Rifle Falls State park

Some days we tire of the lake and need to venture out, so one day we decided to go check out Rifle Falls State Park. We've been there before in the springtime, and again during the icy winter.


The kids and I even took our new friends, Joe, Lara and kids, there when they visited us this past spring.


Every time is special, and fun in it's own way, but I gotta say....I think we finally topped it this time! Summer in Rifle Falls just can't be beat!(except if we'd had friends with us)

The road leading up to the falls.


Past Rifle Gap State Park.

This photo was created by "stitching" three photos together. It's way too big to get in one shot, and I was pretty happy with how this turned out.

When we were here with the Miller's the kids spent a good part of the day sledding down this hill. On their butts.

Now seeing it, it's hard to believe that was ever possible.

That's me trying to get as close to the falls as I could.

That's me getting drenched.

Doesn't this cave entrance look like a big dinosaur foot print?


View from above the falls.

I love this view, and how lush and bright green everything is.

By the time we walked all the way around and came back to the waterfalls, everyone else was gone and we had the place all to ourselves.

They quickly learned that just because it's hot outside, doesn't mean that water isn't icy cold.

"Guys.Guys. Wait for me!"


Is the water cold, Jake?


Jonas was the first to get fully in. He'd enter at the falls and then swim with the current down to where we were along the bank.

But Jonas always has a trick up his sleeve. Hands up!


Eventually they all braved the icy waters, and were cool for days.


All these pics were taken with my new Sony DSLR Alpha A200, while I'm still trying to learn how to use it. It's definitely not as simple as my Sony point and shoot, and I wish I would have remembered how to capture waterfalls. I'm having the hardest time with shutter speed and aperture and what's best for what situation. I read it, understand it, then completely forget it. But this day I actually forgot how to even change the settings! Those were a couple weeks ago, and I think I could do better next time.....now we just need some friends to visit so I have an excuse to practice. Yes, I'm talking to you.

Basalt on Dwellable

Where I bitch about Hughesnet

I went with HughesNet for our Internet. I went with them because eighty percent of the time we were out of cell phone range and all I needed for the satellite was a clear view of the sky. Plus thousands of people use their satellites so they must be decent, right? Wrong. I am still having issues getting it to work, another reason why I've been silent on the blog. They sent the installer out three days ago and he replaced all the cable, tried a new modem, and replaced the transmitter on the dish SEVEN times. Seven. He even switched me to a different satellite, making that my third one now. It still takes about five minutes to load a webpage and forget about getting to any secured sites. I was on the phone with them over an hour the day before and again this morning. They've now got me doing periodic speed tests and then after three days they should have a better diagnosis as to why we can't seem to get it to work properly. If it were up to me I'd have them take their equipment back and say Good-Riddens, but they won't let me out of my contract....wihout paying a $700 termination fee first. I'm at a loss right now, basically makes us never even want to turn on the computers anymore. The customer service people are so nice, it's impossible for me to yell at them, but I am so tired of paying for something and getting nothing. Three days, I'm giving them three more days.

In the meantime, I've been knitting. Just proves I can get addicted to anything.

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During our hiberation we had to venture out for hunting and gathering, otherwise known as Wal-Mart. Since we were in Rifle, CO we decided to check out the ice caves near Rifle Falls State Park. After getting there I realized I didn't have a coat, and in twenty degree temps it was way too cold to explore ice caves. I stole Joey's sweatshirt and the kids and I, along with camera phone, ran out to the waterfalls (the boys actually skated in their sliders) to see how they look in the winter. They were almost as frozen as me.

Rifle Falls State park

I hadn't seen any pictures, or done any online research for Rifle Falls State Park. It was nothing more than a turn off on the road before I got to town for some major grocery shopping. That was until we finally took the turn. It was way more than I expected, and what unknowingly at the time....started another new road for us. But, I'll get in to that later. Now, I want to relive that day.

The hike out to the Falls started out on ether a paved path, or the teeny tiny dirt trail around the limestone caves. There wasn't even an option.


It was probably only a five minute walk, but we took at least an hour exploring the caves.


Out of these dry, dusty caves we pop out behind the waterfall


Our first view of the Falls


The obligatory picture from the viewing deck


Jonas does his own thing.

We continued hiking past the waterfalls, eventually crossing over the top of them.


For all the pics click here.

We had such a great time, getting some exercise, enjoying beautiful landscapes, listening to the roar of the Falls, but more importantly just being together, enjoying each other and seeing the joy. The joy on everyone's faces.

Gas to Rifle Falls: $8
State Park Daily Pass: $5
Enjoying your family in Nature's wonder: Priceless