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Colorado · Western Slope · #528
Garfield County, Colorado
In the Colorado River canyon country of western Colorado, Garfield County holds Glenwood Springs - where Teddy Roosevelt fished and Doc Holliday died - alongside one of the most productive natural gas fields in the Rocky Mountain region, in a county where the amenity economy and the extractive economy eye each other across the Colorado River.
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Office: Garfield County OEM – (970) 625-5200 | garfield-county.com
Alert System: CO-WARN; CodeRED; NOAA Weather Radio
Shelter Info: Garfield County Fairgrounds (Rifle); Carbondale school facilities; contact OEM
FEMA Region: Region 8
Notes: Western Slope Colorado I-70 and Roaring Fork Valley county; Glenwood Springs is county seat; wildfire risk (EXTREME – 2002 Coal Seam Fire burned into Glenwood Springs (the only city in US history to have a coal mine fire threaten to burn through its town center); 2012 Glenwood Canyon Fire; 2020 Grizzly Creek Fire (burned 32,601 acres in Glenwood Canyon; caused complete I-70 closure for weeks and multiple mudslide closures afterward – one of the most significant interstate closures in Colorado history); ongoing severe risk); flooding (Colorado River and Roaring Fork River; Glenwood Canyon flash floods driven by post-fire debris); I-70 Glenwood Canyon hazards (rockfall, mudslides); natural gas development (Piceance Basin – western Garfield County is one of the most intensively developed natural gas producing areas in the US); avalanche risk
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Roads: Garfield County Road and Bridge – (970) 625-8601
Transit: RFTA (Roaring Fork Transportation Authority) – (970) 925-8484 | rfta.com (one of the finest rural transit systems in the US; bus rapid transit and conventional bus connecting Glenwood Springs through Carbondale to Aspen; heavy ridership); Bustang; Greyhound
Airport: Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE – accessible via SR-82); Eagle County Airport (EGE) accessible
Notes: I-70 runs east-west through the Colorado River canyon (Glenwood Canyon – spectacular; frequently disrupted by rockfall and fire-related mudslides); SR-82 branches south from Glenwood Springs through Carbondale to Aspen; US-6 connects to Rifle and Grand Junction; the Glenwood Canyon stretch of I-70 is one of America’s most spectacular – and most geologically hazardous – interstates; RFTA’s bus rapid transit is a national model for rural mountain transit
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Garfield County Community Development – (970) 625-5903 | garfield-county.com
Services: County permits; Glenwood Springs (separate), Carbondale, Rifle, Basalt (portions), Silt, Parachute, New Castle have separate permits
Notes: Active building market; natural gas industry support infrastructure; Roaring Fork Valley worker housing construction; Glenwood Springs tourism development; Carbondale arts and outdoor community growth; Basalt growing as more affordable Aspen alternative; significant oil and gas industry building
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Garfield County Veterans Services – (970) 625-5200
VA Medical: VA Grand Junction CBOC accessible via I-70; Denver VA accessible for upper valley
Services: Benefits claims; Grand Junction accessible via I-70; natural gas industry includes veteran workers
Notes: Natural gas industry workforce includes many veterans; accessible VA via I-70 corridors; active VSO chapters
Branches: Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, Rifle, Silt, New Castle, Parachute
Services: Books, public computers, Wi-Fi, children’s programs; Colorado River heritage; natural gas industry history; mountain community resources; bilingual Spanish materials
Notes: Library system serves a county with both the wealthy Roaring Fork Valley community and working-class natural gas production communities in the western portion; bilingual Spanish materials are important given the significant Hispanic workforce in the natural gas industry and construction; Glenwood Springs branch reflects the resort community’s culture
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Glenwood Hot Springs Pool (Glenwood Springs – the world’s largest natural hot springs pool; two outdoor pools; the 405-foot-long main pool has been operating since 1888; a Colorado institution; the springs are fed by Vapor Cave underground thermal springs; Glenwood Springs is one of the finest natural resort settings in Colorado – the hot springs at the confluence of the Roaring Fork and Colorado Rivers backed by dramatic canyon walls); Glenwood Canyon (I-70 corridor – 12.5 miles of the most spectacular canyon driving in the US; the Hanging Lake Trail – 2.4 miles; 1,000-foot elevation gain; accesses a turquoise travertine lake fed by waterfalls – one of Colorado’s most photographed and most-permit-restricted hikes; now requires timed entry permits due to overuse; the canyon’s cycling/walking trail along the Colorado River); Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness (Garfield County portion – accessible via Carbondale and McClure Pass); Flat Tops Wilderness (northern Garfield County – massive plateau wilderness; outstanding elk hunting; White River National Forest); Colorado River (rafting, kayaking, fishing; the Colorado enters Glenwood Canyon as a Class III-IV whitewater river; the lower Shoshone section is technical and challenging); Roaring Fork River (excellent fly fishing – Gold Medal trout fishery below Basalt); Crystal River (upper valley – excellent fly fishing; beautiful river valley)
