Official websites use .gov
A .gov
website belongs to an official government organization in the
United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock
(
) or https:// means you've safely
connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only
on official, secure websites.
Rifle Ranger District
The Rifle Ranger District is rich with cultural history and amazing outdoor recreational opportunities. This area is near Flat Tops Wilderness which offers opportunities for solitude.
Hunting, fishing, mountain biking, horseback riding, OHV experiences, picnicking, hiking and driving for pleasure are a few of the activities the district has to offer with plenty of areas for dispersed camping. Winter brings snow and a variety of cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobile trails with it.
At a Glance
| Operational Hours: | M - F, excluding federal holidays 9:00 am - 5:30 pm, 2023 summer hours through hunting season |
|---|---|
| Area Amenities: | Tent camping,Fee charged for some activities,Picnic tables,Toilets,Parking |
| Closest Towns: | Rifle, CO |
| Information Center: | Rifle Ranger District 0094 County Road 244 Rifle, CO 81650 (970) 625-2371 |
General Information
Directions:Visit the District Office. From Rifle, CO head north on Railroad Ave for about a mile. Then merge left onto CO-13/West 20th Street and follow for about 0.7 miles. Turn right onto County Road 244 and follow 0.3 miles to the Forest Service office at 0094 County Road 244, Rifle, CO 81650.
Activities
Mountain Biking
| Hours of Operation: | |
|---|---|
| Rental info: |
Areas for Mountain Biking at Rifle Ranger District
- Battlement Mesa Area
- Battlement Jeep (Forest Road 847)
- East & West Divide Creek Area
- Glenwood Springs Area
- Beaver Creek #2092
- Transfer Trail Road TH #602.1
- New Castle Area
- Lower Clinetop Road (Forest Road # 603)
- Main Elk #2157
- Upper Clinetop Road (Forest Road # 603)
- Rifle Area
- Lower Three Forks Trailhead
- Three Forks #2150
- Upper Three Forks #2150
- SW/Central Flat Tops Area
- Bench Road (Forest Road #647)
- Bison Lake Road #640.1
- Bowen Lake #631.1
- Buford-New Castle Parallel OHV #2290
- Burnt Ridge Road #651.1
- Cattle Guard Road #603.1P
- Cherry Creek Connector #2256.1A
- Cherry Creek Trail #2256
- Cherry Creek Trail C
- Cherry Creek Trail D
- Clark Ridge #2158.1B
- Corral Creek Road #650.1
- Corral Point Road #649.1
- Grizzly Jeep Road #632.1
- Lower Cherry Creek Trailhead
- Mansfield Ditch #2291
- W. Elk Stock Driveway B TH #2152
- West Elk Stock Driveway #2152
- West Ute Creek Road #648
Campground Camping
| Hours of Operation: | |
|---|---|
| Rental info: |
Areas for Campground Camping at Rifle Ranger District
Dispersed Camping
| Hours of Operation: | |
|---|---|
| Rental info: |
Areas for Dispersed Camping at Rifle Ranger District
- East & West Divide Creek Area
- Upper Clinetop Road (Forest Road # 603)
- Rifle Area
- SW/Central Flat Tops Area
- Adams Lake Road #601.2C
- Bench Road (Forest Road #647)
- Bison Lake Road #640.1
- Bowen Lake #631.1
- Burnt Ridge Road #651.1
- Cattle Guard Road #603.1P
- Cliff Lakes Road #601.4E
- Corral Point Road #649.1
- Grizzly Jeep Road #632.1
- Keyser Creek Road #637.1
