Steamboat Springs, CO 
The Lower Ranch is located 12 road miles north of the resort town of Steamboat Springs. Scenic Routt County road 129 follows the Elk River through the lush river valley meadows. This area of the county is known for beautiful, protected landscapes and great year-round outdoor recreation. The ranch consists of scenic terrain ranging from grassy, rolling hills to irrigated meadows. Deep Creek flows through the ranch from west to east, providing water for irrigation, livestock and wildlife. The ranch has adjudicated ponds, springs and ditches. The headquarters and the irrigated meadows are situated along the county road, providing easy access for trucks and equipment. The southern portion of the ranch consists of open meadows and some dryland hay ground. The ranch is within a few miles of the Routt National Forest which is over one million acres and extends into Wyoming. Steamboat Springs, is 12 miles south and the slopes of the Steamboat Ski Area are visible from the ranch. Clark is a rural community 17 miles north of Steamboat that is anchored by an award winning LEED gold school and a volunteer fire and rescue department.
The ranch is located 12 road miles north of the resort town of Steamboat Springs. It is easily accessed via lightly traveled, year-round paved and gravel county roads. Scenic Routt County road 129 follows the Elk River through the lush river valley meadows. Along the way are several productive and conserved ranches; a living example of the value the citizens in the area place on ranching and agriculture. Clark, a 10 minute drive north, is a small community with groceries, a post office and a model K-8 public charter school. This area of the county is known for beautiful, protected landscapes and great year round outdoor recreation.
The Lower Ranch consists of scenic terrain ranging from grassy, rolling hills to irrigated meadows. Deep Creek flows through the ranch from west to east, providing water for irrigation, livestock and wildlife. The headquarters and the irrigated meadows are situated along the county road, providing easy access for trucks and equipment. The opportunity exists to place the ranch into conservation.
Improvements on the ranch are in good condition and are at about 7,200 feet in elevation. The main home was constructed in the 30’s and is typical of an old farmhouse. It has several bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, two levels and defined, comfortable living space. There is also a 3 bd/2ba modular on a permanent foundation as well as a 630 sq. ft. frame cabin for employee housing. Outbuildings consist of another small cabin, heated shop area, enclosed equipment storage, covered hay storage barns and sheds. The entire ranch is fenced and cross fenced; the fences are in good repair.
The entire ranch is easily accessed with via year round and seasonal county roads. Elk, deer, bear and antelope can be seen on the ranch. Wide open fields provide excellent terrain for all levels of snowmobiling. Horseback riding opportunities are numerous both on and off of the ranch. This area of northwest Colorado is popular for recreation enthusiasts: National Forest lands, lakes and reservoirs, and groomed trails are only a few miles from the ranch.
The ranch supports a year-round cow/calf operation. The ranch comfortably handles the livestock and there is plenty of forage for wildlife. Approximately 220 acres are irrigated and produce a good mid-summer hay crop. The meadows provide excellent fall grazing after the hay has been harvested. The varied topography and the extensive series of ponds, springs and ditches have helped maximize the ranch’s productivity.
Deep Creek often flows year round, providing irrigation water for area ranches before it feeds into the Elk River. The Lower Ranch has a complete list of adjudicated ponds, springs and ditches. Contact the listing agent for a detailed list of the water rights, some of which date back more than a hundred years.
The Lower Ranch consists of a gently sloping hillsides between Pilot’s Knob and the Elk River corridor. The ranch is within a few miles of the Routt National Forest which is over one million acres and extends into Wyoming. The Yampa Valley Regional Airport with daily flights to Denver International Airport is a 40-minute drive to the west. During the ski season, direct flights are available from major cities all over the country. Steamboat Springs, with a population of about 12,000 is a friendly resort community that features many amenities found in larger towns. The Yampa Valley Medical Center is an award-winning, full service acute care hospital. Colorado Mountain College, an established community college, continues to experience growth and success and recently added two 4-year degree programs. Clark is a small rural community 17 miles north of Steamboat that is anchored by the newly constructed LEED gold school and a volunteer fire and rescue department
The Lower Ranch is a hard-to-find larger acreage ranch just north of the world-renowned resort of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. As a result of development pressure, much of the land lying close to Steamboat has been split into smaller parcels and very few parcels of this size exist. The ranch is a unique opportunity to own a pristine piece of land that has been carefully managed for generations. The ranch is a working cattle ranch with very good recreational attributes and numerous hold and exit strategies.
