Rifle State Park and hatchery reopen after Ward Gulch Fire

RIFLE I After being closed due to the Ward Gulch Fire, Colorado State Highway 325 reopened late Monday night, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife reported Tuesday that the public now has full access to Rifle Falls State Park and the Rifle Falls Fish Hatchery.
In addition, Rifle Gap State Park is once again open to boaters; however, park officials say that due to ongoing firefighting efforts, the swim beach located at the west end of the park remains off-limits to the public.
Rifle Gap State Park, located a few miles north of the city of Rifle, had been closed to boating for the public’s safety as helicopters used for fighting the wildfire had been dipping in the reservoir.
Highway 325 was closed to the public last Friday after the fire threatened the area near the state park and hatchery. The public had not been allowed into the area since efforts began to fight the fire.
Late Tuesday, the Upper Colorado River Inter-Agency Fire Management Unit revised the burned area to 485 acres and said that it was 85 percent contained at that time.
Anyone heading to Rifle Falls State Park and Rifle Falls Fish Hatchery are urged to exercise caution and should expect to see firefighting crews along Highway 325 for the foreseeable future.