Lake City Ice Climbs

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Lake City Ice Climbs

Just one block south of historic downtown Lake City is the Lake City Ice Park, a favorite among ice

02/07/2025

Lake City Ice Report 2/6/25 and a Word from your Ice Farmer 🧊🚜

Talk about wild weather swings! After a month of sub-zero nights, we’re hitting record warmth at 58° this week. Even those with PhDs in Iceology can’t grow ice at those temps! For the first time ever, we’re shutting pumps off during the day mid-season. Don’t worry though - we’ll keep this up until early/mid-March and still have great ice for another month!

Despite our new “tropical” status, we still have mega tons of ice! It’s Phat, it’s blue, and not going anywhere. Many walls remain in permanent shade for 6+ weeks. Watch for melting near exposed rocks/trees. The best practice is to have someone in your party at the bottom of your climb to make sure no one is within 50’ and remove any ice that looks precarious.

🧊 Pumphouse: Plenty of ice everywhere, but a few routes have been picking up some sun. We have had several punctures in the main line from crampons. Unfortunately, these are not a quick fix and have caused water to flow down the trail in a few places. Now more than ever, it is imperative that you put your crampons on before you head up the trail!

🧊 Devil’s Kitchen: Everything looks good in this area! There are some very sunny afternoon climbing spots. That has a huge upside. T-shirt laps are such a nice switch from wearing multiple jackets.

🧊 Dynamite Shack: Still Amazing. Still Thick. Still Awe Inspiring. Even if you are not going to climb this area, you owe it to yourself to walk across the river and stare up at those walls.

🧊 Beer Garden: This pump system has been evil toward us all year, but we still love the Beer Garden. Just after my last Ice Report, the pump died suddenly. Was it a heart attack? Was it cancer? Or was it...murder?!? We’re not sure, but we have already installed a new pump, and it’s trucking right along. Maybe by the time we shut the pumps down for the season, we’ll have all those daggers touching down and those pillars fattened up.

⚠️ 🦶 WATCH WHERE YOU STEP at the top of the wall! There can be hoses and lines under the snow. Look out for hollow spots right at the top of the cliff from where we spray the water, especially when leading.

01/28/2025

Want to boost your ice climbing skills at Lake City Ice Fest? Join the Colorado Climbing Company’s expert-led clinics!

Half-day clinics include Intro to Ice (learn what this ice climbing thing is all about!), Intro to Mixed (scratching up rock is different - we’ll help you figure it out), and Steep Ice Technique (gain confidence for longer, steeper climbs).

Full-day clinics include Learn to Lead (focused on getting you leading) and Backcountry & Multipitch (all about skills for bigger climbs).

Book your spot at LakeCityIce.com/festival 🧊

01/27/2025

🧊 THIS IS IT - Lake City Ice Fest is THIS SATURDAY, Feb 1st! 🧊⛏️ Whether you’re new to ice or a seasoned crusher, this is a fun, low-key event for everyone. We’re hoping to see 50 climbers out there this weekend! Plus catch highliner Sean Englund crossing Henson Creek Canyon above CR 20 in a special 1:00 PM demonstration!

📆 THIS Saturday, February 1st
⏰ 9:30AM Registration
🏔️ Beer Garden @ Lake City Ice Park
💪 Lead & Top Rope divisions available
🎟️ $35 to compete for the chance to win great prizes

Join us after at Lake City Arts for awards, food, and hanging with the climbing community! Meal tickets ($20) available at registration or at the door if not sold out.

01/26/2025

This week’s Lake City Ice Recap and a word from your ice farmer!

Wow it’s been a cold week! Even before the much heralded Arctic Blast we hit -20°! We had a few hoses freeze, but relatively few problems for such cold temps. We had a busy 3 day weekend, but we’ve been able to refresh almost everything.

🧊 Pumphouse:
Great Ice from the access trail all the way to the lower point. That’s the whole wall.

🧊 Devil’s Kitchen:
Everything is fat and blue! Check out the secret climb at the far upstream end around the rock point. Most likely, it’s still unclimbed.

