Get Involved: Rifle Gap and Rifle Falls State Parks

Rifle Falls is a majestic and beautiful park nestled in a box canyon behind the grand hogback in western Colorado! A trio of waterfalls, lush vegetation and a series of small caves helped Rifle Falls State Park earn a reputation as one of Colorado's best parks.

Responsibilities:

Volunteer camp hosts may help greet visitors and provide information, complete light maintenance (changing trash bags, cleaning sites and restrooms), and other special projects to support staff and visitors.

Both Rifle Gap and Rifle Falls strive to provide the very best experience to the visitors possible, and we could not do that without our camp host volunteers! Our hosts are more of a family than anything else.

Site elevation:

6,000-6,600 ft

Rifle Gap and Rifle Falls State Parks offer visitors and volunteers a diverse, amazing, unique array of recreational opportunities on Colorado's western slope at the base of the San Juan Mountains. Rifle Gap has always drawn visitors because of its outstanding fishing and boating opportunities, but now the park has completed an $11,000,000 upgrade to include full hookups at some camp host campsites.

A trio of waterfalls, lush vegetation and a series of small caves helped Rifle Falls State Park earn a reputation as one of Colorado's best parks. Both Rifle Gap and Rifle Falls strive to provide the very best experience to the visitors possible, and we could not do that without our camp host volunteers! Our hosts are more of a family than anything else.

Responsibilities:

Camp Hosts:

• greet visitors as they arrive
• provide excellent customer service
• upkeep of the restroom/shower facilities within each individual campground
• clean the campsite(s) after their departure.

Maintenance Hosts:

• change trash bags
• shuffle fleet vehicles for repairs
• trim trees
• clean campsites
• plant flowers in the spring
• maintain self serve kiosk
• clean fish screens
• welding projects

Special Projects Volunteers:

• provide public information
• gate work
• general maintenance
• carpentry
• trail building and maintenance
• non-commissioned patrol.

Visitor Center Attendants

• collect fees for camping and daily entrance fees
• collect fees for bookstore items
• collect fees for boat registrations

Site elevation:

6,000 ft

Stay tuned for 2023 host openings! In the meantime, feel free to apply and be put on a waiting list.

Couples or individuals accepted, including those with children and pets. Maximum limit is 2 dogs or cats.

Rifle Falls is a majestic and beautiful park nestled in a box canyon behind the grand hogback in western Colorado! A trio of waterfalls, lush vegetation and a series of small caves helped Rifle Falls State Park earn a reputation as one of Colorado's best parks.

Responsibilities:

Volunteer camp hosts are needed in the winter time and may help greet visitors and provide information, complete light maintenance (changing trash bags, cleaning sites, and restrooms), and other special projects to support staff and visitors.

Both Rifle Gap and Rifle Falls strive to provide the very best experience to the visitors possible, and we could not do that without our camp host volunteers! Our hosts are more of a family than anything else.

Site elevation:

6,000-6,600 ft

Maintenance projects at Rifle Falls State Park

A park naturalist can research and present programs to the general public including day and evening hikes or day and evening programs, staff an education table exhibit at Rifle Falls State Park on the weekends, lead school group programs on site, and greet and answer questions for park visitors

The daily upkeep of a State Park is one of the most important tasks that we take on everyday! Our volunteer maintenance hosts are greatly appreciated in doing everything, big and small. 

Responsibilities:

• changing trash bags
• shuffling fleet vehicles for repairs
• tree trimming
• campsite cleaning
• flower planting in the spring
• self serve kiosk maintenance
• fish screen cleaning
• welding projects

If you have skills in any of these areas or just want to participate in a rewarding hour or two per week locally, please register for this opportunity! We would be happy to have you and Rifle Gap State Park looks like it does because of the dedicated volunteer service it receives each year. We can offer a full hookup campsite in exchange for your service. There are also opportunities for volunteers at the West Rifle Creek Shooting Range, located at the nearby West Rifle Creek State Wildlife Area.

Opportunities may include: serving in the entrance gate, general maintenance and carpentry, trail building and maintenance, and volunteer patrol.