Rifle Mountain Park, located just 13 miles North of Rifle, serves as
one of America's premiere sport climbing destinations. The 2.5 miles
of steep limestone walls that comprise Rifle Mountain Park contain a
wealth of routes. Most of the routes are for advanced climbers, but
a beginning climber can still find plenty to have fun with. The
climbing season runs from mid-April through late October.
When the days get shorter and the temperature starts to drop, the ice-climbing season begins. From late December through March, ice climbers can be found scaling the frozen waterfalls and smears of ice that cling to the limestone walls. Other visitors to the ice caves can enjoy hiking behind the frozen waterfalls or along Rifle Creek, which typically flows year round.
Climbers can pay a daily entrance fee or purchase a yearly pass. Camping is available in designated sites. Visit Rifle's City Hall Center for guidebooks and Rifle Mountain Park passes. The Rifle Chamber of Commerce also has more information at the Information Center about the park.