🧊 Dynamite Shack:
160+ feet of vertical blue ice in some places. 200’ WI 3 climbs. What could be wrong with that!
We had a huge 40-50 foot dagger collapse on a cold night on the left or downstream end of Dynamite Shack. Literal tons of ice! This was a good reminder to be careful what you climb, especially when the ice is brittle from extreme cold!

🧊 Beer Garden:
After days of thawing the pump pit and a hectic afternoon of pulling the pump to clean it and replacing 8 frozen hoses (from low flow rather than extra cold temps) the pump here is running great! It’s been nice to have full water flow again. We are getting things filled in quickly!

WATCH WHERE YOU STEP when you are at the top of the wall! There can be hoses and lines under the snow. We had a few more hoses punctured and another hole in the main line.

Remember to look out for hollow spots right at the top of the cliff from where we spray the water, this is especially important when leading. Remember these are imperfect assessments. Make sure you do your own homework. As always, all the climbing in Lake City is truly CLIMB AT YOUR OWN RISK.

And don’t forget - Lake City Ice Fest is just around the corner on February 1st! Come join us for a day of climbing, community, and good times. Sign up at the Beer Garden at 9:30AM - all skill levels welcome. Head to LakeCityIce.com for more details! 🧊⛏️

01/17/2025

Lake City Ice Conditions 1/16/25 & a word from your ice farmer:

We’ve had some very cold nights lately with temperatures dropping to -5°F to -10°F, and the ice is looking good!

🧊 Pumphouse:
Water is flowing again at the lower point, so it’s getting fat. All the routes at Pumphouse are looking good and very little has been stepped out.

🧊 Devil’s Kitchen:
Most of the rampy climbs are getting thick and blue and smooth. The steeper climbs are some of the fattest of any at the park.

🧊 Dynamite Shack:
There are more routes at Dynamite Shack than ever before! Everything is looking really good and we’ve been able to refresh the most used routes.

🧊 Beer Garden:
There are still a few cliffs that need more ice. We have had some flow issues with the pump at this area. But, most of the routes are climbable with a lot of variety in ice formation. There are some fun skinny pillar lines and daggers right now.

Please WATCH WHERE YOU STEP when you are at the top of the wall! There can be hoses and lines under the snow.

Remember to look out for hollow spots right at the top of the cliff from where we spray the water especially when leading. Remember these are imperfect assessments. Make sure you do your own homework. As always, all the climbing in Lake City is truly CLIMB AT YOUR OWN RISK.

And don’t forget - Lake City Ice Fest is just around the corner on February 1st! Come join us for a day of climbing, community, and good times. Head to LakeCityIce.com for more details! 🧊⛏️

01/08/2025

Lake City Ice Conditions 1/7/25 & a word from your ice farmer.

Welcome to 2025! The ice is getting thick, and we are still forming new routes every week. We have had plenty of people climbing over the holidays, yet I have not seen anything that looks stepped out. Over the holidays, we had a wide range of high and low temps - highs anywhere from 20-45°! This created varied conditions with some areas being smooth and blue, while others look sun-melted, and others have a lot of chandeliers.

There’s almost no openings in the river ice, creating a lot of room for hanging out and belaying below most climbs. WATCH WHERE YOU STEP when you are at the top of the wall! There can be hoses and lines under the snow. We have had 5 hoses and one main line punctured in just the last week. Remember to look out for hollow spots right at the top of the cliff from where we spray the water, especially when leading.

There are many routes that still have not been climbed this year. When at the top of the wall, look for cliff tops with undisturbed snow. Some of those areas may not have easy routes below them, but some have great unclimbed routes. Think outside the box!

At Pumphouse all routes are in.

Dynamite Shack is bursting with routes! There are some crazy pillars and hanging daggers there that we have never had before this season. All of the challenging and tall routes are in.

Beer Garden is looking good! Remember to look at the left end for some lower angle climbs that rarely have people on them. Just left of center, there are some great spaced-out daggers and skinny pillars for the more adventurous climbers.

Remember these are imperfect assessments. Make sure you do your own homework. As always, all the climbing in Lake City is truly CLIMB AT YOUR OWN RISK.