Notes: Glenwood Hot Springs is one of Colorado’s most beloved and iconic destinations – the massive outdoor pool fed by natural hot springs has been welcoming visitors since the railroad brought them in the 1880s; Doc Holliday died in Glenwood Springs in 1887 and is buried in Linwood Cemetery (his grave is a local attraction); Hanging Lake is genuinely extraordinary – the turquoise water fed by travertine waterfalls is one of Colorado’s finest natural jewels; the permit system (required due to trail erosion from overuse) has improved the experience; Glenwood Canyon’s 12.5-mile cycling trail (the Glenwood Canyon Recreation Trail) is one of Colorado’s finest shared use paths; the Flat Tops Wilderness is one of Colorado’s most significant and least-visited wilderness areas – a massive plateau with dozens of lakes and superb elk habitat
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Garfield County GIS – garfield-county.com/gis; Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety (DRMS) oil and gas well mapping; Grizzly Creek Fire damage maps; I-70 Glenwood Canyon slide monitoring; Colorado River flood maps
Notes: Active GIS; oil and gas well density mapping in western county; Grizzly Creek Fire and post-fire debris flow tracking; I-70 Glenwood Canyon geohazard monitoring; Roaring Fork River flood plain mapping; Hanging Lake permit management system
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Garfield County Animal Services – (970) 625-8002; Mountain Valley Humane Society
Services: Stray intake, adoptions, animal control; wildlife management (black bears extremely active in Glenwood Springs; mountain lions; elk – large herds in Flat Tops; bighorn sheep in canyon)
Notes: Black bear management in Glenwood Springs is a major challenge – the community’s fruit trees and inadequately secured trash attract bears throughout the summer and fall; bear-resistant trash containers are strongly encouraged; the Flat Tops Wilderness has one of Colorado’s finest elk herds; bighorn sheep are visible in Glenwood Canyon; mountain lion management through Colorado Parks and Wildlife; Hanging Lake area has excellent wildlife diversity
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Garfield County – (970) 625-5200; city collection programs
Recycling: Active programs in Glenwood Springs and Carbondale reflecting progressive community values; oil and gas industry waste management separate
Environmental: Colorado DPHE; Colorado River Water Conservation District; CDOT (Glenwood Canyon I-70 management); USFS (White River NF – largest national forest in Colorado); Garfield County has the most active natural gas production of any Colorado county (Piceance Basin); COGCC regulates over 5,000+ active wells; EPA and CDPHE monitor air quality
Notes: Garfield County’s natural gas production (the Piceance Basin on the western portion of the county is one of the most productive natural gas basins in the US) creates enormous environmental management complexity – methane emissions, VOCs (which contribute to ozone), produced water management, road damage from drilling traffic, and noise from compressor stations are all significant issues; the 2020 Grizzly Creek Fire burned through Glenwood Canyon – a canyon with very thin soils and steep walls; the post-fire debris flows that followed every significant rainstorm for 2+ years caused multiple I-70 closures (the highway was closed for over 50 days total in the year following the fire) and deposited enormous amounts of debris into the Colorado River; CDOT’s monitoring and warning systems for Glenwood Canyon are among the most sophisticated highway geohazard monitoring programs in the US; the Colorado River’s water is fully appropriated – Garfield County’s agricultural and municipal users hold significant rights but climate change is reducing flows and increasing the deficit between allocations and available water; the Roaring Fork River’s fly fishing is exceptional but depends on maintaining adequate environmental flows
About Garfield County
Garfield County’s duality is visible from the highway. Glenwood Canyon – a 12-mile stretch where I-70 is literally cantilevered above the Colorado River in one of the most audacious highway engineering achievements in American history – leads into Glenwood Springs, a Victorian-era resort town whose hot springs pools have drawn visitors since the 1880s. Doc Holliday died in Glenwood Springs in 1887; Theodore Roosevelt stayed at the Hotel Colorado while hunting in the mountains above. The town’s authentic resort character – not manufactured but earned over 140 years – gives Glenwood Springs an identity distinct from other ski-economy Colorado towns.
