Tucked just off of i-70 and about three hours from Denver, you can find a natural wonder located in Rifle Mountain Park. Water flows down the canyon walls as snowfall melts, freezing in the colder months. These frozen cascades plunge straight to the ground, creating three ice caves in the cuts of the canyon walls that you can hike in a day trip from Denver that's worth the travel.
In the 1800s, locals would trek from Rifle to cut ice blocks from the pillars to use for cold storage back home. Today the area is popular for rock and ice climbers, but you don't have to scale walls to appreciate the beauty of this park. An easy 1-mile out and back from the parking lot will take you past lower, middle, and upper ice caves, each with its own unique labyrinth of stalactite icicles to explore.
What to Expect
The caves all face east, capturing the morning light and illuminating the rooms as it shines through the neon blue ice falls. Massive icicles reach from the ceilings like crystal chandeliers, throwing the sunlight around the room. Frost draping the rock walls glistens in the dark. Each year promises new formations unique to the precipitation and temperatures, meaning you can treat yourself to this hidden treasure again and find an entirely different experience.
Plan Your Adventure
Easy Hike: Rifle Mountain Ice Caves
Length: 1 mile
Elevation Gain: 250'
Estimated Time: 1 hour
As noted above, the caves face east. This means in order to capture the stunning sight of the frozen walls glowing in the sun, you'll want to visit in the morning hours. Exit i-70 onto State Highway 13 near Rifle, turning right on Highway 325. You'll pass Rifle Gap State Park and Rifle Falls (both worth their own visits) before reaching Rifle Mountain Park.
You'll want to park in the first lot you see. Be sure to bring cash with you to pay the $10 parking fee to help the city maintain the park. You can find the trail running adjacent to the road from the lot. The hike itself should only take 30 minutes, but allow yourself an hour to check out the caves and ice formations.
Before embarking on your journey, there are a few things to keep in mind. Be sure to pack traction, preferably microspikes, to prevent slipping on the ice. With solid footing, you'll be able to focus on watching your head to avoid walking into any low-hanging icicles. You'll also want to dress warmly, as temperatures inside the caves can be significantly colder than outside.
Enjoy exploring this frozen playground, but remember to practice Leave No Trace principles for winter recreating. This means staying on durable surfaces and packing out all waste with you when you leave. Last but not least, be sure to check weather conditions and trail accessibility, especially during the winter months when snow and ice may pose additional challenges reaching the park.
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