While visiting Telluride Colorado, I decided to try something a little bit different from the standard hiking I usually stick to. I had had my eye on trying a via ferrata for a couple years, and the Telluride Via Ferrata is one of the top rated ones in the country!
This was definitely an adventure, and the combination of crazy exposure, traversing vertical cliffs, and pulling myself up and across tiny little bars pounded into the wall was a truly unique and unforgettable experience! If you’re looking for a new way to push yourself, this might be it!
Miles/Elevation:
~4 miles
~1200 feet vertical gain
About Telluride:
Located in the south west portion of Colorado, Telluride is a small mountain town that offers amazing hiking, skiing, and views. Lying in the base of a steep walled canyon, Telluride is flanked by massive mountains, and near vertical valley walls. At the head of the valley is the 365 foot Bridal Veil Falls!
In summer, Telluride is an ideal base for exploring the rugged San Juan Mountains, one of the most picturesque ranges in the Rockies. There are numerous hiking trails that leave directly from town, including the Sneffels Highline, Bear Creek Trail, and the Black Bear four wheel drive road.
In winter, Telluride is one of the premier ski resorts in Colorado. The Telluride Ski Resort has over 2,000 skiable acres and connects Telluride with the resort area of Mountain Village. The Telluride Ski Resort has over 120 runs ranging from beginner level skiing to expert!
About Via Ferratas:
Italian for “iron way,” via ferratas are rugged alpine routes that take you over and across severe terrain that would normally only be accessible to rock climbers. Participants spend their time wearing climbing harnesses with special clips that allow you to clip onto the metal rungs and cables so the falling danger is minimal, but it doesn’t feel like it!
Most via ferratas take you onto sheer cliffs, into canyons, or through terrain otherwise inaccessible to normal hikers. To deal with the serious terrain, designers drill metal bars, rungs, cables, and clips into the rock. Users then utilize climbing gear to attach themselves, giving them a high degree of protection and safety despite the serious exposure!
Via Ferratas were first created during the First World War in Northern Italy as the Italians defended their nation from invasion. The borders of Northern Italy are largely determined by the Alps, so to effectively defend and travel through their mountainous home, the Italians constructed these iron roads up, over, across, and through the mountains. Soldiers then used the routes to access remote and defensible positions high in the mountains.
Since the World Wars, Via Ferratas have begun popping up in different places across Europe and now the United States purely as forms of recreation. No longer are via ferratas used in war; now, they are a type of outdoor adventure recreation that is quickly growing in popularity. Via Ferratas have been common in European countries like Switzerland for a while, but they are now quickly popping up in mountain towns and resorts across North America, especially in Colorado!
Getting To Telluride:
Always be sure to follow the 7 Leave No Trace Principles when in the outdoors!
Telluride is a fairly remote destination, and is a bit of a journey from all major cities, even Denver is about 6 hours away. Telluride is located just off Colorado highway 145 which runs from Cortez to Naturita. To reach 145 from Denver, most will either take I-70 Grand Junction or highway 50 to Montrose. From the south, highways 160, 550, and 491 will all get you close.
If you don’t want to drive, basically the only other option is to fly into the small and precarious Telluride Airport. The runway is basically perched on top of a series of cliffs, so it would definitely be an interesting place to fly into! There are some commercial flights into Telluride, primarily from Phoenix and Denver, but the price tag can be a bit steep!
Getting To The Telluride Via Ferrata:
Always follow basic trail etiquette when on trail!
The Via Ferrata itself starts a ways up the Black Bear Pass Road, but most Via Ferrata users will start their day at the Bridal Veil Falls Trailhead just outside of Telluride. This trailhead is at the base of Black Bear Pass Road.
While the trailhead parking area is at the base of the road, the actual via ferrata requires a roughly 2 mile hike up Black Bear Pass Road to get started. While you could drive all the way up to the start if you have a 4 wheel drive vehicle, I generally wouldn’t recommend it because you would then have to hike back up at the end. You might be able to convince a guide company to drive you up, but most will just start at the Bridal Veil Falls Trailhead.