📸 1/5/25

12/26/2024

Join us for Lake City Ice Fest 2025! 🧊⛏️ A friendly competition for all levels of ice climbers, from weekend warriors to seasoned locals. Our goal is to host 50 climbers this year - so grab your tools and bring your friends.

📆 February 1, 2025
🏔️ Registration @ 9:30AM | Competition @ 11:00AM
📍 Lake City Ice Park @ Beer Garden
💪 Lead & Top Rope divisions
🎟️ $35/climber

Wrap up the day at Lake City Arts for awards, food, and hanging with the climbing community. Meal tickets available for $20 at registration or if available at the door.

Want to help support? Learn more at LakeCityIce.com

📸 Travis Hodges

12/23/2024

The park is open for night climbing - bring your headlamps! ✨🌙 Night climbing has become a Lake City tradition, especially on New Year’s Eve.

Ice Report 12/19/24: See previous report as not much has changed in the last week. We have had some warmer days lately and probably more to come. This does not mean that we are losing any ice, just that it is growing slower now. The other effect of the warm weather is that it tends to form a lot more chandelier ice.

Keep in mind that there can be hollow areas at the top of the cliffs from where the water is sprayed. This is especially important to note if you are leading.

Watch your feet! There are many water lines and hoses easily punctured by crampons.

12/16/2024

Lake City Ice Conditions 12/15/24

The ice at all 4 walls is getting thick and blue! We have had consistently cold temps for a couple weeks that has grown a lot of ice! We have had people climbing since before Thanksgiving. Note: Remember Lake City Ice never actually closes in the spring or opens in the fall. If there’s any ice and you want to climb it, it’s fair game! There are 50+ routes climbable now and we will have something new coming in every week for the next month or so.

Henson Creek is crossable at all 4 areas and most climbs that start at the river channel are accessible with a little creativity - most of our climbs start on the river bank and are always accessible. People have been lead climbing at all 4 areas now for a couple weeks. The ice is thick for this early in the season, but keep in mind you could still encounter thin ice or variable conditions including chandeliers and jellyfish. Remember to look out for hollow spots right at the top of the cliff from where we spray the water, especially when leading.

Remember these are imperfect assessments. Make sure you do your own homework. As always, all the climbing in Lake City is truly CLIMB AT YOUR OWN RISK.

📸 12/13/24

11/30/2024

Ice is IN! ⛏️ And we are OPEN!

First ice of the season is ready at Lake City Ice Park and the climbing is sweet! Pumphouse Park is leading the charge with multiple solid ice columns ready for swings with Henson Creek frozen and crossable.

Swipe for the latest conditions 👉

As always, climb at your own risk, and come get some early season ice! We can’t wait to see you there.

📸 11/29/24

11/19/2024

🚨 Introducing Devil’s Kitchen! 🧊

We are beyond stoked to share this brand new section of Lake City Ice with you this season! Our latest expansion will more than double Pumphouse Park’s size, adding 500 feet of climbing terrain with 30+ new routes ready for you to explore.

This Week’s Conditions Report: 🌡️ Our ice farmers are hard at work with the dropping temperatures ❄️ Ice formations are developing nicely 🌊 Henson Creek is starting to freeze 
The excitement is growing for this massive addition to the Lake City Ice Park. Stay tuned for opening dates and more updates as the ice continues to build! Swipe through for a sneak peek at what’s forming throughout the park. 👉

📸 11/18/24

11/01/2024

It’s happening! 👀 The first formations are starting to appear at Lake City Ice Park and we can barely contain our excitement for what’s coming this season. With temperatures dropping and our water system primed, our dedicated ice farmers are already hard at work creating the perfect conditions for another incredible winter of climbing.

Stay tuned for announcements coming soon about updates and expanded terrain for 24/25!

📸 10/31 (Beer Garden)

04/11/2024

Currently!

04/11/2024

Lake City Ice Conditions 4/10/24

Lake City Ice is STILL OPEN!

A word from you ice farmer:

I was gone for 3 weeks and surprised to find, when I returned, that the majority of our ice is still climbable! The last 4 mornings the low temperature has been between 10-20 degrees. Rocky areas with some southern exposure and the tops of some climbs have started to melt. Expect ice in direct sun to turn soft, especially late in the day.

