Rifle Colorado Real Estate

Rifle, 7 miles west of Silt, is another community that was historically a farming/ranching community. 

It was founded in 1882 and incorporated in 1905. 

Rifle lies in a valley surrounded by mesas and mountains. 

Teddy Roosevelt came hunting here in 1901 for bears. 

The bears are gone, but wildlife, especially mule deer and elk, abounds. 

Rifle Falls State Park is located 14 miles north of Rifle.

Home of Colorado's only 80-foot triple waterfall.

Explore through small limestone caves.

The focal point of Rifle Falls State Park is the Falls, which has been drawing visitors since 1883. 

The falls are much the same today.

Mist from the falls have created a grotto that is popular with site seers, naturalists and photographers alike.

The park encompasses 200 acres 18 campsites and several picnic sites.

The park is long and narrow following East Rifle Creek.

The falls lie at the northern end of the park. In the surrounding terrain are picnic sites and hiking trails.

The Coyote and Squirrel Trails lead visitors around the falls, creek and developed areas of the park.

The Squirrel Trail leads to the campground at the southern end of the park.

The camping area includes drive-in and walk-in sites, each with table, grill and access to vault toilets and water.

Recreation in Rifle Falls State Park includes hiking, fishing, biking, picnicking, camping and sight seeing.

During the winter visitors can enjoy cross-country skiing.

Abundant wildlife is present in the area year round.

In 1910 the town of Rifle built the Rifle Hydroelectric Plant at the falls (the first one in Colorado) which changed the creek's natural flow from one wide waterfall into the three falls seen today.

There are 3 theories on the town's unique name.

One story relates that it was named so when an early explorer left his rifle leaning against a tree and later returned for it.

The second story claims that it was named for the custom of firing one's rifle to signal others.

The third story states that an 1880 group of soldiers were working on the road between Rifle and Meeker.

One man left his rifle at camp along a stream bank.

In returning for it he named the creek Rifle Creek and the town took it's name from the creek.

Rifle boomed in the 1940s–oil shale; in the 1960s–oil shale; in the 1980s–oil shale; and in the 2000s–natural gas (and oil shale).