The Telluride Via Ferrata:
Guided Or Unguided:
You do not have to use a guide to do the Telluride Via Ferrata. That being said, if you aren’t totally comfortable on via ferratas and don’t have extensive rock climbing or via ferrata experience, you would be stupid to do it yourself.
Properly done with the right safety equipment and technique, the danger of a via ferrata is actually quite low. In theory, you’re always clipped onto a solid hold, usually with multiple clips. That’s much more secure than a hike across narrow and difficult terrain, and likely more secure than most rock climbing setups.
But, if you’ve never done a via ferrata yourself and aren’t a proficient rock climber, don’t consider doing this yourself. Spend the money and get a guide!
Climbing To The Route:
From the lower parking lot, we set off up Black Bear Pass Road. While we could have technically driven to the top, that would mean a nasty climb to finish the day, plus the road itself is pretty rough, and my car never would have made it!
The hike to the start of the route is totally straightforward and along a wide gravel road. The unfortunate thing is there’s actually quite a bit of traffic. This is a pretty famous off-roading route, so expect lots of Jeeps and other off roaders heading past.
The highlight of the hike up is passing the base of Bridal Veil Falls. The waterfall plummets more than 300 feet down into the valley, and the road you’re on heads right past the base. If you keep going, you will eventually reach the top, but the via ferrata begins before then.
Eventually, the trail for the via ferrata branches off to the left. At a right turning switchback in the road, a small use trail continues straight. This is the start of the route!
The Via Ferrata:
The route starts off as just a simple hiking trail. You’ll have a bit of single track before things really pick up, but before long, you’ll have to get clipped in!
After maybe a 5 minute hike, you’ll reach the technical section of the via ferrata itself. From here on out, you’ll be clipped on to the cables almost all of the time, so get ready!
The technical stuff begins slowly with some easy moves to get you started before the main events of the route later on. You’ll have some big steps to do over gullies in the trail, narrow ledges to cross with hundreds of feet of air below you, and a few ladders and rungs to make your way up!
The first half of the via ferrata actually went by pretty quick in my group. One older couple was moving slowly, but since we had two guides, some of us went ahead with one while the other stayed back with the slower ones.
But, about halfway through the via ferrata, all of that fast progress came to a stop as we reached the main event, the crux of the entire route.
The Main Event:
Make sure you check out the Sneffels Highline when you’re in Telluride too!
The highlight of the Telluride Via Ferrata is a section of steel rungs drilled into a nearly vertical cliff face that users must make their way across. With around 500 feet of air beneath you, you have to balance your way across little foot wide metal rungs spaced a long step apart from each other!
I generally don’t have a fear of heights, and even on trails that have sheer drop offs that freak almost everyone else, I really don’t get nervous, but all of those fears came back to me now!
Despite being 6’4”, every step between rungs felt like I was trying to do the splits. I can’t fathom how short people do this! Also concerning was the building fatigue I was feeling, especially in my arms and shoulders. I had been hiking almost everyday for a month, not working out in a gym. My upper body wasn’t exactly at its peak!
As I was cursing the series of choices that had led me to this point, I was slowly but surely making progress. We stopped for a couple minutes as the air force did a flyover of Telluride and the jets passed at nearly eye level. And gradually, I was passing from rung to rung!
While I was extremely stressed, there again was basically no danger in this situation. I had multiple clips of professional climbing gear attaching me to steel cable, so even if I let go, I would only have fallen a couple feet. My guide could literally have tied a rope to me and dragged me across the cliff!
Anyway, we eventually got through the main event and found a place to take a breather. I was certainly ready to not do anything like that again, but our guide then informed us that while that was the most mentally difficult part of the route, there would be more physically difficult sections to come!
The Second Half:
The thing with via ferratas is that while they look super scary, they aren’t actually dangerous. The main event is the main event because you’re hanging off the side of a cliff with hundreds of feet of air beneath you, not because it’s the hardest part. In fact, there were still two moves ahead that would be much more physically demanding!
The first of these tough moves found us needing to cross a break in the cliff. Our guide showed us what to do, and then for some reason believed in us to do it (we did, but it seemed ridiculous to me at the time).
