COLUMBUS, Ohio — A one-of-a-kind outdoor attraction is now open, and it's putting Columbus on the map as a climbing destination.
The via ferrata at Quarry Trails Metro Park is the first urban via ferrata in the world.
The Quarry Trails via ferrata route includes more than 1,000 feet of cabled climbing using metal rungs, ladders, and fixed cables. The course is considered intermediate and reaches heights of more than 100 feet. It also includes an 85-foot suspension bridge above a scenic pond.
While the via ferrata is free to the public, access is only available through guided tours.
Participants are required to use the harness, helmet and other safety equipment provided by Metro Parks, even if they have their own. However, climbers are encouaged to bring their own gloves. Though not required, gloves can help grip cables and make hit cables more comfortable.
It takes an average of 90 minutes to complete the Quarry Trails via ferrata route. Users must be at least 14 years old and weigh between 88 and 265 pounds. There is also a height requirement of five feet. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Reservations are required through the Metro Parks Outdoor Adventure team. For more information, click here.
Via Ferrata Works, LLC, based in Colorado, was hired to design and construct the climbing route at the newly opened Quarry Trails Metro Park. The site of the Marble Cliff Quarry was once the largest contiguous quarry in the United States, according to Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks
It provided limestone for more than a century that was used to build the Ohio Statehouse, roads, buildings, and many other places in central Ohio. The park also features opportunities for fishing, mountain biking, canoeing/kayaking, and sledding. The central section of the park features a fenced, off-leash dog park.
Funding for the park results from Franklin County residents’ support of a tax levy and grants.