A little help with your suitcase...

When packing your suitcase for Coulter Lake, you don't need to take extra pains packing anything too fancy, you won't need it. We're informal and want you to dress comfortably.

Consider the seasons...

Summer temperatures are usually in the low to mid 80s during the day and in the 50s at night. The best way to check the weather before coming is to visit the Rifle Chamber of Commerce web site, and go to "weather". The ranch will typically be 10 to 15 degrees cooler than Rifle due to our elevation.

Average temperatures for Rifle

• January -- from a high of 37° to a low of 10°
• July -- from a high of 90° to a low of 52°
• Oct -- from a high of 68° to a low of 31°

Summer days are normally dry although brief afternoon showers are not unusual, especially in August. Rain or even snow showers are not unusual as we move into September and October. Fall is quite beautiful with the aspen leaves turning to a brilliant gold, usually in mid to late September through early October. The end of September is a beautiful time to see the mountains and aspen.

Pack with comfort in mind...

Our best suggestion is to use "layers" for riding. Bring long-sleeved shirts for protection from sun. Jeans or long pants are required for riding. Wear a cowboy hat; baseball caps don't protect your neck. Use cowboy boots or smooth soled shoes when riding. Open-toed shoes and shorts a not permitted for riding. Hiking boots or shoes with heavy lug soles are a must if you're hiking our trails, but are unsafe in stirrups and not for riding.

Summer days are usually warm enough for short sleeve shirts, shorts, or swimsuits during your relaxing time. At night you'll want a warm coat and warm sleepwear.

Comfort is important, so be sure to bring shoes that will give your feet proper support. Bring a flashlight, if there's no moon it is quite dark out at night and we don't have sidewalks or paved streets to mark the landscape.

Additional Considerations...

Due to the altitude of Coulter Lake (8100 feet), it is important to bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. It is easier to get sunburned here regardless of the season. Bug spray during the spring and summer is helpful; normally mosquitoes don't overly bother us.

A camera is good to bring and many of our guests have bought cameras for their children to capture individual memories. Some like a journal as well.

We can provide some of the following equipment: fishing rods, sleds, snowshoes, and cross-country skis. You may want to bring your own equipment. Feel free to ask if we can accommodate specific equipment such as ice skates, mountain bikes, etc.