letter-spacing: 1px; Also, stay warm in these frigid temperatures by referencing these top 12 articles of cold weather clothing. Just a quick 15 minutes drive in between each! text-align: center; This is how we can begin to describe this otherwise indescribable place. #map { position:absolute; top:0; bottom:0; width:100%; } The Rifle Falls Caves are two limestone caves in the Rifle Falls State Park. When the temperature drops, Colorado nature really puts on a show. background: #3074a4; Cave of the Winds Found 30 minutes outside of Rifle, the Ice Caves at Rifle Mountain Park are an epic winter destination. This is a winter site found along Koper’s Trail in Rifle Mountain Park. text-decoration: none; The caves, which are naturally formed by the daily freeze-and-thaw cycles inside the park from late November into March, attract many visitors from inside and outside the area annually. I took this photo in the middle of winter, when huge pillars of ice form in caves in Rifle Mountain Park. Towards the end, the road was unpaved, but maintained until the Mountain Park and accessible even without 4x4. background-color: #3887be; It’s a sure bet that climbers will be out on the ice every weekend until the middle of March, which is when warmer temperatures make ascending the walls of ice a safety issue. Google / Adam Wolach The icy formations continually change throughout the winter and typically stick around through late February. The Final Curtain is the last ice cave you’ll reach along Koper’s Trail in Rifle Mountain Park. News about the ice caves can be found at: Post Independent (January 7, 2015) – Go Play: Ice caves at Rifle Mountain Park a winter jewel for many (*article contains incorrect cave names) Parks Maintenance Building 3100 Dokes Lane Rifle, CO 81650 }. } background: #3ca0d3; Located just outside the city of Grand Junction, we highly recommend you visit if you’re in the area! It starts at the first trailhead visitors see after entering the park, and follows the canyon walls to a stunning ice cave. .my-icon { Middle Ice Caves is a climbing area north of Rifle Colorado and in the famous Rifle Mountain Park. But did you know ice caves exist in CO? Yes, freakin’ ICE CAVES. Despite the unknown future, we’re both so grateful to have had the chance to experience something like this right here in the United States. The entrance to this one was the complete opposite of the entrance to the lower ice caves. Rifle Falls State Park. Nearby popular cities for reference are Grand Junction and Aspen, with Rifle nestled right in between. These columns of ice spread downward into a cascading flow of frozen water. 1:15. Rifle, Colorado is in between Glenwood Springs and Grand Junction. $8 per vehicle, 9859 CO … The Ice Caves at Rifle Mountain Park can be seen during the winter months from December to March. See more details here. However, it’s fairly tall and wide to where you can fully stand up and walk around without fear of hitting your head. The cave proper, while way too chossy to climb, forms an immense roofy bowl that is easily 70+ feet from the back to the lip and often runs with water or drips with giant icicles. If you go: Rifle Mountain Park is 15 miles north of town and 3.5 hours from Denver. The Rifle Mountain Ice Caves form in December and last until February. The Rifle Ice Caves are created each year by a natural freeze-and-thaw process that begins in December, once temperatures routinely drop below freezing. Ice cave inside Rilfe Mountain Park in Colorado. Wait until winter takes a firm hold on the Western Slope town of Rifle. Water that runs off the steep limestone cliffs freezes and thaws to form these beautiful turquoise ice formations. Rifle. Normally ice feels wet to the touch. Or you can simply just stay at the bottom like we did. Colorado National Monument is another well known nature destination not far from Rifle Mountain Park. However, it’s a very popular area with rock climbers, so the hiking is minimal. Both will keep you not just comfortable but safe in below freezing temperatures. Ice Caves at Rifle Mountain Park. Such a beautiful, magical place that made it hard to believe I was still in Colorado. background: #fff; Icicles dangle off the face of the upper ice cave, otherwise known as the "Final Curtain," at Rifle Mountain Park on Jan. 1, 2015. padding: 10px; width: 120px; } Parts of the ground are near slush consistency. Go for a winter hike or take a visit to the ice caves. border: 1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.4); Winter Activities. There’s another feature worth mentioning when exploring these caves. Where: 13885 Colorado