- West Ute Creek Road #648
Lake and Pond Fishing
| Hours of Operation: | |
|---|---|
| Rental info: |
Areas for Lake and Pond Fishing at Rifle Ranger District
- Battlement Mesa Area
- Battlement Jeep (Forest Road 847)
- Battlement Reservoirs #2160.5
- Glenwood Springs Area
- SW/Central Flat Tops Area
- Adams Lake Road #601.2C
- Bison Lake Road #640.1
- Keyser Creek Road #637.1
- Meadow Lake Picnic Area
River and Stream Fishing
| Hours of Operation: | |
|---|---|
| Rental info: |
Areas for River and Stream Fishing at Rifle Ranger District
Day Hiking
| Hours of Operation: | |
|---|---|
| Rental info: |
Areas for Day Hiking at Rifle Ranger District
- Battlement Mesa Area
- Battlement #2160 (West)
- Battlement Jeep (Forest Road 847)
- Battlement Reservoirs #2160.5
- Battlement Trailhead
- East & West Divide Creek Area
- Cayton Gulch TH #2162
- Cayton Trailhead
- Lake Fork #2172
- Glenwood Springs Area
- Beaver Creek #2092
- Jessie Weaver TH #1847
- Mitchell Creek #1845
- No Name Trailhead
- New Castle Area
- Boiler Creek #1843
- Centennial (East Elk) Trailhead
- Clinetop (Main Elk) Trailhead
- East Elk Creek #1841
- Hadley Gulch #1840
- Lower Clinetop Road (Forest Road # 603)
- Main Elk #2157
- Spring Creek #2068
- Upper Clinetop Road (Forest Road # 603)
- Rifle Area
- Battlement #2160 (East)
- Beaver Creek Trailhead
- Lower Three Forks Trailhead
- Red Elephant Point Road #211.2A
- Three Forks #2150
- Upper Three Forks #2150
- West Mamm Trailhead
- SW/Central Flat Tops Area
- Bison Lake Road #640.1
- Blair Lake #2048
- Blair Mountain TH #601.1
- Blair Overlook TH #601.2E
- Bowen Lake #631.1
- Buford-New Castle Parallel OHV #2290
- Buford-New Castle Road (Forest Road-245)
- Burnt Ridge Road #651.1
- Cattle Guard Road #603.1P
- Cherry Creek Connector #2256.1A
- Cherry Creek Trail #2256
- Cherry Creek Trail C
- Cherry Creek Trail D
- Clark Ridge #2158.1B
- Cliff Lakes Road #601.4E
- Cliff Lakes Trailhead
- Corral Point Road #649.1
- Crater Trailhead
- Grizzly Jeep Road #632.1
- Keyser Creek Road #637.1
- Lower Cherry Creek Trailhead
- Mansfield Ditch #2291
- Patterson Creek Trailhead
- Ute Lake #2162
- Ute Trailhead
- West Elk Stock Driveway #2152
Backpacking
| Hours of Operation: | |
|---|---|
| Rental info: |
Areas for Backpacking at Rifle Ranger District
- Battlement Mesa Area
- Battlement #2160 (West)
- Battlement Jeep (Forest Road 847)
- Battlement Reservoirs #2160.5
- Battlement Trailhead
- East & West Divide Creek Area
- Cayton Gulch TH #2162
- Lake Fork #2172
- Glenwood Springs Area
- Jessie Weaver TH #1847
- No Name Trailhead
- New Castle Area
- Boiler Creek #1843
- Centennial (East Elk) Trailhead
- Clinetop (Main Elk) Trailhead
- East Elk Creek #1841
- Spring Creek #2068
- Battlement #2160 (East)
- Beaver Creek Trailhead
- Lower Three Forks Trailhead
- Three Forks #2150
- Upper Three Forks #2150
- West Mamm Trailhead
- SW/Central Flat Tops Area
- Blair Lake #2048
- Cliff Lakes Trailhead
- Crater Trailhead
- Patterson Creek Trailhead
Horse Riding
| Hours of Operation: | |
|---|---|
| Rental info: |
Areas for Horse Riding at Rifle Ranger District
- Battlement Mesa Area
- Battlement #2160 (West)
- Battlement Jeep (Forest Road 847)
- Battlement Reservoirs #2160.5
