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.

09/07/2026

Guide’s view | Black Canyon of the Gunnison rock climbing

This stunning, often underrated National Park is one hour drive from Ouray, CO and in our opinion one of Colorado’s finest multi-pitch adventure climbing destinations.

🧗‍♀️Route shown is rated 5.10/ 7 pitches.

Two of our IFMGA/AMGA guides were present to instructed this young and talented climber successfully to the top, and safely rappel down.

Our guides bring unmatched experience climbing in the Black Canyon. Get in touch if you are ready for this kind of adventure!

Season goes until October; there’s plenty time left to do this.

🎥 and AMGA guide Katie Beringer

08/24/2026

Guide’s view last week on Red Mountain Pass

AMGA guide Steven Zero Gravity Alpinism and San Juan Mountain Guides : “We climbed Ruby Slippers 5.10, Master Blaster 5.9, and Beyond Chunderdome 5.10b”.

Thanks to our guest and Steven for sharing their day with us. 👏

Ready to climb this?

08/23/2026

Fall fever is real.

One last hike before the high country shuts down. Golden aspens, crisp mornings and that feeling that winter is just around the corner; the anticipation of early ice and snow…

A few of our favorite fall hikes in the San Juans:

🥾 Oak Creek & Twin Peaks - Ouray
🌲Weehawken - Ouray
🏔️ Bear Creek - Telluride
💧 Ice Lakes Basin - Silverton

🍂 Fall colors in the San Juans generally peak from mid/ late September into mid October.

Pick a trail and get your dose of fall!

08/17/2026

Senators Gulch | Camp Bird Road (CR 361)

Best watched sideways; we just couldn’t crop this wall…

Climber Katie Beringer
Drone footage K I E R S A | K O E P N I C K

A classic Ouray ice climb WI3-WI4/5 💙

What’s your classic climb?

08/11/2026

Peeking through ice walls and into the 26/27 season. Read caption for details👇

From the Ouray Ice Park to the backcountry, take your ice climbing skills to the next level this upcoming winter.

🧊 Ice Climbing Courses & Programs offered San Juan Mountain Guides :
→ Intro to Ice - build your foundation.
→ Intermediate Ice - refine technique and climb steeper terrain.
→ Advanced Ice - take on more technical routes.
→ Self Rescue - build critical rescue skills.
→ Mixed Climbing - combine rock and ice.
→ Ice Leader’s Seminar - develop your lead skills and systems.
→ Backcountry Ice - take it beyond the Ice Park.
→ Early Season Ice - get on the ice early.

🧊Ouray Ice Fest 2027 | January 28-31, 2027

🧊Become an Ouray Ice Park member Ouray Ice Park

Reach out for more info about our ice climbing courses at 📩[email protected] or call us at
970.946.0713!

What’s on your climbing list this winter?

08/09/2026

SOUND ON - Ellie has some advice for her brother.

Ellie climbing the Alcove in Ouray and giving her older brother some encouragement from below.

Guide Katie Beringer caught some of the best moments: “She’d say, ‘I can’t!!!’ Then, wait… no, I can!” When things got a little scary, Ellie would stop, blow out her imaginary candles, take a breath, and keep climbing. Her mantra for the day: “I can do hard things.”

And she did.

Everett, meanwhile, made it to the top of Groove Tube—5.9, 100 feet.

Climbing gives kids more than time on the wall—it builds balance, coordination, agility, and confidence along the way.

Pretty good reminder that sometimes courage sounds like, “Wait… no I can!

🎥 Katie Beringer

08/04/2026

Via Ferrata Ouray Downstream route - part IV - Arrowhead to the Sky Ladder

Follow us along while we navigate the Ouray Via Ferrata Downstream route. This section covers beautifully shaped arrowhead rock formations, a vertical climb high above the canyon, and the Sky Ladder that leads you to the last climb and the exit of the route.

This route is an incredible opportunity to get your group or family outdoors and enjoy an unforgettable adventure.

There are two route options: Upstream (harder) and Downstream (easier) route.

The Via Ferrata is one of the most popular outdoor activities in Ouray and is approachable for anyone age 8 or older.

San Juan Mountain Guides is equipped to make your adventure fun and smooth with modern gear and professional mountain guides.

Reach out for gear or guiding at 📩[email protected] or call us at
970.946.0713!

🎥 Ingrid Vanderploeg & Keeton Disser

07/27/2026

Mt. Abrams (12,801 ft.) isn’t your average hike.

Accessible from Brown Mountain Jeep Road or the north end of Ironton Park, this 12,801 foot San Juan ascent in Ouray, Colorado takes you off the beaten path.

Steep terrain, exposed ridgelines, and a few no fall zones (shown and mentioned in fourth shot looking south in this reel) make for a rewarding day in the mountains!

Our local guides know the route, the conditions, and the safest way through the more technical sections, so you can focus on the climb and the views.

Would you hike Mt. Abrams?

🎥 Ingrid Vanderploeg, footage shows ascent from Brown Mountain jeep road

07/26/2026

Look closer. The turns are there.

Weather forecasts are putting the San Juan Mountains on the radar for the 2026/27 Super El Niño pattern, and we’re already dreaming of powder filled glades like these.

Whether you’re new to the backcountry or chasing your next objective, we’re always happy to share what we know about skiing in the San Juans.

👉 We believe great backcountry days start with good planning, local knowledge, and the right partners Red Mountain Alpine Lodge Opus Hut Mount Hayden Backcountry Lodge

Reach out for more info or questions 📩[email protected] or call us at 📞
970.946.0713!

07/20/2026

Vestal Peak (13,864 ft.) - 1,7 billion years old - has been standing here for a very long time.

At nearly 1.7 billion years old, Vestal’s quartzite is far older than the surrounding volcanic peaks of the San Juan Mountains. That ancient rock gives Vestal its distinctive shape, and one of Colorado’s most sought-after Centennial climbs.

Our 3-day Vestal Peak via Wham Ridge (III, 5.4) adventure takes you deep into Vestal Basin. If conditions cooperate and the group is up for it, you’ll also have the opportunity to summit neighboring Arrow Peak (13,805 ft.) before heading home.

Other Featured Alpine Objectives San Juan Mountain Guides
🏔️ Chicago Basin 14ers
🏔️ Vestal Peak
🏔️ Jagged Mountain
🏔️ Wilson Peak
🏔️ Mt. Wilson & El Diente
🏔️ Mount Sneffels
🏔️ Custom alpine itineraries throughout the Weminuche Wilderness and the San Juan Mountains

Whether you’re working toward Colorado’s Centennial Peaks or planning a custom alpine expedition, our experienced local guides can help you achieve your summit goals.

Favorite Centennial you’ve climbed so far?

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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