Remember, this is late-season climbing. It it best to avoid any stand alone pillars, curtains, and probably anything truly vertical or over hanging. Keep a lookout for those continuous horizontal cracks on any face. There is a 100 ft wide section of the Beer Garden where the ice lands directly on the main channel of Henson Creek. The bottom 5-15 feet of that section has fallen and is gone.

Henson Creek is crossable at all three areas. Someone put a ladder at Pumphouse Park for walking across. There is no plank on it, so you can practice your expedition crevasse crossing skills. The ladder at Dynamite Shack has been moved upstream. Look up the road from the Dynamite Shack sign and you will see the traffic cone that marks where the bridge is, about 200 yds up the road. There are 2 ice bridges still at Beer Garden, not sure how long they will last. The top of ALL 3 AREAS are accessible from the top.To access the top go back to Highway 149 and turn right, (South) go about 1/2 a mile and take a right on Vine St, Follow Vine up to the water tank. You can ignore all the No Trespassing signs, they are not valid. Do not park near the house that is up there. Park before the last hill or to the left of the municipal water tank. Pumphouse is right below the water tank and the other 2 areas are accessed by the hiking trail that heads up the valley. For more information on accessing the top call Ben (970 403-6301).

Watch your feet! Avoid stepping on the main line as it emerges from the snow. Remember, these are imperfect assessments. Make sure you do your own homework. As always, all the ice climbing in Lake City is truly CLIMB AT YOUR OWN RISK.

One thing to note: Warming tents and portapotties are down for the season. Please prepare in advance.

Thanks for coming to Lake City!

03/29/2024

Lake City Ice Conditions 3/29

Did you know the Lake City Ice Park doesn’t have a closing date? Ice climbing is available in Lake City as long as the ice is climbable - which we expect will be through April!

All three sections of the park are still accessible for late-season climbs. There is still a snow bridge at Pumphouse Park, and Dynamite Shack is accessible via a ladder bridge. Beer Garden still has a few crossings, but we’ve had some significant ice losses, so please exercise extra caution if you’re heading there. Note that there are some sections of Beer Garden that shouldn’t be climbed.

As temperatures increase, be on the lookout for ice that may not be securely connected to the wall, and any ice in trees that might hang over the wall. Keep in mind that warm temperatures can cause these to fall. Please be extra careful. When setting your anchor, ensure that nobody is within 30-50 feet of the bottom of your climb. Rappel safely and avoid any potential hazards on your way down.

Lastly, please avoid stepping on the main line as it emerges from the snow. Remember that our assessments are not perfect, so we encourage you to do your research before you go climbing. And as always, please remember that all ice climbing in Lake City is at your own risk.

03/22/2024

Lake City Ice Conditions 3/22/24

Happy Spring! The good news is that April climbing is a good possibility, and climbers are saying that the ice is still really good!

There haven’t been many changes since our last report. Expect the tops of climbs to turn soft, especially late in the day. In terms of access, Henson Creek is crossable at all three areas, while the ice at Pumphouse Park is still holding up. At Dynamite Shack, there’s a ladder serving as a bridge. The ice on the creek is quite thick near Beer Garden and should remain stable for a while. However, the river ice will eventually break up, and when that happens, you will need to either drive around to the top of Pumphouse or be prepared to wade. For more information on accessing the top, please call Ben at 970 403-6301. The creek is knee-deep or shallower in most places. Even after the ladder bridge at Dynamite Shack falls a few inches into the water, it will likely remain crossable.

As the temperature increases, please be on the lookout for poorly connected ice at the top of the wall and ice in trees that overhang the wall. Warm temperatures can cause these to release, which presents a serious hazard. If you can, when setting your anchor, make sure there is no one within 30-50 feet of the bottom of your climb and rappel as you clear any hazards on your way down.

Lastly, please watch your step and avoid stepping on the main line as it emerges from the snow. Please keep in mind that these are imperfect assessments, so do your own research before climbing. As always, all ice climbing in Lake City is done at your own risk.

