The Best Via Ferratas in North America
Many of North America’s best winter ski resorts allow you to climb jarring, vertical faces of their peaks during the summer.
Many of you reading this site already know that North America is a diverse, mountainous continent, offering extensive opportunities for alpine adventurers. But one experience that’s still somewhat of a hidden gem is Via Ferrata.
After originating in the Italian Dolomites during World War I, the Via Ferrata experience has started to gain prominence again in recent years. Via Ferrata—Italian for “Iron Path”—is a protected climbing experience that employs steel cables and rungs drilled into rock walls, and it allows access to incredible alpine mountain zones without the need for pro-level mountaineering skills. Via Ferratas may require a modest level of endurance, but they typically don’t require any serious climbing skills.
In this article, we’ll share our picks on the best Via Ferrata experiences in North America. And while many of the routes on this list are located at ski resorts, others can be found in areas that are much more unique to this type of experience.
Telluride’s wild Via Ferrata includes spectacular vistas and sections of sheer vertical rock face.
Telluride, Colorado
Situated in the stunning San Juan Mountains, the Via Ferrata in Telluride, Colorado is a prime destination for adrenaline enthusiasts. Offering a jarring, 4-hour-long journey on the south-facing wall below Ajax Peak, Telluride’s Road of Iron provides a thrilling experience combined with awe-inspiring vistas. The jagged peaks, rugged cliffs, and cascading waterfalls create a dramatic backdrop for climbers. The pièce de résistance of the route, the Main Event, is absolutely wild, with a sheer vertical face and 300-foot drop below the metal rungs.
Due to the route’s intensity, most guests will want to book a guided tour to experience Telluride’s Via Ferrata. While Telluride’s remote location may dissuade certain travelers, guests will not leave disappointed with a Via Ferrata experience here.
Guided Price
Group: $189 (Ages 17+ only)
Private: $209-$389 per person
Route Length
4-5 hours
Nearest Airports
Montrose (1.5 hrs), Albuquerque (6 hrs), Denver (6.5 hrs)
Kicking Horse’s stunning Via Ferrata ascends up Terminator Peak.
Photo credit: Kicking Horse
Kicking Horse, British Columbia
Situated in the Canadian Rockies, Kicking Horse boasts an exceptional Via Ferrata experience for all abilities. The resort offers three routes up its Terminator Peak ski mountain, ranging from the hour-long, beginner-oriented Pioneer route to the technical, three-hour Ascension Route—which summits out at terrain that’s typically only accessible by hiking during the winter. All three routes start out by spanning a narrow suspension bridge affording incredible views of the surrounding alpine. The picturesque scenery, with towering peaks and sprawling glaciers, sets the stage for an unforgettable adventure. All of Kicking Horse’s Via Ferrata routes are guide-only—and they’re not cheap—but they come packaged with access to the resort’s sightseeing gondola, alpine hiking trails, and one-of-a-kind grizzly bear refuge.
Guided Price
Adult 18+: $92 CAD (Pioneer), $150 CAD (Discovery), $191 CAD (Ascension)
Teen 13-17: $79 CAD (Pioneer), $128 CAD (Discovery), $163 CAD (Ascension)
Family (2 adults, 2 teens): $258 CAD (Pioneer), $420 CAD (Discovery), $535 CAD (Ascension)
Private (up to 8): $475 CAD (Pioneer), $773 CAD (Discovery), $987 CAD (Ascension)
Route Length
1 hour (Pioneer), 2 hours (Discovery), 3 hours (Ascension)
Nearest Airports
Calgary (3 hrs), Kelowna (4 hrs)
West Virginia’s NROCKS is one of the few North American Via Ferrata experiences to operate through the fall and winter seasons.
Nelson Rocks, West Virginia
Nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, West Virginia’s Nelson Rocks, now branded as NROCKS, isn’t a ski resort during the winter. Rather, the area offers a unique near-year-round Via Ferrata experience.
This unique location features a series of awe-inspiring rock formations known as the Nelson Rocks, which provide a modestly challenging but lengthy and very fun climb. The exposed cliffs, narrow ridges, and 200-foot suspension bridge boast views topping that of most East Coast ski resorts—and make for an unforgettable adventure. For those who have embarked on a previous guided tour, NROCKS also offers full moon night Via Ferrata experiences!
NROCKS only allows guided tours, but thanks to its extensive route and long season, it’s undoubtedly one of the best Via Ferrata destinations in the East, if not the continent.
NOTE: There is no cell service in the vicinity of NROCKS, so make sure to let friends and family know you won’t be reachable when you visit.
Guided Price
Adult 13+: $150
Night Climb: $180
Route Length
4-5 hours
Nearest Airports
Richmond (3 hrs), Washington, DC (3.5 hrs), Pittsburgh (3.5 hrs)
During the summer, Jackson Hole is home to a whopping 15 Via Ferrata routes.
