ORS: Rifle River State Recreation Area

Rifle River State Recreation Area

On runs, sentences...

Rifle River State Recreation Area is massive. A full circuit of the area’s trail system would require the stamina of an ultra-runner or a sturdy, single-track-ready bicycle. A quick glance at the trail map and distance intervals between numbered locations reveals as much. Perhaps more revealingly, the worker who greeted me at the park’s main entrance on my first visit May 12 seemed unaccustomed to runners looking for the best parking area near a trailhead.

“Are you looking for hills?”

That sounded great, I said. The normal day-use lot was closed for maintenance, they said, but the lot near the Devoe Lake boat launch would suffice.

Navigational challenges and anxieties at RRSRA are unlike trail systems that overlap or abut vast tracts of state land, or those complicated by plethoras of interior side-trails and intersections. Instead, long segments of trail open into sprawling camping and gathering spaces and parking lots. On a first visit to an area one might cul-de-sac in a camp or ring the long way round a day area before picking a trail back up.

Without ever feeling in danger of leaving the recreation area completely, remaining confident of specific location and direction within the park was not always easy.

The hilliest portion of the recreation area is near the main entrance at the northeast—I recorded a more than 150-foot climb within the first couple miles. But only a few miles of trail are high relief so after emerging from the hills near Scaup Lake I set out for location no. 12. A closer study of distance intervals and eyeball measurement of some road sections would have forewarned that this was a 10-mile course but I hate a spoiled surprise.

I returned after a week’s rest to explore the south and west sections of trail. The park map shows River Road dead-ending in a loop at the southernmost section of the park near location no. 17. Beyond the main entrance, the park road eventually transitions to gravel, then narrows to a worrying degree given the two-way traffic sign at the choke point. Those more familiar with the area probably know about a parking lot off Sage Lake Road less than a quarter mile south of a bridge which seems to mark location no. 17. At least, I found no signage after fording a shallow stream in my Subaru Outback in order to reach it from the north.

After tracing the western edge of the park from the bridge back to the road at location no. 20, I made my way again to location no. 12, this time from location no. 13 to the west. Given my first encounter, at location no. 15 I found myself sufficiently intrepid to add the 0.6-mile detour to Lost Lake. Between location nos. 15 and 17, a creek that is barely discernible on the map presents an unavoidable foot-soaker section of trail.

With several lakes and miles of river to explore, this recreation area is excellent for day use or a stay of longer duration. The facilities and amenities appeared well maintained and the park was not crowded at the weekend despite ideal weather on both of my visits.

Are you curious about a recreational trail in the tri-county area? Send me! I’m always looking for new trails to run. Write me an email and I’ll run your trail.