Rifle Falls State Park Is A Scenic Outdoor Spot In Colorado That's A Nature Lover’s Dream Come True
By Tori Jane|Published July 09, 2021
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Tori Jane
Author
Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
Okay, so, we wouldn’t be fooling anybody if we said Colorado was boring in any way. Colorado is, in fact, easily one of the most stunningly beautiful (and incredibly diverse) states in the entire country, and we couldn’t be prouder to call it home (and for some of us, it’s home only in our hearts, but home nonetheless). Folks seem to gravitate to the same areas, like Rocky Mountain National Park, Breckenridge, or Denver – and we can see why! They’re all beautiful! But, today, we’d like to talk about Rifle Falls State Park; it’s small, stunning, and often overlooked by tourists. Here’s why it should be number one on everyone’s list, especially if you’ve never been:
Rifle Falls State Park Is just 48 acres in size (compared to Rocky Mountain National Park's staggering 265,750+), but it packs an incredible punch.
Those who know the secret of Rifle Falls State Park come here and come here often, so it's usually quite crowded during the warmest months of the year, but don't let that stop you; stop by early in the morning during the week for a better chance at some peace and quiet, particularly in the fall, mid-spring, or even winter.
The weather at Rifle Falls State Park is perfect year-round; it gets cold, and the falls often freeze over, during the winter, but during the summer, the temperatures are mild and summer thunderstorms are beautiful.
Rifle Falls State Park has 13 drive-in and seven walk-in campsites. It's not unusual to spot elk, ground squirrels, and coyotes, as well as many species of beautiful and colorful birds.
The falls are a paradise all on their own (but trust us, the entire park is breathtaking).
They're popular with photographers for obvious reasons, and sometimes, a lucky couple can be spotted getting married beneath the incredible cascade. Imagine that: your wedding day, plus three incredible waterfalls in the beautiful Colorado wilderness.
Parking is quite limited, and like many state parks around the country, folks are turned away left and right once the lot is full.