Rd. . Rifle Mountain Park has become well-known not only for its rock-climbing terrain during the summertime but for the ice caves that form during the winter. max-width: 400px; Standing before us were colossal pillars of rock hard ice, shining with a brilliant light blue hue. Water flows over the canyon walls, freezes, and creates these big beautiful frozen cascades. I don’t remember exactly how I heard of Rifle Ice Caves – it might have been a Facebook ad or article to be honest. border-radius: 100%; There are four ice caves to be found in the park: Ice Palace, Soul on Ice, Stone Tree, and The Final Curtain. Exit I-70 at Rifle, exit 90, and drive north on the main road through town. The Ice Caves at Rifle Mountain Park can be seen during the winter months from December to March. font-size: 13px; #menu { They provide invaluable traction when walking on ice. WORD OF ADVICE – Walking on ice can be very dangerous with regular shoes and even proper hiking shoes. Once inside, it’s pitch black so be careful walking around. Growing beside and underneath the falls are beautiful ice formations. The sight in front of us was like nothing we’ve seen before. The upper ice caves are far more wet to the touch. The Holy Trinity of Zoom Lenses: 3 to Rule Them All, 5 Things to Do in Bisbee AZ: From Old West to Art Town, We use cookies to improve your website experience. Yikes, real talk for a second. height: 20px; Tell us in the comments below! Rifle Mountain Park is well known for it’s superb limestone walls, best for rock climbing during the warmer summer months. An easy loop around makes this one of our favorite things to do with kids in Colorado. .mapboxgl-popup { These are caves near Rifle, CO. More information about Rifle Falls State Park can be found at: Colorado Parks & Wildlife – Rifle … Similar to the lower ice cave, the upper ice cave walls are thick and tall that stretch all the the way from the top to the bottom. The lower ice cave of Rifle Mountain Park has huge wave-like icicles extending from the ceiling. Good thing we had 3 sources of light to make the caves easily visible! Made up of 4 different caves (the Stone Tree, Ice Palace, Soul On Ice, and The Final Curtain), the Rifle Ice Caves come back year-after-year and are a must-see for hikers, photographers, and/or nature enthusiasts. Bring your traction. The city of Rifle created the park in 1921. width: 20px; border-radius: 3px; Past Rifle Falls to the right are two deep limestone caves that you can venture into. Um, hell yeah! Though the ice caves are located just 30 minutes north from the city of Rifle, this hidden gem will truly make you feel like you’ve been transported to a winter wonderland. YouTube. Colorado never ceases to amaze me. Both the short ceiling above and the thick ice below make you have to crouch a bit as you exit. ... Share Tweet. With a strong love for nature and adventure travel, she hopes to inspire others to get outside and explore our natural playground that we call home. We crave new experiences, outdoor adventure, and the freedom to explore our beautiful planet. A fairly small gap in between the ice and the rock allows just enough room for you to crawl through. They can be reserved at 202 Railroad Ave in Rifle. Each growing alongside the frigid water temperatures. Rifle Mountain Park Ice Caves: Colorado’s Winter Gem, Our content may contain affiliate links. Unlike the ice caves, these are solid rock caverns containing no ice or water. Rifle Mountain Park Address: 13885 Co Rd 217, Rifle, CO 81650. When you’re finished, exit out the back end of the cave completing Koper’s Trail. Although, I don’t think I’d ever want to be in here alone as the silence and darkness is unnerving. Hiking– There are hiking trails winding through the park. The trail is mainly flat while you follow along the stream. Shelby Bernal is the co-founder, editor, and author of We Who Roam. Ice Caves at Rifle Mountain Park via Facebook. PHOTOS: The incredible ice caves in Rifle, Colorado 1 / 25 × It’s considered one of the best rock climbing destinations in the world. } position: absolute; On your way back to town, you’ll want extra time to stop at this state park. (Provided by Colorado Parks and Wildlife) Rifle Falls. Who knows the next time I’ll be able to walk through an actual ice cave? This helps us to continue creating useful and valuable content for you and other visitors. .mapboxgl-popup-content { The ice that forms all along the canyon walls in this park has become a popular destination for climbers. Woahh!! The small, but beautiful, Rifle Mountain Park is located in the northwest section of Colorado, just 