Colorado is rightfully famous for its dramatic slice of the Rocky Mountains. Yet as glorious as its Rocky Mountains are, Colorado has plenty more scenic tricks up its sleeve. Colorado's "mini Grand Canyon" at Colorado National Monument offers breathtaking viewpoints that more closely resemble the Utah and Arizona deserts farther west. Western Colorado, of course, borders Utah and Arizona, so this isn't too surprising. What's much more surprising is the scenery you'll find at Colorado's Rifle Falls
State Park. Waterfalls of the kind that give the park its name aren't exactly uncommon in Colorado, but here, it's the scenery around Rifle Falls that makes the park so special. The park's cascading falls and abundant waterways feed into a lush thicket of greenery that simultaneously resembles a desert oasis and the kind of tropical rainforest you'd find in the Caribbean.
Sitting nearly four hours west of Denver International Airport, Rifle Falls State Park is near the rugged landscape of Western Colorado's Roan Plateau, where the snowy Rocky Mountain peaks give way to deep gorges, dramatic cliffs, scenic ridges, and arid plains. However, Rifle Falls State Park's fertile forests and riparian gardens are much thicker and greener than anything you'll find in the surrounding countryside. Even better, the park's namesake falls has one of the most distinctive profiles of any waterfall in Colorado.
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Enjoying The View At Rifle Falls State Park
The falls of Rifle Falls State Park are formed by the East Rifle Creek, which cascades down the area's natural limestone cliffs. The ample flow of the creek and an already striking rocky grotto are the perfect ingredients for a magical slice of nature. Water from the creek feeds a vibrant riparian forest with much thicker vegetation than anywhere in the surrounding landscape. Even if Rifle Falls were only a standard waterfall, the scenery would still be among the most beautiful in Colorado. However, the natural forces that shaped this park apparently felt that one waterfall in such a sublime setting wasn't enough, and instead formed Rifle Falls with three distinct cascades converging in the splendid greenery of the forest. Indeed, Rifle Falls is the only triple waterfall in the entire state of Colorado.
In the Caribbean, the twin cascades of Trafalgar Falls meet in a stunning jungle setting for a captivating display of tropical beauty. And though it's far from the Caribbean, Rifle Falls and its verdant surroundings give tropical destinations like Trafalgar Falls a run for their money. Rifle Falls rises around 80 feet up the side of a precarious cliff, around a complex network of limestone cave formations. The combination of limestone and ceaseless flowing water has even carved a large, 90-foot cavern chamber under the falls that visitors can explore. All of these hidden spots create a multitude of superb scenic viewing points of the falls.
Planning Your Trip To Rifle Falls State Park
Rifle Falls State Park is a truly unique outdoor experience in a state already known for its amazing outdoor experiences. Hiking here is a bit more limited than other Colorado spots, but there's still plenty of fun to be had. Hikes like the Rifle Falls Coyote Trail are relatively short and easy treks that still provide up-close views of Rifle Falls, the park's cave systems, and the surrounding riparian forests in a single magical excursion. The park's creek is also a terrific spot for fishing, with healthy populations of brown, rainbow, and cutthroat trout. Additionally, Rifle Falls has lovely event spaces that you can reserve for picnics or special events. The park's 50-seat Mountain Mist Amphitheater can even be used for weddings.
Rifle Falls State Park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and day-use fees are $4 for individual entry or $10 per vehicle. If you want to stay overnight, Rifle Falls has 13 drive-in and seven walk-in campsites along the southern side of East Rifle Creek. Many campsites feature electric hookups, and at least one is ADA-accessible. Camping reservations at Rifle Creek generally cost between $22 and $36 per night. The nearby town of Rifle has more modern accommodations, if you want to keep your nature excursion day-use only. And if you want to use your Rifle Falls trip to explore this underrated region of Colorado, the town of Glenwood Springs is a mere 40-minute drive away. With unique geothermal pools and resorts, Glenwood Springs is one of America's best hot springs towns that feels more like an Icelandic escape. So if you don't mind a bit of a drive, you can visit both the Caribbean and Iceland without leaving Colorado!
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