Most people visiting Rife, Colorado are there for the gorgeous waterfalls at Rifle Falls State Park. It is a beautiful waterfall and such an easy, fun hike that even kids love. What a lot of people seem to miss out on when traveling through Rifle, Colorado, is the desert side of this country town.
Desert, yuck, right? I lived in the desert for a good portion of my life, so when people say desert, I tend to think of ugly, high heat, dirt, ugly, dead things, and oh yeah UGLY! I never knew a desert could be so beautiful until I moved up to western Colorado and began exploring it. If you feel the way I did about deserts, than this hike to Rifle arch will definitely change your mind!
Rife Arch is the hidden gem of Rifle, Colorado. Literally it is pretty hidden in on the northern desert area of Rifle. It is an almost 3 mile moderate hike to an incredible view of Rifle, that even your little kiddos can do. I have 3 little kids all ages 3 years old and younger and they loved this trail! So while you are passing through Rifle to visit the waterfalls or are in town for a rodeo, drive up north about 10 minutes to enjoy a hike through the desert to an incredible natural wonder!
Why you should hike to Rifle Arch?
Being a mom of 3 little toddlers, short hikes are my favorite things! My kiddos can hike a max of 3 miles and this hike is just 2.6 miles. That is 1.3 miles to the arch and 1.3 miles back to your car. That distance is perfect for our little family.
Not too long that you have complaining kids, but not too short that you don’t get to enjoy a hike. A lot of times short trails are so short that you don’t get to even really hike before you are done. Also this distance is perfect to wear out your little ones for a long and quiet nap time!
What is the trail like?
The best part about this trail is that the whole thing is clearly marked. You know exactly where to go the whole time. The trail is very well maintained too. It is mostly dirt, but there are some rocks few and far between. I will just go ahead and walk you through the trail.
The beginning is very flat and this is where you will most likely encounter some cattle roaming the area, leave them be and they will leave you be. Be respectful of the ranchers and their cattle please. You will then begin to make a quick, steep ascent upward. It is steep enough that it will be harder on smaller legs.
This is a point you will most likely want to have your toddler in a carrier. After you make it up that first big ascent, the trail will almost be like waves for a while. Climbing up and then down. About half way to the arch there will be a bench for you all to rest at under a tree and whip out a quick snack.
After the bench you will be able to see the arch in the distance, and the trail will stay pretty flat for a good portion. This is where the majority of the cactus are right on the edge of the trail so watch where you step. This is where those ankle high hiking boots will definitely come in handy.
You will then descend down a hill and back up again. Once you get back up the hill there will be a small forest of small trees. I do mean small trees! There is also a lot of cactus hidden in these trees, so keep your little ones on the trail. Once you get past the trees than you are at the end of trail. Sit at the bench in the shade, look up, and enjoy the view of this gorgeous arch!
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The End of the Trail vs. To the Rifle Arch Itself
The view at the end of the trail
The view under the arch
When you get to the end of the trail you have 2 options. Either sit back and take some beautiful pictures of the arch or take the climb to the arch itself. I do mean climb!
I am not gonna lie, if you have little kids I suggest you don’t make the trek to the top. Hear me out! At the end of the trail you come to the side of a rocky mountain. The way up to the arch is climbing an extremely steep set of large boulders.
We made the climb and I do literally mean climb with our 3 kids, but by golly it was a little scary. The sand on the rocks make the rocks slippery, and the rocks are large and steep. It is was challenging on my own, but adding little kids made it so much harder.
Now like I said we did it, it is possible. There is no defined trail up to the arch, so you kind of make it up as you go. If you do try the trek with kids or even if you try without, the easiest route is right in the middle. It may not look like it from the bottom, but when you get to the top of the arch you will see, it is the easiest route. So stick to the middle, take it slow, and you will reach the arch.
The view from the arch is beautiful and the shade the arch offers is so nice after that hike and climb.
Tips For Hiking With Kids
- The key to getting your kids through this hike or any hike for that matter is to make it a game and make it exciting! Play I Spy, see who can find the most lizards, sing songs, play follow the leader, and make it fun!
- Let your kiddos explore (also warn them about the cactus).
- Bring snacks and way more water than you would normally, cause toddlers drink a ton!
- Slow down and walk their speed.
- Let them be the guide. It is a wonder how well kids hike when they know they are the leader.
For a complete list of tips for hiking with toddlers, click here.
When To Hike To Rifle Arch:
Time of day-Mornings or evenings are the best. During the day it gets very hot and that sun will really hit you hard. Also if you go early morning or late evening you can catch a beautiful sunrise or sunset.
