After being closed since Friday, June 14, due to the Ward Gulch Fire, Colorado Highway 325 reopened late Monday night, June 17, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials say the public has full access to Rifle Falls State Park and the Rifle Falls Fish Hatchery.

In addition, Rifle Gap State Park is 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.

Rifle Gap Reservoir had been closed to boating for the public’s safety as helicopters used for fighting the wildfire had been dipping water from the reservoir.

State Highway 325 was closed to the public after the fire threatened the area near Rifle Falls State Park and the fish hatchery.

As of Tuesday, June 18, fire managers with the Upper Colorado River Inter-Agency Fire Management Unit revised the burned area to 485 acres and said it is 85 percent contained.

Anyone heading to Rifle Gap or Rifle Falls State Parks or the fish hatchery are urged to exercise caution and should expect to see firefighting crews along Highway 325 for the foreseeable future.