Overview

Hype:

There are half a dozen caves near Rifle Falls in Rifle Falls State Park. The largest cave has multiple rooms and is about 50 feet deep. One cave just west of the falls has an extremely narrow entrance that requires a tight squeeze to enter. Most are big enough to warrant a flashlight.

Cave Type: Horizontal

Time: 10-30 minutes

Length: Up to 50 ft

Depth: Up to 10 ft

Gear: Flashlight

Fees: Park Entrance

Recommended Ages:

	0-3
	4-11
	12-19
	20-49
	50-69
	70+

Recommended Months to Visit:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Permits: Open

Links: https://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/RifleFalls/Pages/default.aspx

Getting There

Navigate to 39.677869, -107.698166.

Maps

Closest City or Region: Rifle Falls State Park, Colorado

Coordinates: 39.677869, -107.698166

Interactive Guide Map

Download Guide Map

View map fullscreen.

July 25, 2020 Trip Report

By Jeremy Dye

Trip Members

Jeremy Dye, Tara Dye, Savannah Dye,

Story

The first two cars in our group arrived at Rifle Falls State Park around 10:00, but the park was full. We didn't know what to do, so we pulled around to the other side of the street to wait for the last car in our group to arrive so we could figure out a plan. While we were waiting, the attendant let a car behind us into the park and then some people left, so we were able to get into the park. We parked and explored the caves a little bit while we were waiting for Ari's car to arive. Well, Ari's car didn't have quite the same experience as we did. The station attendant was a complete jerk to them. He told them the park was full and that they would have to come back later. While they were turning around, he let a different car that was behind them into the park. So they pulled around again to see if there was now an opening. The attendant wouldn't let them in and wouldn't let them wait across the street for an opening. They tried to explain that half of their group was already inside the park and that they needed to relay a message to us, but the attendant was not helpful in the least. They had the lunch cooler for the group in their car, but the attendant wouldn't let them bring the cooler down to us. He wouldn't even let one of them walk down to our car to leave a message on our windshield. Eventually, Jaren just ignored them and got out of the car and walked the cooler all the way down the road to us, despite their objections. We were completely dismayed at how horrible they treated the last car in our group and how they consistently (at least 5 times that we observed) let some cars into the park despite other cars arriving there first.

Ari, Miller, Ondy, Jaren, and Killian didn't get to participate with the rest of us. They headed to a city park instead. They were super bummed, but mostly just shocked at how rude the attendant was.

The rest of us enjoyed our visit to Rifle Falls. Savannah, Madi, and I explored the caves on the south end. Then we all took pictures in front of the falls. Mom, Dad, Madi, and Cooper waited at the picnic tables while Tara, Savannah, and I hiked the Coyote Trail. We enjoyed the north caves and the view of the falls from above. Then we all hopped back in the cars and drove to meet the rest of the group in Glenwood Springs.

Pictures