Rifle Gap State Park
State Park in Rifle, CO
Hours:
Park: Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Office: Daily, 8 a.m. to 4 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 Gap State Park
State Park in Rifle, CO
Hours:
Park: Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Office: Daily, 8 a.m. to 4 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:
Rifle Gap State Park landscape
Welcome to Rifle Gap State Park
The clean, clear waters of Rifle Gap State Park’s 360-acre reservoir provide some of the best boating, fishing, swimming, water skiing and windsurfing in Colorado. The long, narrow reservoir is inviting to water skiers, jet skiers and power boaters.
1,341
acres
14
picnic sites
360
acre reservoir
90
campsites
Directions
Accessing the Park
From 1-70
Take I-70 to the Rifle exit (90), then go north on Highway 13 for four miles. This takes you through the town of Rifle on Railroad Ave. When the road comes to a Y, stay to the right on Highway 13. Turn right onto Highway 325 and Rifle Gap will be about six miles.
The Visitor Center is located on the northeast side of the reservoir on State Highway 325. First aid, public restrooms, a gift shop, fishing and boating conditions, boat, OHV, and snowmobile registrations, internet access and exhibits are all available. The Visitor Center at Rifle Gap State Park also serves Harvey Gap and Rifle Falls State Parks.
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
The boat ramp is located 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
Waterfowl and raptors frequent the reservoir, and a diverse range of reptiles including Utah milk snake and western yellow-bellied racer may be found sunning themselves on the nearby rocks. Common mammals to see include mule deer, elk and ground squirrels, with the occasional beaver swimming around the bends of East Rifle Creek.
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
- Great-blue Heron
- Canada Goose
- Osprey
- Vesper Sparrow
Mammals You Might Find
- Cottontail Rabbit
- Yellow-tailed Weasel
- North American Beaver
- Mule Deer
Reptiles and Amphibians You Might Find
- Utah Milksnake
- Midget-faded Rattlesnake
- Western Yellow-bellied Slider
- Plateau Striped Whiptail
Geology at This Park
Rifle Gap lies on the edge of the White River Plateau, just north of the Grand Hogback. The Grand Hogback monocline consists of Upper Cretaceous Williams Fork Formation sandstone, shale and coal beds that are approximately 4,500 feet thick. From the reservoir, look to the south for unparalleled exposures of the coal-bearing Mesa Verde group in the hogback. Most of the park consists of exposed Mancos shale, and as a result, the park’s soils are rich in salts. Fossils of leaves are abundant, and some fish and shellfish fossils exist as well.
Habitats and Plants at This Park
- Pinyon-juniper Woodlands
- Horsebrush
- Indian Ricegrass
- Boxelder
Upcoming Events
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History
The small town of Austin once occupied the area where Rifle Gap is now located. From the late 1800s until 1958, Austin was primarily used for cattle ranching. In 1958, the town was relocated due to the US Bureau of Reclamation’s plans to build the Rifle Gap reservoir. The reservoir's main purpose was to provide irrigation for farmers and ranchers in the Rifle area. The reservoir was completed in 1968, and water was first drawn in 1969. By then, Rifle Gap State Park was officially a new park for the state to enjoy, offering features such as clear water for watersports, camping, hiking and picnicking around the reservoir.