Located on the eastern flank of the Ruby Mountains 55 miles southeast of Elko, Nevada, the 7H Ranch is a quality year-round operating ranch steeped in the tradition and heritage of northern Nevada and the Great Basin. The ranch consists of 3,417± deeded acres largely in a single block along Ruby Valley Road. A separate 40-acre parcel surrounded by Bureau of Land Management (BLM) grazing allotments permitted to the ranch is located 12 miles to the south. The ranch encompasses portions of Franklin Lake, a valley playa fed by the Franklin River flowing from the north, and borders the expansive Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge to the south. The property also joins lands managed by the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), and BLM. The ranch is approximately 245 miles southwest of Salt Lake City, 345 miles east of Reno, and 390 miles north of Las Vegas.
The 7H is a balanced cow/calf operation that will support 600± animal units. In addition to a sizeable deeded component, the ranch utilizes contiguous federal and state lands, including 3,000± acres owned by NDOW extending eastward from the ranch into the Franklin Lake playa. These lands are under a 50-year lease to the 7H (with 24 years remaining), and the ranch typically utilizes 1,100± animal unit months (AUMs) during summer and fall months. The 7H also holds a U.S. Forest Service gazing permit covering two allotments lying immediately west of the ranch. The permit provides for 484 head months from May through July. In addition, the ranch holds two BLM grazing permits that cover summer, fall, and winter allotments starting four miles south of the ranch for a total of 3,848 AUMs. Because of wild horse considerations, however, the ranch has not utilized these allotments for several years nor have the allotments been given any credit in estimating carrying capacity.
Producing its own winter feed, the ranch irrigates 610± acres of cropland with five Zimmatic center pivots (new since 2010) serviced by four wells. Cropland is harvested 2-3 times per season and supports 3-4 tons per acre. An additional 60 acres of flood irrigated meadow hay is also harvested. Overall, irrigation and stock water are excellent at the 7H. Abundant snowmelt from the adjacent Ruby Mountains feeds several creeks and washes that drain onto the property charging the aquifer and allowing for ease of flood irrigation.
Improvements are functional and oriented around the cattle operation. The main ranch home, which was remodeled in 2011, is currently occupied by the ranch manager and is located in a private setting at the northwest end of the property next to Smith Creek. The home features three bedrooms and three baths along with a large deck and attached garage. The headquarters area, located on the east side of Ruby Road opposite of the main home, includes a second residence occupied by a ranch employee, a bunk house, shop building, and equipment storage. Covered scales and steel working corrals with a hydraulic squeeze chute, all in excellent condition, are located south of the headquarters in the center portion of the ranch on the east side of Ruby Valley Road.
Recreation in the area includes hiking, horseback riding, big game hunting, and backcountry skiing in the adjacent Ruby Mountains. Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge provides excellent bird watching and is renowned fishing for largemouth bass and rainbow trout. The ranch is just north of the Pony Express National Historic Trail and Pony Express Monument.
Among the first ranches settled in the Ruby Valley, the 7H Ranch represents a rare opportunity in today’s market to acquire a sizeable holding in one of northern Nevada’s most tightly held ranching areas. The 7H supports a high quality year-round cattle operation enhanced by the beauty, serenity, and wildness of the Ruby Mountains and Ruby Valley’s Great Basin landscape.