- Battlement Trailhead
- McCurry Reservoir #2H
- East & West Divide Creek Area
- Cayton Gulch TH #2162
- Cayton Trailhead
- Gas Line - Uncle Bob
- Jones Creek #1901
- Lake Fork #2172
- Mud Hill Spur TH #1271
- Muddy Creek #2172.1A
- Reno Gulch #2163
- Glenwood Springs Area
- Beaver Creek #2092
- Broken Rib #1849
- Connector To Bowen Loop #1848
- Jessie Weaver TH #1847
- Mitchell Creek #1845
- No Name Trailhead
- Palmer Lake TH #2025
- New Castle Area
- Boiler Creek #1843
- Centennial (East Elk) Trailhead
- Clinetop (Main Elk) Trailhead
- Hadley Gulch #1840
- Hadley Point #2061
- Lower Clinetop Road (Forest Road # 603)
- Main Elk #2157
- Spring Creek #2068
- Spring Creek To Boiler Creek #2068.1
- Upper Clinetop Road (Forest Road # 603)
- Zig Zag #1840.1
- Rifle Area
- Battlement #2160 (East)
- Beaver Creek Trailhead
- Lower Three Forks Trailhead
- Red Elephant Point Road #211.2A
- Three Forks #2150
- Upper Three Forks #2150
- West Mamm Trailhead
- SW/Central Flat Tops Area
- Bar H-L Road (Forest Road #211)
- Bench Road (Forest Road #647)
- Bison Lake Road #640.1
- Blair Lake #2048
- Blair Mountain TH #601.1
- Blair Overlook TH #601.2E
- Buford-New Castle Parallel OHV #2290
- Buford-New Castle Road (Forest Road-245)
- Burnt Ridge Road #651.1
- Cattle Guard Road #603.1P
- Cherry Creek Connector #2256.1A
- Cherry Creek Trail #2256
- Clark Point Overlook
- Clark Ridge #2158.1B
- Cliff Lakes Road #601.4E
- Cliff Lakes Trailhead
- Corral Creek Road #650.1
- Corral Point Road #649.1
- Crater Trailhead
- Grizzly Jeep Road #632.1
- Keyser Creek Road #637.1
- Last Chance TH #2158
- Lower Cherry Creek Trailhead
- Mansfield Ditch #2291
- Patterson Creek Trailhead
- Ute - Elk #2028
- Ute - Meadow #2159
- W. Elk Stock Driveway B TH #2152
- West Elk Stock Driveway #2152
- West Ute Creek Road #648
Big Game Hunting
Areas for Big Game Hunting at Rifle Ranger District
- Battlement Mesa Area
- Battlement #2160 (West)
- Battlement Jeep (Forest Road 847)
- Battlement Reservoirs #2160.5
- East & West Divide Creek Area
- Cayton Gulch TH #2162
- Lake Fork #2172
- Glenwood Springs Area
- Jessie Weaver TH #1847
- No Name Trailhead
- Transfer Trail Road TH #602.1
- New Castle Area
- Boiler Creek #1843
- Centennial (East Elk) Trailhead
- Clinetop (Main Elk) Trailhead
- East Elk Creek #1841
- Lower Clinetop Road (Forest Road # 603)
- Spring Creek #2068
- Upper Clinetop Road (Forest Road # 603)
- Rifle Area
- Battlement #2160 (East)
- Beaver Creek Trailhead
- Red Elephant Point Road #211.2A
- Three Forks #2150
- West Mamm Trailhead
- SW/Central Flat Tops Area
- Adams Lake Road #601.2C
- Bench Road (Forest Road #647)
- Bison Lake Road #640.1
- Blair Mountain TH #601.1
- Bowen Lake #631.1
- Buford-New Castle Road (Forest Road-245)
- Cattle Guard Road #603.1P
- Corral Point Road #649.1
- Grizzly Jeep Road #632.1
- Keyser Creek Road #637.1
- West Ute Creek Road #648
Viewing Wildlife
Areas for Viewing Wildlife at Rifle Ranger District
- Battlement Mesa Area
- Battlement Reservoirs #2160.5
- East & West Divide Creek Area
- Glenwood Springs Area
- Jessie Weaver TH #1847
- New Castle Area
- Hadley Gulch #1840
- Rifle Area
- SW/Central Flat Tops Area
- Bowen Lake #631.1
