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

Contact:

970-625-1607

[email protected]

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

Contact:

970-625-1607

[email protected]

Navigate to:

Rifle Gap State Park

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

    Daily Vehicle Pass

    Single vehicle and its occupants

    1 Day

    $10

    Individual Daily Pass

    For individual entry on foot, bicycle, horseback, etc at select parks

    1 Day

    $4

    Keep Colorado Wild Pass

    DMV vehicle registration renewal option for Colorado residents

    12 Months

    $29

    Annual Vehicle Pass (Affixed)

    Pass for a single vehicle and its occupants

    12 Months

    $80

    Family Annual Pass (Hang Tag)

    Members of the same household

    12 Months

    $120

    Aspen Leaf Annual Pass

    Visitors 64+

    12 Months

    $70

    Centennial Pass

    Income-eligible Colorado residents

    12 Months

    $14

    Columbine Pass

    Colorado residents with disabilities

    12 Months

    $14

    Veterans License Plate

    DMV vehicle registration renewal option for military veterans (disabled veterans or purple heart plates)

    Lifetime

    Free

    Independence Lifetime Pass

    Colorado resident veterans with disabilities

    Lifetime

    Free

    Blue Spruce Pass

    Colorado resident 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
      Bird flying at Rifle Gap

      Mammals You Might Find

      • Cottontail Rabbit
      • Yellow-tailed Weasel
      • North American Beaver
      • Mule Deer
      Rabbit in tall grass

      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.

      Rifle Gap cliffs

      Habitats and Plants at This Park

      • Pinyon-juniper Woodlands
      • Horsebrush
      • Indian Ricegrass
      • Boxelder
      Trees at the park

      Upcoming Events

      No Results.

      There are no results to display at this time.

      No Results.

      There are no results to display at this time.

      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.