Something magical happens when you just add water to your Rocky Mountain vacation; from the natural healing powers of our hot springs attractions to the recreational paradise supplied by the Colorado and Roaring Fork rivers and the unparalleled beauty of our National Natural Landmark – Hanging Lake. Dads act younger. Moms laugh more. Brothers are nicer to sisters and couples rediscover each other. Along the way, everyone remembers the feeling of joy.

That’s the power of our water in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.

The Grand Mesa National Forest is a U.S. National Forest in Mesa, Delta and Garfield Counties in Western Colorado. It borders the White River National Forest to the north and the Gunnison National Forest to the east. The forest covers most of Grand Mesa and the south part of Battlement Mesa.

Colorado National Monument is a National Park Service unit near the city of Grand Junction, Colorado. Sheer-walled canyons cut deep into sandstone and granite–gneiss–schist rock formations. This is an area of desert land high on the Colorado Plateau, with pinyon and juniper forests on the plateau.

State and national parks abound in the country around Rifle, and Rifle Gap State Park is a convenient option for those who’d rather not waste too much time traveling out into the hinterlands.

The park’s centerpiece is the massive lake that covers nearly 400 acres of surface area; it’s popular with kayakers, paddleboarders, anglers, and swimmers in the warm months.

Game fish in the lake include large and smallmouth bass, a number of trout species, perch, and pike, and it’s possible to find up-to-date fishing reports online.

Rifle Gap has more than 80 individual campsites, and many visitors stop at the visitor center before heading out to explore.

Rifle Falls are one of Rifle Falls State Park’s most iconic attractions; they’re usually most majestic in the spring when the snow in higher elevations is melting, causing rivers and creeks to swell.

The falls are a favorite destination for photographers and artists interested in capturing the area’s majestic essence, and there are a number of trails that lead right to the base.

The sound is often deafening when the flow is high, and during the late spring and summer, the surrounding area is lush, green, and idyllic, and often shrouded in primordial mist.

Camping and RV sites are available for those who’d like to spend the night.