12 waterfalls worldwide
Ice climbing at waterfalls
In deep winter some of these falls freeze solid and become vertical ice routes.
In a hard winter some waterfalls freeze into columns and curtains of ice that climbers ascend with axes and crampons. Guided introductory sessions exist at a few falls; most ice climbing is for experienced climbers.
Worth knowing before you book
- The season depends entirely on a sustained freeze and can be short or absent.
- Guides supply boots, crampons, axes and ropes for beginners.
- Frozen-waterfall walks with ice cleats are a gentler alternative.
Safety
Ice changes by the hour. Climb with guides who know the conditions, and stay out from under climbers and hanging ice.
From our full guides
What it costs, and who runs it
Advertised 2026 prices at the destinations we cover in depth, converted to US dollars. Open a guide for the season, what's included and how to book.
Where it runs
Waterfalls with ice climbing
Every destination in our index where ice climbing genuinely operates at or immediately around the falls. If an operator has closed, we take the entry down rather than leave a dead booking link.
UNESCO Rjukanfossen
Anchor of a UNESCO industrial heritage landscape
Full guide Johnston Canyon Falls
Banff's most popular canyon hike
Gavarnie Falls
The Gavarnie Falls is a tiered waterfall in France. With its overall drop of 422 metres, it is the highest…
Helmcken Falls
Fourth-largest waterfall in Canada by flow
Kitsiputous
Kitsiputous, located in Enontekiö is one of the highest waterfalls in Finland. The falls are located along…
Skakavac
Skakavac is a waterfall in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is 12 kilometres northeast of Sarajevo, above the…
Full guide Montmorency Falls
30 metres taller than Niagara Falls
Narada Falls
Narada Falls is a waterfall in Mount Rainier National Park, in the U.S. state of Washington. It is said to be…
Kolešino Falls
Kolešino Falls is a waterfall located above the village of Kolešino in the Municipality of Novo Selo in the…
Diaoshuilou Falls
The Diaoshuilou Falls are a 40-metre wide waterfall in Heilongjiang Province, People's Republic of China at…
Yakhi Waterfall
Yakhi Waterfall or Abshar Yakhi , is a waterfall in Amol, Iran, located near the southern part of Mount…
Biryong Falls
Biryong Falls is a waterfall in Seoraksan National Park in Sokcho, located halfway between Yukdam Falls and…
Questions people ask
Where can you go ice climbing at a waterfall?
Our index lists 12 waterfalls where ice climbing operates at or right beside the falls, including Rjukanfossen, Johnston Canyon Falls, Gavarnie Falls, Helmcken Falls, Kitsiputous and Skakavac.
How much does ice climbing at a waterfall cost?
At the destinations we cover in full, advertised 2026 prices run roughly US$74 to US$249 per person, depending on the operator and what's included. Prices are converted to US dollars from local currencies and change without notice, so check the operator before you book.
When is the best time of year for ice climbing at waterfalls?
Across the waterfalls in our index, the most are at their best June. But each activity has its own window — rafting often stops at peak flood, and ice climbing needs a hard freeze — so check the season on each destination page.
Is ice climbing at a waterfall safe?
Ice changes by the hour. Climb with guides who know the conditions, and stay out from under climbers and hanging ice.
Other ways in