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Unlike many other mountains on this list, Jackson Hole offers a genuine network of Via Ferrata trails, with 15 unique routes to choose from ranging from beginner to expert. Climbers can enjoy the grandeur of the Teton Mountain Range while navigating exposed cliff faces, ascending vertical routes, and crossing breathtaking bridges. Jackson Hole has added new Via Ferrata routes in the last few years, so even guests who have experienced certain trails before may want to return to check out the new options.
The resort provides guided tours in both half- and full-day increments, and while these routes aren’t quite as long as some of the others on this list, guests can typically scale one or two of them in a half-day tour and four or more in a full-day session.
Guided Price
Half-Day, Adult 12+: $165-$465 per person
Half-Day, Additional Guide or Child 10-11: $200-$640 per person
Full-Day, Adult 12+: $196-$585 per person
Full-Day, Additional Guide or Child 10-11: $236-$1,290 per person
Route Lengths
Per Route: 1.5-2 hrs
Per Tour: 3.5 hrs (half day), 6 hrs (full day)
Nearest Airports
Jackson Hole (40 mins), Salt Lake City (5 hrs)
Palisades Tahoe’s Via Ferrata spans some of the most stunning alpine rock formations in North America.
Photo: Alpenglow Expeditions / Tahoe Via Ferrata
Palisades Tahoe - Alpenglow Expeditions, California
Palisades Tahoe, formerly Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, offers guided Via Ferrata tours up the resort’s iconic tram face during the summer season. The beautiful alpine landscapes, stunning Tahoe rock formations, and panoramic views provide a captivating backdrop for climbers.
The Tahoe Via Ferrata isn’t as difficult as some of the other options on this list, but with tours ranging from 2 to 4 hours—and options available for kids as young as 10 with no surcharge—it’s a better option for families than many other destinations around the country.
If you book a tour before July 4 this year, you may be able to hit the Via Ferrata and still get some skiing in!
Guided Price
Weekday*: $139 (2 hour), $179 (3 hour), $209 (4 hour)
Weekend*: $149 (2 hour), $199 (3 hour), $235 (4 hour)
*10% discount with 2023-24 Ikon Pass product
Route Length
2-4 hours
Nearest Airports
Reno (1 hr), San Francisco (3.5 hrs)
The Red River Gorge’s Via Ferrata spans one-of-a-kind, arched cliff bands within rugged forest terrain.
Photo: Southeast Mountain Guides
Red River Gorge, Kentucky
Located in Kentucky, the Red River Gorge Via Ferrata spans topography unlike any other in North America. Spanning a sandstone cliff line and surrounded by natural, forest-lined arches, this Via Ferrata allows climbers to explore the rugged beauty of the region in a thrilling and accessible way. This experience was the first Via Ferrata ever installed in North America, and prices are more reasonable than most competitors west of the Mississippi.
Unlike many others, this Via Ferrata is not a guided tour, although it is supervised. Sections of the path range from easier to moderately difficult, and guests can split their time between these paths depending on comfort level. The Red River Gorge Via Ferrata is available for those ages 10 and up.
Price
Weekday: $56-$192
Weekend: $56-$72
Route Length
4-5 hours
Nearest Airports
Lexington (1 hr), Louisville (2 hrs), Cincinnati (2 hrs)
The Royal Gorge Via Ferrata spans some of Colorado’s most jaw-dropping topography.
Royal Gorge, Colorado
The Royal Gorge Via Ferrata, situated in Southern Colorado's scenic Royal Gorge region, offers an extraordinary and adrenaline-pumping outdoor adventure. With its dramatic canyon landscapes, rugged cliff walls, and thrilling vertical paths, this Via Ferrata provides an unforgettable experience for climbers seeking a combination of natural beauty and exhilaration. Guests will especially be blown away by views of the fast-flowing Arkansas River below and the Royal Gorge Bridge that spans the canyon.
Visitors can choose between two options: a shorter 2-3 hour tour that’s more family-oriented in mind, or a more advanced 4-5 hour tour that spans the full Via Ferrata course. And unlike most other Colorado Via Ferratas, the Royal Gorge experience is available year round—so it’s a great choice if you’re looking to do this type of activity during the winter. The Royal Gorge Via Ferrata tour is priced similarly to those at most ski resorts, but it also includes access to the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, which includes a whole range of amusement park attractions amidst the same stunning natural scenery.
Guided Price
Revelation Tour: $150
Royal Tour: $180
Route Length
Revelation Tour: 2.5-3 hours
Royal Tour: 4.5-5 hours
Nearest Airports
Colorado Springs (1.25 hrs), Denver (2.5 hrs)
Final Thoughts
North America’s Via Ferrata destinations provide incredible opportunities to access some of the continent’s most jarring vertical terrain. While one might view these cable-secured paths as just an alternative to winter sports during the off-season, the best experiences in this domain cut across terrain that’s just as, if not more stunning than the destination ski resorts. In fact, some of the Via Ferrata terrain is plainly unique to the activity—many of the vertical faces on these routes would never be accessible on skis or a snowboard.
For those who aren’t afraid of heights and don’t mind dropping a bit of money on an alpine adventure during the summer (or in select cases, year-round), it’s hard to regret doing one of these rope-supported alpine adventures.
