This park has steep ice curtains that can solidify to become excellent ice climbs; however, due to the low altitude, conditions tend to be fickle. Climbs here range from WI4+-6.
Some nice footage of climbing here can be found on On Ice with Alex Lowe & Kitty Calhoun kicking it up.
Make sure you stop at the fee station and pay your fee! The rangers in this area are very strict. Pay attention to the signs posted at the fee station as there are usually fire bans, bear of cat sighting in the area you will need to be awhere of. There are tons ice and mixed climbs up here as well as tons of bolted climbs.
This submission was originally placed by some memory challenged admin who now reassigned the credit.
Getting There
Exit the Rifle exit off I-70, west of Glenwood or east of Grand Junction. Take the first road north into town HWY 13. This road will turn into Railroad Ave. Take this road all the way through the town until it becomes Hwy 13 again. At the bowling alley, head east on HWY 325. Follow that road past the golf course and Rifle Falls, and you will reach a sharp left hand turn, past the fishing hatchery (you can't miss it). Thanks, Tymothe Meskel! It's more than me pea brain can keep in mind. I always seem to get a bit lost.
This wide curtain is the last climb as you drive through the canyon. Several lines exist, ranging in difficulty from WI 3+ to WI 5-, about 80 feet in length. Probably the most consistently forming route in the canyon....[more]
It's pretty easy to get there. Exit the rifle exit on I-70, west of Glenwood or east of Grand Junction. Take the first road north into town HWY 13. This Road will turn into Railroad ave. Take this road all the way through the town til it becomes Hwy 13 again. At the bowling alley, Head east on HWY 325. Follow that road past the golf course and rifle falls and you will reach a sharp left hand turn, past the fishing hatchery (you can't miss it). Make shure you stop at the fee station and pay your fee! The rangers in this area are very strict. Pay attention to the signs posted at the fee station as there are usually fire bans, bear of cat sighting in the area you will need to be awhere of. There are tons ice and mixed climbs up here as well as tons of bolted climbs. Happy route hunting.
Rifle Mountain State Park
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