Basically, we first had to get into a gulley, then swing one foot across to the other side. While we were spread eagle over a yawning chasm, we then had to transfer our safety clips from one side to the other. We did that one at a time so we were always still attached. Finally, once the safety clips were moved, we then had to push off from the starting side and pull ourselves over, grabbing the rock before we fell back. Easy!
After some more traversing the cliffs on narrow and exposed ledges, we reached the final tough part of the via ferrata, and for me the most physically difficult part of the day.
This final move found us at the end of a trail approaching overhanging cliffs. Again, our guide showed us how to do it, and then we had to give it the old college try. The problem here was the rock above you was overhanging, so you would have to pull yourself up with arm strength rather than using the legs!
On my first try, I made it halfway, and then realized I hadn’t moved over my safety clips so I had to start over.
On the second try, I approached the rock, got on the first rung, and then immediately moved my safety clips. I then hopped onto the last rock I could get to. From here, I was largely hanging from my arms, leaning backwards. From here, I had to swing my legs up and to the left onto the next platform, and then pull my upper body up and over, and then not fall off!
Not going to lie, it was a struggle getting my legs up. It was a weird angle and my legs were tired and I was all around struggling. Then, once my legs were up, my arms were basically jelly trying to pull myself up. I had been told that with proper technique, I would hardly even have to use my arms. I could just hang straight armed and use my legs to walk myself over! That sounded impossible to me so I just pulled myself up. It was super hard, but I eventually made it!
Descending:
After those pair of seriously tough moves, we were near the end of the via ferrata. We had a few more minutes of fun and easy walking over exposed ledges, but we soon reached the end of the technical route.
Eventually, we unclipped for the last time, and descended down to an old gravel road via a narrow and slippery use trail. From here, we had a simple if steep descent back down to the parking lot on old gravel roads. A couple people in our group slipped and fell at various points, but being able to just walk was kind of nice!
After maybe a mile of hiking, we were back at the parking lot. It was a pretty epic day, and something I had never done before. I was exhausted, both mentally and physically, and honestly didn’t know if I’d be doing a via ferrata again! Now, a few months removed, I can say I definitely will be doing via ferratas again!
Verdict:
I don’t think I can give this experience a Top Down Lifestyle Rating like I normally would because this isn’t really a hike. A via ferrata is part hike, part rock climb. By definition, a via ferrata is going to have more exposure, more drop offs, and more excitement than pretty much any hike, so I don’t think I can fairly compare this to the hikes I normally rate.
That being said, this was an awesome experience that I would highly recommend to anyone interested in pushing themselves in the mountains. I really enjoyed my experience having Mountain Trip Guide Service as my guides, and the two guides on my trip were both excellent, friendly, and knowledgeable.
I can’t fairly give the Telluride Via Ferrata a rating out of 10, but it was a seriously awesome experience!
Pros:
- Awesome views
- Insane exposure
- Totally unique experience
Cons:
- Too much exposure for some
- Guiding fees (not required, but highly recommended)
Other Via Ferratas:
When To Do The Telluride Via Ferrata:
The Telluride Via Ferrata can be done pretty much anytime there is no snow. Technically I guess you probably could even do it in the snow, but I definitely would not recommend it!
The trail should be clear of snow and ice by late spring, likely by May. While snow is possible at high elevations at any time of year, I wouldn’t expect too much snow on or near the trail until at least late September, possibly into October.
Really the only thing to consider when deciding when you want to go is the temperatures. Most guiding services will take you out pretty early in the morning, so it’ll be chilly when you get started. If you do the via ferrata in spring or fall, it will be seriously chilly, or if you do it at the height of summer, it’ll just be a little chilly!
Honestly, anytime the route is free of snow would be a good time to do it. Special shout out to the 4th of July though!
Links For Further Reading:
Telluride Via Ferrata | Mountain Trip Guide Service
Via Ferrata – Telluride Mountain Club
Via Ferrata – Telluride, CO | Advanced Rock Climbing and Hiking Route
