Living Here
Where The Old West Meets The New West
There are many reasons that the Colorado River Valley is a great place to live! We are striving to differentiate ourselves from countless other rural communities that have endured multiple boom-and-bust economic cycles. As our communities’ common goals for our economic future become a reality, we can and will become a place that is not only known for its energy industry and outdoor activities, but for its outside-the-box thinking in shaping the way people live and work in a vibrant, competitive business environment.
We are where the old west meets the new west. Rich with western heritage and history, our communities are also innovative and progressive by offering many of the amenities within short driving distances that everyone looks for in a community.
Garfield County Airport, located just east of Rifle, Colorado, is a public-use, county-owned general aviation airport serving as a vital hub for business, emergency, and recreational aviation in the region. Featuring a 7,000-foot runway with advanced lighting and instrument approaches, the airport accommodates a wide range of aircraft, including private jets and firefighting operations. Open 24/7 with no noise curfews, it offers fueling, maintenance, hangar rentals, pilot services, and more. Ongoing infrastructure improvements, including new hangars, a modern fuel farm, and future FBO facilities, position the airport as a key driver of local economic growth while supporting over 275 jobs and generating more than $40 million annually in business activity.
Based in Rifle, Colorado, serves nearly 4,800 students across 10 schools in Rifle, New Castle, and Silt, supported by over 750 dedicated staff. The district embraces a four-day school week to foster innovative, collaborative teaching and align curriculum district-wide. Students benefit from career and technical pathways—such as International Baccalaureate programs and dual enrollment in partnership with Colorado Mountain College, where they can earn college credit and career certifications in fields like welding, automotive, and early childhood education. Nestled amid the natural beauty of Western Colorado, Garfield RE‑2 is committed to nurturing academic excellence, student wellness, staff success, and vibrant community engagement.
Headquartered in Parachute, Colorado, serves approximately 1,170 students across four schools, including Bea Underwood Elementary, Grand Valley Center for Family Learning, Grand Valley Middle, and Grand Valley High School. Guided by its mission to “educate the whole child,” the district emphasizes personal wellness, agency, intellectual development, and productive citizenship, fostering a nurturing and empowering environment. A standout feature is its strong commitment to outdoor experiential learning, supported by Garfield County Outdoors and funded through initiatives like Great Outdoors Colorado, offering student programming in agriculture, archery, climbing, snow sports, and gardening (garfield16.org). With services including special education provided via Colorado River BOCES, Garfield 16 ensures tailored support to meet diverse learning needs (garfield16.org).
Grand River Health, based in Rifle, Colorado, is a leading independent healthcare system serving western Garfield County and the surrounding region. With a full-service hospital, specialty clinics, and satellite facilities—including Clinic West in Battlement Mesa—Grand River Health offers a comprehensive range of services such as emergency care, surgery, family medicine, orthopedics, oncology, women’s health, rehabilitation, and more. The organization is committed to providing compassionate, patient-centered care while embracing innovation, wellness education, and community outreach. Grand River Health continues to grow in response to the needs of the region, with a focus on accessible, high-quality healthcare close to home.
Valley View Hospital, located in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, is a nonprofit, independent health system with a rich history dating back to 1955. Today, it operates a 78‑bed regional medical campus offering Level III trauma, emergency care, cancer, heart, orthopedic, psychiatric, and maternity services, alongside affiliated clinics in Eagle, Silt, Basalt, and Grand Junction . In 2024, the hospital earned a prestigious five‑star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, reflecting its unwavering commitment to high‑quality, patient‑centered care (vvh.org). Guided by its “PeopleCare” philosophy, Valley View focuses on personalized, equitable care, community connection, and continuous improvement, earning recognition from organizations such as Healthgrades, J.D. Power, The Joint Commission, and Chartis as one of the top rural and community hospitals in the region.
Just north of Rifle lie two striking Colorado State Parks—Rifle Falls and Rifle Gap—nestled along East Rifle Creek. Rifle Falls State Park is a lush 48-acre oasis known for its breathtaking triple 70-foot waterfalls tumbling over travertine cliffs, accessible via gentle hiking trails, scenic picnic spots, and limestone caves teeming with bats. It features 20 campsites (both drive-in and walk-in), interpretive signage, and easy access for families and photographers alike.
A short drive south brings you to Rifle Gap State Park, a sprawling 1,341-acre recreation area anchored by a clear 360-acre reservoir. It offers a wealth of outdoor adventures, including boating, swimming, water- and ice-fishing, jet skiing, windsurfing, as well as 89 campsites, extensive hiking trails, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, hunting, and wildlife watching—all framed by the picturesque Grand Hogback and Pinyon-Juniper woodlands.
Colorado Mountain College (CMC) serves the Rifle and Battlement Mesa communities through its West Garfield Campus, located at 3695 Airport Road in Rifle, Colorado. This modern facility offers a wide range of academic and technical programs, including unique energy-focused certifications in Process Technology, Solar Energy, and Welding—fields that are particularly relevant to the region's energy industry. Students benefit from hands-on learning experiences, such as a non-functioning gas and oil pad, a gas processing facility, and a solar farm that supplies 33% of the campus's energy needs. CMC Rifle also provides access to online courses and resources from nearby campuses, allowing students to pursue associate degrees and bachelor's programs with minimal travel. Community engagement is a priority, exemplified by initiatives like the bilingual Family Friday's program, which offers literacy support, GED preparation, and STEM activities for children. With a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio and state-of-the-art facilities. Including smart classrooms, computer labs, and a 287-seat auditorium—CMC Rifle is committed to delivering personalized education that meets the needs of its diverse student body.