Rifle

At the base of the White River Plateau, about an hour northeast of Grand Junction, Rifle is where ranchers gather, deer and elk hunters talk guns and campers stock up for adventures in the surrounding White River National Forest.

About 15 miles north of town, you'll come across the Rifle Gap State Park. Camping, fishing and boating on the reservoir are popular here, as is spelunking next door at Rifle Falls State Park's limestone caves formed by a 50-foot waterfall. The area is also known as the gateway to the Flat Tops Wilderness, a winter ice-climbing haven and a good jumping-off point to Colorado's Grand Mesa.

The Rifle Heritage Center, in the town's former city hall, exhibits area history with themed rooms that showcase everything from Native American artifacts to an old-fashioned general store. 

Check out our Colo-Road Trip itinerary: To Ski or Not to Ski in Glenwood Springs & Rifle