Rifle Gap is the ‘main’ state park of the three closely lumped parks in the area; it has the visitor center, the most facilities, and the most visitors. The lake itself is only mediocre, bird-wise, but can be good during migration. Combined with the surrounding pinyon-juniper woodland and montane shrubland, though, it makes a good birding location. And it is also a good place to camp while visiting the Rifle area. In the pinyon-juniper woodland look for Ash-throated Flycatcher, Bushtit, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Pinyon Jay, and more. On the lake look for dabblers and divers, with the occasional loon or grebe. Barrow’s Goldeneye can sometimes be found on the lake during the late fall and early winter.
Grand Mesa
The World’s Largest Table Mountain
East of Grand Junction, the Grand Mesa is an astonishing place. Here, nearly 500 square miles of pristine forest have been lifted some 5,000 feet above the surrounding terrain, creating what some call the largest flat-topped mountain in the world. Many natural and man-made lakes make the mesa a fishing haven. Unlike anywhere else in Colorado, the peerless subalpine ecosystem here goes on and on without ever rising to a peak. With a paved and plowed road providing nearly year-round access, the Grand Mesa is one of the best places in Colorado to look for spruce-fir species such as Three-toed Woodpeckers, Red and White-winged Crossbills, and the hard-to-find Boreal Owl. The mesa also supports reintroduced and growing populations of Shiras moose. It’s worth a prime spot on any nature lover’s itinerary.
Admission: State Parks Pass
Ownership: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Admission: State Parks Pass
Ownership: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Admission: Day Pass $5, Annual Pass $15 - $50, Camping Pass $10 - $15
Ownership: City of Rifle
Admission: State Parks Pass
Ownership: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Admission: State Parks Pass
Ownership: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Rifle Falls State Park
Rifle Falls is among Colorado’s most scenic and most accessible waterfalls. The presence of nesting Black Swifts adds some additional spice. They arrive around the first of June and leave in September; early morning and late evening are the best time to see them, though with some careful searching of damp, shaded crevices in the rocks near the falls, you may be able to spot birds on nests at any time of the day. Montane shrubland and pinyon-juniper forests surround the falls, with birds like Virginia’s and Black-throated Gray Warblers, Cordilleran, Dusky, and Gray Flycatchers, Pinyon and Western Scrub-Jays, and Green-tailed Towhee.
Rifle Falls Fish Hatchery
Adjacent to Rifle Falls State Park, the hatchery sits at the foot of a very large cliff that hosts a large colony of White-throated Swifts. Across the canyon, Golden Eagles and Turkey Vultures nest in the cliffs. The gravel road that goes west from the parking area is a very nice one-mile hike in Gambel Oak habitat. Northern Saw-whet Owls have been heard here at night, and Virginia’s, MacGillivray’s, Yellow, and Yellow-rumped Warblers all reside here. Foot trails connect the state park and the hatchery if you feel like going on a longer walk.
Rifle Mountain Park
This canyon with world-class cliffs is famous among rock climbers around the world. It is also a pleasant, cool, shady place in the hot summer for a picnic. Cordilleran Flycatcher, Swainson’s Thrush, Gray Catbird, Common Yellowthroat, Virginia Rail, and American Dipper can be heard in this canyon. As you leave the canyon, the habitat opens up and becomes forested with Douglas-fir, Engelmann and blue spruce and subalpine fir. Here look for Hammond’s Flycatcher, Western Tanager, Golden and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Brown Creeper, Wild Turkey, and Hermit Thrush.
Coulter Mesa
Access is by 4×4 vehicle only, but if you are looking for a place to get away from the main mass of people, Forest Road 832 is a good place to head to. It takes you up onto the southwestern end of the Flat Tops into excellent aspen woodland. Look for Purple Martin and (at night) Flammulated Owls among the more common Red-naped Sapsuckers and Warbling Vireos.
Harvey Gap State Park
This large and fairly shallow reservoir isn’t always the best for waterbirds, but it can still be worth a look, especially during spring and fall migration. The occasional loon, grebe, or gull adds some spice to the mix, and American White Pelican is sometimes found as well. The surrounding habitat is mostly made up of meadows and montane shrubland, and is often birdier than the lake itself. Species like Mountain Bluebird, Green-tailed Towhee, Violet-green Swallow, Black-billed Magpie, and Western Scrub-Jay are all possible.
Jerry Creek Reservoirs
These two medium-sized reservoirs have some of the best waterbirding in the area, and are worth the short walk it takes to scan them. They are best in the late fall and early winter, when a wide variety of birds can be found. Of particular note is a fairly decent chance at seeing Barrow’s Goldeneye and semi-regular Long-tailed Ducks. Less common birds such as loons and grebes also show up here. You can almost always find a Bald Eagle in the fall and spring.
Grand Mesa
The Grand Mesa, one of the largest table mountains in North America, provides a first-class nature experience. Accessible year-round, the Mesa has something to offer at any time, day or night. A large variety of roads access the mesa, but the best is CO 65, which crosses from north to south and connects a number of trails and recreation areas. One of the better places to stop is the Mesa Lakes area, which has a variety of trails into spruce-fir woodland. Look for American Three-toed Woodpecker, Gray and Steller’s Jays, Clark’s Nutcracker, and if you’re lucky, White-winged Crossbill. American Dipper is regular along streams in the area. The Mesa Lakes Lodge has busy bird feeders for much of the year. Not far to the south the highway crosses a number of willow carrs that have Fox Sparrow in summer, amid the more common Wilson’s Warblers and Lincoln Sparrows. The entire roadside is good for finches of all stripes, including Red Crossbill and Pine Grosbeak, especially in winter. If you visit this area at night, listen for Northern Saw-whet and Boreal Owls (this is one of the best places in western Colorado for the latter). At the southern end of the mesa is a well laid-out visitor center surrounded by meadows and coniferous woodland; this is one of the best areas to listen for Boreal Owl and look for White-winged Crossbill. The Grand Mesa is about more than just birds; it is also one of the few places in this part of Colorado where moose can be seen (though they are rare); other mammal possibilities include bighorn sheep, mule deer, elk, and if you are lucky, something like pine marten or badger.
Vega State Park and Reservoir
This large mountain reservoir on the east end of the Grand Mesa isn’t particularly good for waterbirds, but is surrounded by montane shrubland and aspen forests that make for a good visit. It is also a nice cool place to relax during the summer months. There are several Purple Martin colonies near here, and the martins can sometimes be seen over the lake or in the large aspen stands not far to the south. Ospreys have recently begun breeding on the artificial nesting platforms near the lake. In the montane shrubland look for Virginia’s Warbler, Dusky Flycatcher, Green-tailed Towhee, and Western Scrub-Jay, while the aspen woodland has birds such as Down Woodpecker, Red-naped Sapsucker, Dusky Grouse (if you’re lucky), Mountain Bluebird, and Violet-green Swallow. If you’re here during spring or fall migration you may see a few waterbirds on the lake, and if you visit during the winter months look for winter finches. Elk, mule deer, and yellow-bellied marmot are all common in and around the park.