"Driving through the tiny mountain town of Ouray in southwest Colorado (population 1,000), you’d never guess the picturesque enclave is home to one of the world’s largest ice climbing parks. With nearly 200 different climbing routes and 17,000 vertical feet of terrain along the mile-long Uncompahgre Gorge, Ouray Ice Park is a dream destination for both beginners and veteran ice climbers alike," the Smithsonian Magazine reports.

"The people who create this icy playground are known as ice farmers. Each year as winter approaches, they use a complex system of pipes, irrigation, and shower heads nestled atop the gorge to create towering walls of frozen water.

"The local businesses and the community as a whole rely heavily on the park to keep their businesses going through the winter season. Ouray now has one of the largest climbing communities in the United States. Behind practically every door in town there is at least one climber, and it is a strong community where we are all friends and are all working together to protect our climbing resource and keep it sustainable as it grows each year."

"Every year, the best of the best — in the ice-climbing world at least — make their way to Ouray, Colorado, a tiny U.S. town that’s barely on the map," the Travel + Leisure reports.

"They’re here for the ice, which grows dense and strong in the gorge just south of town. The conditions are so perfect that the self-titled “ice mecca” boasts the world’s largest human-made public ice-climbing park — a playground with more than 150 ice and mixed routes that traverse up the sheer walls of the Uncompaghre Gorge.

"The ice park is free and open to the public all winter long. The nonprofit operation is unique in that it’s fed from an overflow of water from the city’s spring-fed supply tank. From there, sprinklers and shower heads pump out water to cover the walls of the gorge with beautiful blue-tinted ice. The end result is a 1.7-mile-long ice park with 11 distinct climbing areas and more than 3 miles of vertical terrain, including the 150-foot-high Pic O’Vic route."

"Ice climbing in the Ouray Ice Park is the most accessible and highest quality ice in North America! This is a world class destination, with hundreds of ice climbs of all difficulties, the Peak Mountain Guides reports.

"The man-made climbs of the Ice Park are intricately “farmed” to create a unique venue. Peak Mountain Guides is transitioning to Mountain Trip in an effort to provide you with the best possible experience."

"The Best Four Days in Ouray is an itinerary intended for the climber interested in a proper sampling of the ice climbing of southwest Colorado. Our guides will show you around the Ouray Ice Park and many of the backcountry climbs the region is famous for!"

"The Ouray Ice Park may be the only park in the world devoted exclusively to the sport of ice climbing," The Trust For Public Land says.

"Located in the Uncompahgre River gorge just a ten-minute walk from the historic mountain town, the ice park allows climbers to test their skills in a controlled ice-climbing environment. Each winter, piped water transforms the gorge into a vertical cascade of climbable ice pillars, icicles, ice sheets, and cauliflower-shaped ice bulges. Trails and bridges offer views of the climbers, and the annual Ouray Ice Festival brings throngs of visitors.

"In 2007, The Trust for Public Land helped the City of Ouray acquire land from the U.S. Forest Service to improve the efficiency of park operation and maintenance. The transaction was part of our work around Red Mountain where we have conserved more than 9,000 acres to date."

"Since 1994, the Ouray Ice Park has been the largest man-made public ice climbing park in the world, right next to the small town of Ouray, Colorado. Each winter, we open our gates for three months to thousands of ice climbers from around the globe, and with over 200 ice and mixed routes spanning almost two miles of the Uncompahgre Gorge, we are the ice climbing capital of the world," the official website says.

"The Ouray Ice Park is operated by the nonprofit organization Ouray Ice Park Inc. and is a free and public park. In order to keep the park free, we raise money every year to operate the park through a combination of donations, memberships, events, and sponsorships. The majority of our funding comes from our largest fundraising event of the year: the annual Ouray Ice Festival and Competition, which takes place every January.

"Our staff consists of Ice Farmers, Rangers, and an admin team that works year-round to make sure the park has the funding to operate every winter. Our Ice Farmers build and maintain the ice and infrastructure, while our Rangers patrol the park daily, collecting data on visitors and enforcing our rules and regulations."

"Great experience! Lots of attention for the instruction, right size kit etc and then lots of explanation and patience with the climbing. Great facilities, lovely staff, highly recommend."

"Truly amazing place. 1st, the very small town of Ouray (U-Ray) could nt be cuter or more charming. Don't miss out on the hot springs. The Ice Park is a winter wonderland. My 1st tme trying the sport & I'm hooked. Multiple routes to explore with a qualified guide. It's free but be sure to become a member. I will definitely be back next year!"

"This was a truly other worldly and a very unique experience!!!! Everyone was super friendly which was helpful since it was our first time. We went during the international ice climbing competition which was beyond exciting. The vertical cliffs are sprayed with water which freezes and becomes a playground for the most amazing athletes! There is also one area prepared for beginners to learn on. All in all you just have to see this to believe it!"

"We have visited the park a number of times over the past 5 years. We are not climbers, but thoroughly enjoy watching and photographing the climbers! The physical strength and technical skill required makes it fascinating to watch. There is no charge to watch the climbers."

"Title says it all. Easy to get to from town, lots and lots of easily accessible mostly top-ropable routes. Really nowhere else compares."