Thank you for visiting Lake City!

03/13/2024

Lake City Ice Conditions 3/12/24
Lake City Ice is STILL VERY OPEN

From your Ice Farmer:
As of today, we have lost almost zero ice! As the temperatures rise and more cliffs are getting sun, more will start to melt, but at this point, there are only a few places that are starting to melt. Rocky areas with some southern exposure and the tops of some climbs have started to melt. Expect the tops of climbs to turn soft, especially late in the day.

Henson Creek is crossable at all three areas. The ice is still holding at Pumphouse Park. There is a ladder as a bridge at Dynamite Shack. The ice on the creek is very thick at Beer Garden and should hold for a while. The river ice will break up in the next couple weeks. When that happens, you can either drive around to the top of Pumphouse or be prepared to wade. The creek is knee deep or shallower in most places. The ladder bridge at Dynamite Shack will likely remain crossable even after it falls the few inches into the water. For more information on accessing the top, call Ben (970 403-6301).

As the temps get warm keep an eye out for poorly connected ice at the top of the wall and ice in trees that overhang the wall. Warm temps can cause that to release and presents a serious hazard. If you can, when setting your anchor, make sure there is no one within 30-50 feet of the bottom of your climb and rappel as you clear any hazards on your way down.

Watch your feet! Avoid stepping on the main line as it emerges from the snow.

Remember, these are imperfect assessments. Make sure you do your own homework. As always, all the ice climbing in Lake City is truly CLIMB AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Thanks for coming to Lake City!

03/01/2024

Lake City Ice Conditions 2/29/24 Leap Day!

From your Ice Farmer:
We did it! We grew more ice this year than ever before, and that’s despite the fact that overall, it’s been a warmer winter than last year. With this sense of accomplishment, our hard work of ice farming is coming to an end, and in the next few days, we will be shutting off pumps and removing hoses.

LET ME MAKE IT CLEAR THOUGH, that this in no way means our climbing season ending! Continuing with the farming analogy; IT’S HARVEST TIME! In my opinion, March is often the best climbing month. The afternoon sun melts and refreshes most of the climbs on a daily basis, and the sun makes climbing, especially belaying, feel like sunbathing with ice! Daylight laps until 6:30, no hoses to trip over, and fewer people...so many great things about March at Lake City Ice.

Park Conditions:
All 3 areas are looking great, and we’ve never had more rock covered in ice. As the temps get warm again, keep an eye out for poorly connected ice at the top of the wall and in trees that overhang the wall - warm temps can cause release presenting a serious hazard. When setting your anchor, make sure there is no one within 30-50 feet of the bottom of your climb and rappel to clear any hazards on your way down.

There is open water on Henson Creek blocking the path to Dynamite Shack. We will be installing a short-term bridge soon, but in the meantime, Dynamite Shack should still be accessible from the bottom of Beer Garden. There may be other places to cross also, so have a look around.

There is still a lot of variety in the ice formation. It will be increasingly uniform as March progresses. We just had 6-8” of snow, with more on the way. The best way to clear snow from routes is to climb them, so climb as many as possible! At this point, most snow should have great ice underneath it. Soon, there should be few hoses or none, but watch your feet to avoid stepping on any remaining hoses and the main line as it emerges from the snow.

Remember, these are imperfect assessments. Make sure you do your own homework. As always, all the ice climbing in Lake City is truly CLIMB AT YOUR OWN RISK. Thanks for coming to Lake City!

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Thanks to everyone who joined us for Ice Fest 2025! 💙 We’re already looking forward to next year! #icefest #iceclimbing #winterclimbing #lakecityicepark

Time to get stoked - Lake City Ice Fest is coming soon on Feb 1st! 🧊⛏️ Whether you’re new to ice or a seasoned crusher, this is a fun, low-key event for everyone. We’re hoping to see 50 climbers out there this year! Quick Details: 📆 Saturday, February 1st ⏰ 9:30AM Registration 🏔️ Beer Garden @ Lake City Ice Park 💪 Lead & Top Rope divisions available 🎟️ $35 to compete for the chance to win great prizes Join us after at Lake City Arts for awards, food, and hanging with the climbing community! Meal tickets ($20) available at registration or at the door if not sold out. Want to help support? Learn more at LakeCityIce.com #LakeCityIce #IceFestival2025 #IceClimbing #ColoradoClimbing #WinterSports #LakeCity #SanJuans #iceclimbing #winterclimbing #icefestival