Time of year- Spring! During springtime you will get some desert wildflowers, you won’t have to worry about snakes as it will still be slightly too cold for them, and it won’t be too hot for you.
Hiking Essentials for this Trail:
- Sunscreen– This hike is through a desert area and that means you are hiking in a lot of sun with little shade. There is a small portion of the hike, right before you get to the arch that is in some small trees. I want to emphasize the word small trees! They don’t block the sun that great, but do give temporary shade. I love the spray sunscreen as it is so much easier to apply and doesn’t make your hands all greasy, your skin super white, make you sweat more, or make you smell gross. Also applying it on kids make it a super quick and easy task, while they are squirming to get away.
- Sun Cap– Just an extra protection from the sun that will be beating down on you for the majority of the hike. Also if you are hiking with a baby that you can not put sunscreen on, this will really make a difference in preventing your little one from burning on the top of their head, face, and neck.
- Toddler Hiking Carrier– THIS IS ESSENTIAL FOR HIKING THIS WITH TODDLERS!! My kiddos can hike a max of 3 miles, but that is with them taking turns in a toddler carrier. This hike as about 5 steeper climbs to it that are really hard on toddler legs. It will be very easy for them to get worn out before you even get half way to the arch. Unless you want to carry them on your shoulders or in your arms, which I definitely don’t recommend, the carrier will be something you want. I love the carriers with the sunroof over the top so that it covers your toddler from the sun. I also like the ones that have pockets that you can not only bring your toddler, but snacks, wipes, keys, phones, or any other little item you would like to bring.
- Sunglasses– To truly enjoy the hike you will want sunglasses to keep the sun from your eyes. It is much more comfortable than squinting or shading your eyes from the sun with your hand. Also when you get to the ascent to the arch you will kick up dust and this will keep the dust out of your eyes.
- Ankle High Hiking Boots– Being the desert, you will be hiking through a lot of cactus. The trail is very clear, but there are some overgrown cactus leaning over the trail that could cut into your ankles. Also when making the ascent up to the arch, hiking boots will help grip the rock and keep you sturdy as you make the climb. I highly recommend you invest in some good hiking boots.
- Snacks- I never go on a hike with my kids without snacks! Snacks are a great motivator for kids to keep hiking and are a reward for them for finishing the hike. I normally bring either granola bars, fruit snacks, fruit leather, apple slices, nutria-gran bars, or my kid’s favorites applesauce packets.
- Lots of Water- Like any hike you will want to bring a lot of water. I highly recommend having a camel pack. It is such a hassle to try and haul enough water bottles for everyone and those are bulky and leak. A camel pack distributes the weight so it doesn’t weigh down on your back and doesn’t have to inconvenient shape that a water bottle does.
- Baby Carrier– If you have a baby you will want a very secure harness for their size. This will help them stay comfortable enough that they will sleep the entire hike. Also you want a nice one if you are going to make the climb to the arch at the end of the trail.
- Camera- It is a breathtaking view at the end, trust me you will want pictures.
- Basic First Aid Kit– I always have a small basic first aid kit either in my hiking carrier or in my car for when I get back. Like I said there are cactus along the trail, and with kiddos that love to jump rocks or climb trees, somebody always comes back with a scrapped knee or hand.
Wildlife to be aware of on Rifle Arch Trail:
Colorado is filled with wildlife and Rifle is no exception. It is very important to be aware of wildlife wherever you go, so that you know what to look for and how to react to it. When we took this hike, all we saw were cows and lizards. My kids loved looking for lizards and watching them run all around. It was a fun game for our kids to look for lizards along the path. These are the fun animals along the path now let’s talk about the not so fun ones.
Like most of Colorado, cougars roam these mountains. I am not saying you will see them, but you should definitely be aware. Making lots of noise and not hiking alone will normally ward off mountain lions though. The one you should keep a eye out for is the rattlesnakes. As you climb rocks keep and an eye out for these snakes basking in the sun. Leave them alone and they will leave you alone. I am not telling you these things to scare you from going on this trail, but it always important to know the wildlife in your areas.
Cactus 101
Like I said there are a lot of cactus along the path and just in case you get poked don’t freak out, here is how you take care of it. Carefully remove the spike and clean the wound with soap and water. Just as simple as that! If the tip of the spike breaks off in your skin, then treat the spike the way you would a splinter. Carefully with tweezers, remove the spike, apply some Neosporin, and bandage it up. Don’t fear the cactus, it hurts, but it won’t kill you.
Amenities of the Trail
- Parking lot
- Port-a-potty
- 2 Benches along the path
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