Viewing Scenery
Areas for Viewing Scenery at Rifle Ranger District
- Battlement Mesa Area
- East & West Divide Creek Area
- Glenwood Springs Area
- Jessie Weaver TH #1847
- No Name Trailhead
- Transfer Trail Road TH #602.1
- New Castle Area
- Boiler Creek #1843
- Centennial (East Elk) Trailhead
- Clinetop (Main Elk) Trailhead
- Hadley Gulch #1840
- Lower Clinetop Road (Forest Road # 603)
- Upper Clinetop Road (Forest Road # 603)
- Rifle Area
- Spruce Picnic Area
- SW/Central Flat Tops Area
- Bar H-L Road (Forest Road #211)
- Bench Road (Forest Road #647)
- Bison Lake Road #640.1
- Blair Lake #2048
- Blair Mountain TH #601.1
- Blair Overlook TH #601.2E
- Bowen Lake #631.1
- Buford-New Castle Road (Forest Road-245)
- Burnt Ridge Road #651.1
- Cattle Guard Road #603.1P
- Cliff Lakes Road #601.4E
- Corral Creek Road #650.1
- Corral Point Road #649.1
- Grizzly Jeep Road #632.1
- Keyser Creek Road #637.1
OHV Road Riding
Areas for OHV Road Riding at Rifle Ranger District
- Glenwood Springs Area
- Transfer Trail Road TH #602.1
- Upper Clinetop Road (Forest Road # 603)
- Rifle Area
- SW/Central Flat Tops Area
- Bench Road (Forest Road #647)
- Bison Lake Road #640.1
- Bowen Lake #631.1
- Burnt Ridge Road #651.1
- Cliff Lakes Trailhead
- Corral Creek Road #650.1
- Corral Point Road #649.1
- Grizzly Jeep Road #632.1
- Keyser Creek Road #637.1
- West Ute Creek Road #648
OHV Trail Riding
| Hours of Operation: | |
|---|---|
| Rental info: |
Areas for OHV Trail Riding at Rifle Ranger District
- Battlement Mesa Area
- Battlement Jeep (Forest Road 847)
- Battlement Trailhead
- East & West Divide Creek Area
- Glenwood Springs Area
- Transfer Trail Road TH #602.1
- Windy Point Bypass TH #1846
- New Castle Area
- Upper Clinetop Road (Forest Road # 603)
- Rifle Area
- Red Elephant Point Road #211.2A
- SW/Central Flat Tops Area
- Adams Lake Road #601.2C
- Bar H-L Road (Forest Road #211)
- Blair Mountain TH #601.1
- Blair Overlook TH #601.2E
- Bowen Lake #631.1
- Buford-New Castle Parallel OHV #2290
- Cattle Guard Road #603.1P
- Cliff Lakes Road #601.4E
- Grizzly Jeep Road #632.1
- Trail Gulch #2165
- West Elk Trailhead
Picnicking
| Hours of Operation: | |
|---|---|
| Rental info: |
Areas for Picnicking at Rifle Ranger District
- East & West Divide Creek Area
- Glenwood Springs Area
- Rifle Area
- Spruce Picnic Area
- SW/Central Flat Tops Area
- Meadow Lake Picnic Area
Group Picnicking
| Hours of Operation: | |
|---|---|
| Rental info: |
Areas for Group Picnicking at Rifle Ranger District
Scenic Driving
Areas for Scenic Driving at Rifle Ranger District
Boating - Non-Motorized
| Hours of Operation: | |
|---|---|
| Rental info: |
Areas for Boating - Non-Motorized at Rifle Ranger District
XC Skiing/Snowshoeing
Areas for XC Skiing/Snowshoeing at Rifle Ranger District
Snowmobiling
Areas for Snowmobiling at Rifle Ranger District
Amenities
| Picnic tables: | Campgrounds, Spruce Group Picnic area |
|---|---|
| Tent camping: | Meadow Lake & Meadow Ridge Campgrounds |
| Fee charged for some activities: | Developed site camping |
| Parking: | Meadow Lake Day Use area, West Elk Trailhead, several overlooks |
| Toilets: | Campgrounds, West Elk Trailhead |
Know Before You Go
Location