30 minutes north from the town of Rifle. Rifle, CO – Ice Cave. Conveniently, the 2 main ice caves are accessible along a 3/4 mile hike known as Koper’s Trail. Bring a flashlight or 2 as it’s completely dark inside the larger cave. We hiked the trail from the southern end up, starting with the lower ice cave, The Ice Palace. Have you experienced ice caves before? View frozen falls and colorful ice as you roam this unique spot. Mike and Josh ice climb on the outside of the caves each winter. Still, the internals of this cave were just as incredible. For more winter nature spots in Colorado, check out our post on 5 Must See Colorado Parks in Winter. color: white; } Which in turn means the ice is more dark in appearance and less blue in color. The canyon walls in Rifle Mountain Park contain more than 400 established rock climbs. Areas in Ice Cave ... and all of the routes have double bolt anchors for descent. It almost looks like a set made for the backdrop of a theater performance. I feel like I prefer The Ice Palace (lower ice cave) over the upper cave. We’d love to add it to our list! Don’t spend too long re-enacting scenes from Frozen in the Rifle Mountain Park ice caves. At least that’s the best way I can describe it! Blue hues resonate off the inside of the lower ice cave in Rifle Mountain Park on Jan. 1, 2015. color: #000000; #menu a { Ice Cave. If you don’t have any, you can still explore the ice caves, just proceed with caution and trek slowly. EDITOR’S NOTE: Ice is slippery. Neighbor saves widowed grandmother from eviction. Signs along the way mark turnoffs to a higher set of caves. To my surprise, the ice is much more smooth and dry than I thought it would be. If clicked through to make a purchase, the price remains the same for you and we will earn a small commission. Seek mystery of Ice Caves. z-index: 1; Today, children and adults can picnic, camp, and explore the caves of the park. We’ve only road tripped through the state twice and each time we were met with jaw dropping landscapes and nature. Or slide through, which is essentially what ended up happening to us! The combination of waterfalls and unique ice formations was nothing short of amazing. Koper’s Trail takes you past the 2 large and most popular ice caves: The Ice Palace (lower ice cave) & The Final Curtain (upper ice cave). color: #337ab7; From sprawling mountains, to dense forests, and to even massive red rock cliffs. #menu a:hover { .mapboxgl-popup-content a { Unlike the nearby ice caves at Rifle Mountain Park, this waterfall is only partly frozen with a steady stream of running water. } When you’re ready, head towards the end of the cave to continue along Koper’s Trail. top: 10px; color: #404040; Climbing Area Map. It’s difficult to enjoy your surroundings without the right gear and warm clothes! > body { margin:0; padding:0; } Rifle, CO – Caves. The town of Rifle, Colorado is home to two spots to explore caves, Rifle Mountain and Rifle Falls. Nothing says winter adventure in Colorado like exploring a fantasyland of icy and snowy natural wonders. padding: 0; Your email address will not be published. Harvey Gap State Park Swimming and Picnic Area. max-width: 100%; Attractions: Ice cave, scenic canyon, picnic, rock climbing. It is a quiet, serene, winter wonderland. Granted, the ice caves in Rifle Mountain Park definitely do take the cake. So you can imagine our excitement when we heard there are 2 epic ice caves in Colorado that are easily accessible to hikers. There, waterfalls flow year-round, kicking up mist that coats the surrounding vegetation in white icing. Location: White River National Forest (1.2 miles there and back trail close to Meeker) Difficulty: Difficult with a moderate hike What to Expect Although, come winter it’s a completely different world with the ice caves now being the main attraction. Rock Climbing– When the park opened climbers were free to attach their own pitons, but over the years the excess amo… .icon-dc { Take a trip into winter at its finest at the Rifle Mountain Park Ice Caves.Close to the entrance of Rifle Mountain Park, it's an easy hike into these natural beauties and is all-but guaranteed to be an experience you won't forget. } It’s not everyday you can walk behind large frozen pillars of water that enclose you in a unique seasonal cave. We hope to help you do the same! Required fields are marked *. If you wish, you can follow the small loop path which takes you up to the top of the falls. Think of Elsa’s castle from the movie Frozen. Related Videos. Or, enjoy a hike on the nature trails leading up to the Rifle Fish Hatchery to see enormous rainbow trout.