City Parks
Tucked throughout town, the City of Ouray’s parks offer welcoming places to gather, play, and enjoy the outdoors. From neighborhood green spaces to larger community parks, each has its own character and purpose. Ouray has parks dedicated to ice climbing, via ferratas, and dogs, as well as seasonal spaces reserved for skiing and sledding. Several parks are available to reserve for events and community gatherings, while others are operated in partnership with local nonprofit organizations. Together, Ouray’s parks reflect the community’s love for the outdoors and its commitment to shared, accessible spaces for all.
Parks in the City
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Box Cañon Falls
Box Canyon Falls is one of Ouray’s most dramatic natural attractions, where Canyon Creek surges through a narrow quartzite gorge and plunges over a powerful waterfall. Visitors can experience the falls up close via a maintained Native Plant trail, bridges, and viewing platforms that highlight the canyon’s sheer walls and rushing water. The site is also home to the rare Black Swift, a migratory bird that nests behind the waterfall’s misty rock face each summer, making Box Canyon an important habitat as well as a striking place to explore.
Open May-November. Entry Fee: $5-$7
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Cascade Falls Park
Cascade Falls Park features one of Ouray’s most iconic sights, with the 270-foot Cascade Falls visible from many points throughout town. A short but moderately steep quarter-mile walk from the end of 8th Avenue leads to the base of the waterfall, where visitors can experience the sound, spray, and power up close. Maintained by the Ouray Trail Group, the trail connects to the Perimeter Trail and makes Cascade Falls a popular stop for hikers, sightseers, and adventure seekers — including those who choose to rappel the falls with a guide.
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Dog Park
The Ouray Dog Park, established in 2012, provides a dedicated space for four-legged friends near downtown Ouray. The park is open daily from sunrise to sundown and welcomes all well-behaved dogs to run, play, and socialize in a safe, off-leash environment.
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Fellin Park
Fellin Park, located next to the Ouray Hot Springs Pool, is a central gathering spot that has been cherished by the community since the Fellin family deeded the land to the city in 1924. The park offers a wide range of amenities, including a large playground, basketball court, ¼-mile asphalt track, picnic areas, gazebo, and the Smokey Joe Wood baseball field. Visitors and residents enjoy Fellin Park for everything from casual play and exercise to weddings, reunions, concerts, movie nights, and fireworks. With spaces available for reservation, Fellin Park is a versatile and welcoming place for people of all ages.
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Lee's Ski Hill
Lee’s Ski Hill, a small but beloved gem of Colorado skiing, is located on 3rd Avenue near 4th Street. The ski hill features a rope tow that carries skiers and snowboarders to the top of its 75-foot vertical drop, offering a fun and accessible experience for families and visitors. Open as conditions allow—from noon to dusk on weekends and school holidays, and 3:00 pm to dusk on weekdays—Lee’s is especially popular after fresh snowfalls from the San Juan Mountains. The hill is perfect for beginners and experienced skiers alike, and its friendly, community-focused atmosphere makes it a welcoming spot for everyone to enjoy the slopes.
Lee’s Ski Hill is CLOSED.
Status is weather-dependent. Please call our Visitor Center for up-to-date info: 970-325-3954 -
Miner's Heritage Park
Miner’s Heritage Park, located next to Fellin Park near the gazebo, celebrates Ouray’s rich mining history. The park is best known as the site of Highgrader’s Holiday, the city’s annual hard rock mining competition held each August, where miners showcase the strength and skill required to extract ore from the San Juan Mountains. Throughout the rest of the year, the park provides visitors with a chance to explore historic mining tools and equipment, offering a glimpse into the lives and work of the men and women who built Ouray’s mining legacy.
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Ouray Ice Park
The Ouray Ice Park is a world-renowned ice climbing destination located in the Uncompahgre Gorge just minutes from downtown Ouray. Built and maintained each winter by the nonprofit Ouray Ice Park, Inc., the park features hundreds of routes formed from frozen water, offering terrain for beginners through elite climbers. Open seasonally as conditions allow, the Ice Park provides a unique opportunity for climbers to experience the sport in a controlled setting, with options to climb independently or learn through guided instruction and clinics.
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Ouray Via Ferrata
The Ouray Via Ferrata offers a unique way to explore the dramatic walls of the Uncompahgre Gorge using a system of fixed cables, ladders, and iron rungs anchored into the rock. The route includes both the Downstream Route, an approachable traverse above the river, and the more technical Upstream Route, which features increased exposure and fewer rungs. The via ferrata can be done independently at no cost with the proper equipment and experience, or visitors may choose to hire a permitted guide to safely navigate the route while enjoying the sweeping canyon views.
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Rotary Park
Rotary Park, located about a mile north of the Ouray Hot Springs Pool on Highway 550, is a versatile community park maintained by the City of Ouray. Shaded by tall spruce and fir trees, the park offers a playground, picnic tables, and open spaces for gatherings. Nearby cliffs provide a popular spot for rock climbers. In the winter, Rotary Park is the site of Ouray’s ice skating rink, and a short walk across the highway leads to the Uncompahgre River Trail. With amenities like restrooms, water, and reservable picnic areas, Rotary Park is a year-round destination for outdoor recreation and community events.
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Uncompahgre River Walk
The Uncompahgre River Walk Loop, also known as the North Ouray Corridor, is a scenic two-mile loop that follows the Uncompahgre River just north of the Ouray Hot Springs Pool. The level path winds through the valley with views of Gold Hill, historic mining structures, and seasonal waterfalls, making it an easy and enjoyable walk for all ages. Benches and fitness stations are located along the route, and access points include the Hot Springs Pool parking lot, Chautauqua Lane near Rotary Park, and Uncompahgre Street. Dogs are welcome on leash, and in winter the trail is groomed for cross-country skiing by the Ouray County Nordic Council.
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Vinegar Hill (Sledding)
Vinegar Hill is a beloved Ouray winter tradition, with a one-block section of 5th Street closed to vehicle traffic for sledding for more than 100 years. This north-facing hill is typically open from mid-December through early March, as conditions allow, welcoming sleds, tubes, and toboggans for all ages. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own sleds and warm clothing and enjoy a classic afternoon of winter fun. Steeped in local lore, Vinegar Hill is said to have earned its name during Prohibition, when nearby families were rumored to make “vinegar” that tasted suspiciously like wine.
Vinegar Hill is CLOSED.
Status is weather-dependent. Please call our Visitor Center for up-to-date info: 970-325-3954 -
Women's Club Mini-Park
Corner of 5th St. and 4th Ave.
Mini Park is a small, neighborhood green space located at the intersection of 4th Avenue and 5th Street. Established and maintained by the Woman’s Club of Ouray County, the park offers picnic tables, a grassy play area, and playground equipment designed for toddlers and young children. Quiet and welcoming, Mini Park is a pleasant spot for families to relax and play, and there is also a public restroom available.