Ray K. Erku / Post Independent
State parks in western Garfield County have seen anywhere between a 5% to 60% increase in visitation from 2019 to 2020, according to data provided by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Between Rifle Gap, Harvey Gap and Rifle Falls state parks, Harvey Gap saw the largest percentage increase in foot traffic between the years 2019 and 2020.
Annual traffic at Harvey Gap rose from 52,559 in 2019 to 78,683 in 2020, which is a 49.7% increase.
For Rifle Falls State Park, annual foot traffic increased from 123,323 in 2019 to 141,553 in 2020, a 14.9% increase.
Finally, annual foot traffic at Rifle Gap State Park shot up from 271,478 in 2019 to 294,877 in 2020, for an 8.6% increase.