Trip Recommender
For the Via Ferrata you should bring a water bottle, sunglasses, sunscreen, a backpack, comfortable shoes, and comfortable pants that you can move around in.
If you meet the age and weight requirements, about anybody can join in on the Via Ferrata! It is a bit more demanding than the classic zipline course, so being used to Colorado's elevation as well as being physically active are both recommended for guests on this trip.
AVA Rafting & Zipline offers guided Via Ferratta trips. Our guides are not your everyday guides however. Each and every guide goes through an extensive training program before guiding a guest trip. The training program begins with the potential guides completing the course for themselves. The guides are trained in basic equipment functions and how to use things such as lobster claws. Guides are also given extensive information on safety and risk assessment. Additionally, they are trained in rescues in all situations on the course, such as lowering guests to the ground by belaying. For the final portion of the training, our guides take the trainers through the course for a mock run multiple times, in which the trainers do as many things wrong as possible. The trainers assess the potential guides, and either grant or deny them becoming a guide at that moment. The course training is a total of three days.
The Idaho Springs Via Ferrata trip is open from March through November. Trips are available daily throughout the summertime, and during the fall and spring trips are available on weekends and Wednesdays - Sundays as summer approaches.
Our Via Ferrata tours will take place in rain, snow or shine! Whether you're planning a tour at AVA’s outpost in Idaho Springs or Buena Vista, it is best to come prepared for the weather.
However, AVA's via ferrata management team reserves the right to cancel tours due to unsafe weather conditions, such as heavy winds and lightning. If your tour has been cancelled because of weather by management, we will contact you to refund or reschedule your reservation. AVA reserves the right to postpone or delay your zipline tour up to one hour to wait out inclement weather and then resume once conditions are deemed safe by management. If the zipline tour is started and less than 50% of the course is completed, you will be refunded 50% of the cost of the trip. If the zipline tour is started and more than 50% of the course is completed, you will not be refunded.
From your via ferrata tours, AVA provides all the necessary gear for you. We do require that everyone wears closed toed shoes, so Chacos, Keens, Crocs, flip flops or sandals are not allowed. We strongly suggest taking a look at the weather before you head over for your trip. Shorts and tank tops are allowed during the summer months. In the winter months, we do recommend that you wear long pants and jackets. No baggy clothes, skirts or dresses are permitted.
You cannot use any of your own equipment for your via ferrata tour. AVA will provide all necessary gear, including helmets, gloves, harnesses and carabiners. For any of the activities, GoPro cameras are always welcome, and AVA does have a few helmets with GoPro mounts that are first come, first serve.
For the Via Ferrata you will need to be at least 12 years old and no more than 250 lbs. This course does require a fair amount of physical exertion, so being in good shape is recommended.
Between traversing the cliffside via iron rungs, crossing multiple suspended bridges, rappelling down a rock face, and concluding your adventure with a few ziplines, our guided Via Ferrata tour will take about three hours.
Both of AVA Rafting & Zipline's Via Ferrata tours require a guide and a reservation prior to your tour. Solidify your spot by calling one of our trip specialists or booking online, or take a chance by showing up at our outpost to see if we have availability. We run trips at specific times of the day and we get very busy over the summer, so we always suggest that you call ahead.
On AVA's Via Ferrata tour, our equipment's technology has as system to insure you're always hooked to the cable. There are two carabiners connected to your harness for your traverse. Wearing athletic, sturdy shoes will help your footing as well.