Colorado photography : Rifle Falls State Park

Although the areas east and south of Rifle get their share of rave reviews when speaking of Colorado getaways - rightfully so - there are great photography opportunities all around the region. One of these is Rifle Falls State Park.

Comparisons to the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains are certainly unfair, yet this small state park is one of the gems of the western slope. Accessible year ‘round, it offers camping facilities and trails for hiking. These trails include walks among tall cottonwoods, boxelder, and Gambel oaks. As with much of western Colorado, additional outdoor recreational activities are as close as the nearest national forest.

Nearby is the vast White River National Forest, along with BLM land, Harvey Gap State Park, and Rifle Gap State Park, all offering ample opportunities for the Colorado experience.

The main attraction of the park is a trio of waterfalls cascading over limestone rock, creating a small riparian zone that comes as a complete surprise to first-time visitors. This area, along with the falls’ resulting spray zone, seems almost tropical in nature and is a complete opposite of the region’s arid nature.

Photographers will find numerous options for testing out their digital cameras. Summer crowds may present minor challenges for your beautiful photography attempts, so consider arriving early. Another option, well known to the locals but unknown to many travelers to the area, are winter’s ice caves.

The park tends to be deserted during winter months, in fact reservations aren’t even taken. However, that should not stop anyone from visiting then. In fact, he starkness of the area takes on a unique aura and combined with the low angle of the winter sun makes photography sessions extend almost to mid-day.

Light quality will have a dramatic effect on the ice caves. Cloudy and overcast conditions can render the ice an intense blue, while sunlight photography creates dramatic shadows and allows shafts of light into the caves.

Care should be taken when photographing the ice. Attaching a pair of crampons to your boots offers the opportunity of stability as well as several unique vantage points to test your personal vision. Additionally, make sure your tripod is equipped with metal spikes on its feet, as the rubber pads will be virtually worthless for this endeavor.

Another attraction to this unique area along East Rifle Creek is the State Fish Hatchery. This is one of the state’s cold water hatcheries and is also Colorado’s largest trout production hatchery. It produces fingerlings as well as catchables of Snake River cutthroat, brook, brown, rainbow and cutthroat trout.

Its area of fish management includes lakes, reservoirs, and stream sections of western Colorado and supplies various waters along the front range with catchable trout. This facility is also responsible for aerial stocking of cutthroat trout in high elevation areas.

The park’s intimate setting along with Colorado’s magical summers makes it highly popular during the summer months. In fact, the Mountain Mist Amphitheater located within the park is booked months in advance for weddings, events, and reunions.

So if that Colorado vacation has you zeroed in on mountain photography, remember there are some great opportunities just down the road.