Rifle Falls State Park
State Park in Rifle, CO
Hours:
Park: Daily, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $10
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
5775 Highway 325
Rifle, CO 81650
United States
Rifle Falls State Park
State Park in Rifle, CO
Hours:
Park: Daily, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $10
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
5775 Highway 325
Rifle, CO 81650
United States
Navigate to:
Waterfalls at the park
Welcome to Rifle Falls State Park
Rifle Falls State Park's lush vegetation and waterfalls have attracted photographers and movie crews from around the country to capture the area's unique scenery. Mysterious limestone caves beneath the falls entice spelunkers and other curious visitors to explore.
48
acres
3
60-foot waterfalls
12
picnic sites
20
campsites
Directions
Accessing the Park
From 1-70
Take I-70 to the Rifle exit (exit 90), then go north on CO Highway 13 for four miles. This takes you through the town of Rifle on Railroad Ave. Turn right onto Highway 325 and drive 9.8 miles.
The Visitor Center at Rifle Gap State Park also serves Harvey Gap and Rifle Falls state parks. First aid, public restrooms, a pay phone, gift shop, fishing and boating conditions, boat, OHV and snowmobile registrations, internet access and exhibits are all available there.
Directions to the Visitor Center
Go north on Harvey Gap Road (County Road 237). Turn left on Grass Valley Road. Turn left again on Hwy 325. Turn right into Rifle Gap State Park.
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
There is no boating at Rifle Falls, but Rifle Falls guests also have access to Rifle Gap State Park, which has one boat ramp and two courtesy docks on the north side of the lake.
Fees and Passes
Pass |
Description |
Duration |
Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Daily Vehicle Pass |
Single vehicle and its occupants |
1 Day |
$10 |
|
Individual Daily Pass |
For individual entry on foot, bicycle, horseback, etc. |
1 Day |
$4 |
|
DMV vehicle registration renewal option for Colorado residents |
1 Year |
$29 |
|
|
Annual Vehicle Pass (Affixed) |
Pass for a single vehicle and its occupants |
1 Year |
$80 |
|
Family Annual Pass (Hang Tag) |
Members of the same household |
1 Year |
$120 |
|
Aspen Leaf Annual Pass |
Visitors 64+ |
1 Year |
$70 |
|
Centennial Pass |
Income-eligible Colorado residents |
1 Year |
$14 |
|
Columbine Pass |
Colorado residents with disabilities |
1 Year |
$14 |
|
Veterans License Plate |
DMV vehicle registration renewal option for military veterans (disabled veterans or purple heart plates) |
Lifetime |
Free |
|
Independence Lifetime Pass |
Veterans with disabilities |
Lifetime |
Free |
|
Blue Spruce Pass |
First responders with disabilities |
Lifetime |
$10 |
Nature and Wildlife
At Rifle Falls, visitors can see a variety of bird species, owing to the diverse habitats in the area. During winter, northern goshawks and bald eagles are known to frequent the park. Commonly sighted mammals include mule deer, elk, cottontail rabbit, coyote, marmot, least chipmunk and golden-mantled ground squirrel. Three species of bats inhabit the cliff faces west of the falls.
Be on the Lookout for Birds
Can you spot all the resident and visiting bird species? Download the Bird List Brochure (PDF).
Birds You Might Find
- Black-billed Magpie
- Turkey Vulture
- Song Sparrow
- Warbling Vireo
Mammals You Might Find
- Mule Deer
- Common Raccoon
- Marmot
- Black Bear
Reptiles and Amphibians You Might Find
- Western Terrestrial Garter Snake
- Bullsnake
- Tiger Salamander
Geology at This Park
East Rifle Creek creates spectacular falls, flowing over a travertine dam of calcium carbonate. Narrow, high-walled parts of the canyon, possibly a collapsed large subterranean cavern, are overhung by cliffs of Mississippian Leadville limestone. Smaller caves are accessible to visitors and give a hint as to what the whole valley might have looked like thousands of years ago.
Habitats and Plants at This Park
- Sagebrush Shrubland
- Boxelder
- Mormon-tea
- Serviceberry
Upcoming Events
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History
As far back as 1884, Rifle Falls has been a tourist attraction. The area was first opened up to ranching in 1883, and eventually cabins were built and rented to tourists who viewed the falls and explored the caves, much like today’s visitors. When James Watson created the Rifle Falls Ranch, he charged admission to view the caves and waterfalls. From 1890 until 1922, Allan Zerbe operated the Zerbe Resort, which offered cabins for overnight tourists.
In 1910, the town of Rifle built the Rifle Hydroelectric Plant at the falls. The plant changed the creek’s natural flow from one wide waterfall into the three falls seen today. This was one of the first hydroelectric power stations in Colorado. From 1908 until 1959, the falls were a source of hydroelectric power for the town of Rifle. The Public Service Company bought the plant in 1915 and operated it until 1952. Remnants of the stone hydroplant can still be seen.
Once Rifle Falls became a state park in 1966, recreation was the focal point again. Rifle Falls State Park is the closest you'll get to the tropics in Colorado. The falls are a lush area of trees and greenery kept moist by the spray of the cascading triple waterfall. They spill over a limestone cliff that geologists think may have formed in the waters of a beaver dam. The stagnant water behind the dam became saturated with chemicals, forming thick limestone deposits that are now exposed as cliffs.