The county’s western portion, however, is the Piceance Basin – one of the most productive natural gas and oil shale zones in the Rocky Mountain region. Parachute and Rifle, the county’s working-class industrial communities, have grown and contracted with natural gas drilling cycles, and the tension between the extractive economy of the western county and the amenity economy of the eastern end – skiing, rafting, hot springs – defines Garfield County politics. Carbondale, between Glenwood Springs and Aspen, is the artist and outdoor community that Colorado’s Western Slope grows reliably when a valley has good access and affordable proximity to mountains.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Colorado assesses residential property at 6.765% of actual value (2023 rate; adjusted periodically by legislature). Property owners may appeal to the County Board of Equalization. Colorado’s senior homestead exemption reduces assessed value by 50% (up to $200,000) for qualifying residents 65 or older who have occupied the home for ten or more years. Colorado has no estate or inheritance tax.
Courts & Legal
Courts & Legal
SENIOR SERVICES
Garfield County Senior Programs
195 West 14th Street, Rifle, CO 81650
Phone: (970) 625-3969
Senior transportation, Meals on Wheels, caregiver support, and long-term care counseling for Garfield County residents.
Senior Services
Garfield County Senior Programs
195 West 14th Street, Rifle, CO 81650
Phone: (970) 625-3969
Senior transportation, Meals on Wheels, caregiver support, and long-term care counseling for Garfield County residents.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
CLERK & RECORDER (Deeds, Marriage Licenses, Elections)
109 8th St., Suite 200, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
(970) 945-2377
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Garfield County District Court, both locations (marriage licenses, will and estate case files – see Probate section above)
Local societies
No dedicated Garfield County genealogical society was confirmed in available directories.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Garfield County has two courthouse locations – file in whichever is more convenient.
Garfield County Courthouse – 109 8th Street, Suite 104, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601. (970) 928-3065. Garfield County Associate Court, Rifle – 200 E. 18th Street, Suite 103, Rifle, CO 81650. (970) 625-5100. Hours (both): Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
Colorado follows the Uniform Probate Code, one of the more streamlined, less court-intensive systems in the country.
Small Estate Affidavit (personal property) – for estates where personal property totals less than roughly $86,000 (twice the “exempt property” amount under C.R.S. § 15-11-403, which adjusts annually for inflation – always confirm the current year’s figure with the court). Available starting 10 days after the death. No court filing required; present the affidavit (Form JDF 999) directly to whoever holds the property.
Summary Administration for small real property – a separate, roughly parallel threshold applies to real property equity. This route does require a court filing.
Informal Probate – the standard path for most estates with a will or clear heirs and no disputes. Handled largely by the court Registrar with minimal hearings.
Formal Probate – required for contested wills, disputed appointments, or complicated estates.
If using the small estate affidavit (personal property)
Wait at least 10 days after the death.
Confirm the fair market value of the decedent’s property (less liens) doesn’t exceed the current statutory threshold, and that no probate has already been opened.
Complete Form JDF 999, Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit.
Present it, along with a certified death certificate, to the bank or institution holding the property – no court filing needed.
If filing for informal or formal probate
File the appropriate application with the Garfield County District Court, at either location: Form JDF 910 (with a will) or JDF 908 (without one). For formal probate, file JDF 920 or the intestate equivalent. Filing fee is $199.
The court (or Registrar, for informal cases) appoints a personal representative and issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
In informal probate, the personal representative then manages the estate largely independently.
Creditors have 4 months from first publication of notice to file claims.
The estate closes once debts are paid and assets are distributed.
What it costs
Small estate affidavit: no court filing fee.
Informal or formal probate filing fee: $199.
Personal representative compensation: “reasonable compensation” – no fixed statutory percentage.
No Colorado state estate tax or inheritance tax.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
107 8th St., Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
(970) 945-0453
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
CLERK & RECORDER (Deeds, Marriage Licenses, Elections)
109 8th St., Suite 200, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
(970) 945-2377
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Health Dept
(970) 945-6614
Human Services
(970) 945-9191
CO Benefits / PEAK
(800) 536-5298
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Garfield County Public Health – (970) 625-5200
Services: Immunizations, WIC, STI testing, environmental health, vital records; behavioral health; natural gas industry worker health (air quality, occupational exposures); wildfire smoke health monitoring
Hospital: Valley View Hospital (Glenwood Springs – (970) 945-6535); Aspen Valley Hospital (Aspen) for upper valley; Grand River Hospital (Rifle) – (970) 625-1510
Notes: Valley View Hospital is an excellent community hospital for Glenwood Springs; Grand River serves western Garfield County; natural gas industry worker occupational health (benzene, hydrogen sulfide, noise exposure) is a public health focus; air quality monitoring around natural gas production sites; wildfire smoke health guidance; post-Grizzly Creek Fire trauma and mental health recovery
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Glenwood Springs
Population: 63,000
Area: 2,958 sq mi
Established: 1883
Tier: 4
Inmate Services
Care Packages
Send care packages to inmates in Garfield County facilities via Amazon.
