Via Ferratas in Utah: Every Route, and the One You Can Climb Without a Guide

Short answer: Utah has seven via ferratas. Six are on private land and can only be climbed on a paid guided trip: Waterfall Canyon in Ogden, Above Zion, Shorty Town near Virgin, Cave Lakes Canyon in Kanab, the East Zion routes in Orderville, and the resort routes at Amangiri. The seventh, the Ashley Gorge Via Ferrata near Vernal, is the exception: it is public, free and self-guided. Bring certified gear, sign the county waiver, and you can climb it on your own schedule.

Utah Via Ferratas at a Glance

Via ferrata	Area	Access	Typical trip
Ashley Gorge	Vernal (northeast Utah)	Public, free, self-guided	Half day 4–6 hrs, full day 8–10 hrs
Waterfall Canyon (Mount Ogden)	Ogden	Private, guided only	Half day
Above Zion	Near Zion National Park	Private, guided only	Half day
Shorty Town	Virgin, near Zion	Private, guided only	5–6 hrs including a practice wall
Cave Lakes Canyon	Kanab	Private, guided only	About 2 hrs, climb plus rappel
East Zion (Elkhart Cliffs)	Orderville	Private, guided only	Multi-pitch climb with rappels
Amangiri	Canyon Point, near Lake Powell	Resort guests, guided	About 3 hrs

Prices and schedules on the guided routes change by season, so check each operator before you plan around one.

1. Ashley Gorge Via Ferrata (Vernal)

Ashley Gorge is Utah's first public via ferrata and by far its largest. It sits in Ashley National Forest just outside Vernal and is managed by Uintah County. There is no entry fee and no guide requirement. Instead of one wall, it is a network of sectors across the canyon, with two suspension bridges, a 75-foot double-helix ladder and long cable traverses. Sections are rated 2B to 4C on the Fletcher/Smith scale, so it works for a first-timer on the easier sectors and still challenges strong climbers on the Phase 2 walls.

What you need to climb it on your own:

• A certified harness, climbing helmet and energy-absorbing via ferrata lanyard
• The signed Uintah County waiver, plus the county safety video
• A body weight of 90–265 lbs and a reach of at least 62 inches
• A season visit: the route is generally open March 1 to November 30, weather permitting

Guided trips are available from outfitters in Vernal if you would rather climb with a pro. See our full route guide for every sector.

2. Waterfall Canyon Via Ferrata (Ogden)

The closest via ferrata to Salt Lake City climbs the foothills of Mount Ogden near Waterfall Canyon. It is on private land and runs as guided trips through Utah Adventure Center, which supplies the equipment. No climbing experience is needed, and it fits easily into a half day for anyone living on the Wasatch Front.

3. Above Zion Via Ferrata

Also run by Utah Adventure Center, Above Zion is a guided route in the high desert outside Zion National Park. It is not inside the park itself, so it can fill a morning or afternoon on a Zion trip without using a park day.

4. Shorty Town (Zion Adventures, Virgin)

Zion Adventures runs this route on private land just outside the park. The day starts with a hike and 60–90 minutes on a 75-foot practice wall. Then guides lower you from the rim of Eye of the Needle, about 450 feet above the canyon floor, and you climb back out on the via ferrata. Plan on 5–6 hours. The operator's weight range is 88–260 lbs.

5. Cave Lakes Canyon (Kanab)

ROAM Outdoor Adventure Co. runs a short guided route in Cave Lakes Canyon, near Moqui Cave north of Kanab. You climb rebar steps up the canyon wall, then rappel about 180 feet back down. It takes roughly two hours and is open to kids 8 and up, which makes it the easiest Utah via ferrata to fit into a family road trip.

6. East Zion (Elkhart Cliffs, Orderville)

ROAM's bigger option climbs the Elkhart Cliffs near Orderville, east of Zion. It is a multi-pitch climb mixed with rappels and is marketed as the tallest via ferrata in Utah. No climbing experience is required, but it is a much bigger day than Cave Lakes.

7. Amangiri (Canyon Point)

The luxury resort near Lake Powell has several private via ferrata routes for its guests. The best known is the Cave Peak route, which can end on the Cave Peak Stairway: a 120-step ladder strung roughly 400 feet above the desert that opened in 2021. You have to be staying at the resort to climb it.

Which Utah Via Ferrata Should You Do?

• You want to climb on your own schedule, or for a full day: Ashley Gorge. It is the only one where you set the start time and choose your sectors.
• You live on the Wasatch Front and want a short guided intro: Waterfall Canyon in Ogden.
• You are already visiting Zion: Above Zion or Shorty Town.
• You have young kids: Cave Lakes Canyon in Kanab.
• You want the most vertical in southern Utah: East Zion.

Do You Need a Guide for Via Ferrata in Utah?

On six of the seven routes, yes, because they are on private land and the guided trip is the only way in. Ashley Gorge is the exception. Because it is a public county route, you can climb it without a guide as long as you meet the county's requirements. If you have never clipped a via ferrata lanyard before, read our beginner guide and guided vs. self-guided first.

Gear for Ashley Gorge

The guided routes include their gear. At Ashley Gorge you bring your own, and it has to be certified. If you don't own a via ferrata kit, rent a full kit (harness, helmet and lanyard) for $40 for up to 2 days, or just the lanyard for $25. Pickup is self-service and 24/7 from our Roosevelt lockers, right on US-40 on the drive from Salt Lake City or Provo.