

Address

710 Main Street
Ouray, CO
81427

Opening Hours

Monday 7:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 7:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 7:30am - 5pm
Thursday 7:30am - 5pm
Friday 7:30am - 5pm
Saturday 7:30am - 5pm
Sunday 7:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+19703254925

Website

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