Join us on Feb 3rd for the Lake City Ice Climbs Festival! Whether you’re a seasoned ice climber or just interested in watching, you don’t want to miss this event. ⛏ Festival Details: 📍 Festival will take place at the Beer Garden ⏰ Registration starts at 8:30am ⏰ Ice Climbing Competition starts at 10:00am 💵 Competition Entry Fee: $35 per climber* Registration will take place on-site. 🎁 Door Prizes for competitors! ⛏ Ice Climbing Competitions with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prices for all categories: • Men’s Lead • Men’s Top Rope • Men’s Adaptive • Women’s Lead • Women’s Top Rope • Women’s Adaptive 🏆 Awards Ceremony will take place at the Lake City Armory *Entry fees benefit the operation of the Lake City Ice Park. #iceclimbingfestival #iceclimbing #icepark #lakecityice #iceclimbers #lakecityicepark #lakecityicefestival

Conditions report 11/28/23: Cold temps are finally here and that means the creek is freezing and more ice is forming every day. We can’t wait to see you! ⛏️ Come get some early season climbs in! 📸 11/27/23 #iceclimbing #iceclimbingimages #iceaxe #winterclimbing #iceclimb #iceclimbingimages #iceclimbers #iceclimbingcolorado #iceclimbcolorado

Conditions report 3/25/23: The Lake City Ice Park is still kickin’! All three sections are still open and the river is still holding out for easy access. ⛏️ Come get some end of season climbs in! 📸 3/25/23 #iceclimbing #iceclimbingimages #iceaxe #winterclimbing #iceclimb #iceclimbingimages #iceclimbers #iceclimbingcolorado #iceclimbcolorado

A good weekend if ice climbing is ahead! All three sections of the park are looking 🙌. Come and get it! ⛏️ #iceclimbing #iceclimbers #lakecityice #winterinlakecity #icepark

Join us on Feb 4th for the Lake City Ice Climbs Festival! Whether you’re an active participant or an interested spectator, you don’t want to miss this event. ⛏ Festival will take place at the Beer Garden ⏰ Registration starts at 8:30am ⏰ Ice Climbing Competition starts at 10:00am 💵 Competition Entry Fee: $35 per climber* Registration will take place on-site. 🎁 Door Prizes! ⛏ Ice Climbing Competitions with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prices for all categories:� • Men’s Lead • Men’s Top Rope • Men’s Adaptive • Women’s Lead • Women’s Top Rope • Women’s Adaptive 🏆 Awards Ceremony will take place at Lake City Arts - More details coming soon. *Entry fees benefit the operation of the Lake City Ice Park. #iceclimbingfestival #iceclimbing #icepark #lakecityice #iceclimbers

Feeling the Friday fun at the Lake City Ice Park. ⛏️ We’re ready for those holiday climbs! 🎥 12/22/22 #iceclimbing #lakecityice #winterinlakecity #iceclimbers

Introduction the Dynamite Shack - the newest section of Lake City Ice Climbs with routes up to 160’. ⛏️⛏️⛏️ #iceclimbing #iceclimbers #lakecityice

👀 An up close look at the Beer Garden - Jan 20.

Lake City Ice Climbs Festival

The countdown is on. ⛏ Join us on Feb 5 for the 2022 Lake City Ice Climbs Annual Festival! Can't wait to see you there. #lakecityice #lakecityiceclimbs #iceclimbing #iceclimb #iceclimbers #visitlakecityco #lakecitycolorado

Lake City Ice Climbs

02/07/2025

01/28/2025

01/27/2025

01/26/2025

01/17/2025

01/08/2025

12/26/2024

12/23/2024

12/16/2024

11/30/2024

11/19/2024

11/01/2024

04/11/2024

04/11/2024

03/29/2024

03/22/2024

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03/01/2024

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