Michigan River Ranch

Walden, Colorado
$9,950,000

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Over six miles of the meandering Michigan River, stunning scenery, abundant wildlife and a magnificent home coalesce to make this a truly exceptional mountain ranch. The dramatic peaks of the Never Summer and Medicine Bow Mountains serve as the backdrop for this impressive 2,100± acre ranch, which offers miles of state forest boundary and a balance of irrigated meadow, riparian corridor, native forest and rangeland. As it winds through the ranch, the Michigan River gives an angler fishing that is on par with the spectacular scenery around it. The tasteful, well-built 8,050 square foot custom home overlooks the ranch from a protected setting at the base of an aspen grove on Custer Mountain. Both private and convenient, the ranch is located on a paved public road near historic western towns and is an easy drive to Steamboat and Winter Park Ski Resorts. This outstanding ranch provides an opportunity to have a solid working ranch with diverse recreational attributes in a spectacular setting.

Michigan River Ranch is located in the northern Colorado headwaters region of the famous North Platte River, an area known as North Park or Jackson County. North Park is an anomaly in Colorado – it is still a pristine and relatively undeveloped ranching and recreational paradise, with good access and proximity to resort areas. Michigan River Ranch is conveniently located adjacent to paved State Highway 14, on the route between Walden and Ft. Collins.

The ranch is approximately 16 miles southeast of the quaint western town of Walden and four miles northwest of the hamlet of Gould along State Highway 14. The ranch is about an hour and 15 minutes to Steamboat Springs and all services and amenities of this world-class resort ski resort area. Grandby is approximately an hour to the south and Winter Park Ski Resort is about 25 minutes further. From the ranch it is about two and a half hours to Denver, three hours to Denver International Airport and under two hours to Ft. Collins.

The ranch is 20 minutes from the Walden-Jackson County Airport which has a 5,901 by 75-foot asphalt runway, GPS approach and jet fuel. In case of inclement weather, there are instrument approaches at five other airports within a 60-mile radius. Full commercial service is 90 miles away at the Yampa Valley Regional Airport in Hayden, which is just west of Steamboat Springs.

North Park is an area of breathtaking beauty, consisting of a large intermountain basin of rolling hills and the meandering meadow streams that constitute the headwaters of the North Platte River, virtually surrounded by the high peaks of the Rabbit Ears, Park, Sierra Madre, Medicine Bow and Never Summer Ranges. Wildlife abounds, from numerous species of waterfowl and other birds to herds of elk, deer, antelope and the largest herd of moose in Colorado. North Park is one of the last frontiers of Colorado and is noted for its year-round recreational amenities, traditional working ranches, world-class fishing and hunting opportunities and lack of crowds.

Jackson County consists of 1,620 square miles and has a population of about 1,500. Walden, the county seat and commerce center, offers most services and is one of the last historic ranching communities left in the entire state. Just to the west of North Park, Steamboat Springs is still a western town at heart, but has also embraced winter sports and has become a world-class community and year-round destination for guests from all over the world.

The elevation of the Michigan River Ranch ranges from approximately 8,560 feet along the river to 9,250 feet near the top of Custer Mountain. The ranch exhibits the attractive characteristics of the Colorado mountain climate – warm sunny days with low humidity and cool nights. Average summer temperatures are in the upper 70s, with lows in the 40s. Winter typically means temperatures ranging from the teens at night to 20s during the day. Snow will accumulate during the winter months, though the valley traditionally receives quite a bit less than do the surrounding mountain ranges. Annual precipitation for the main ranch is estimated to be around 20 inches – the closest historical records are for Rand (14.99 inches) which is 10 miles to the southwest. The ranch is somewhat wetter than Rand due to its location at the base of the mountains.

In a general sense, the ranch is a large block of private land situated adjacent to public lands at the base of the steep slopes of the Medicine Bow Mountains. The meandering Michigan River and one of its major tributaries bisect the ranch and provide water for its riparian areas and irrigated meadows. Custer Mountain and a few smaller hills endow the ranch with some topography and are home to most of the aspen and evergreen forests.

The ranch is three and one-quarter miles from north to south and nearly two miles across at the widest point. State Highway 14 forms the southern and part of the western boundary of the ranch, providing the primary access at the original headquarters area, about halfway along the north-south axis. From the gated entrance just north of the headquarters, a private road crosses the river and travels east to the location of the main house at the base of Custer Mountain. In addition to the main entrance, there are two secondary access points: to the north on County Road 30D and the south from County Road 41.

The Colorado State Park’s State Forest forms nearly two miles of the eastern boundary of the ranch. This allows direct access from the ranch to the 71,000± acre state forest for hiking, riding, skiing, snowshoeing or snowmobiling. Wildlife moves freely back and forth between the state forest and the ranch throughout the year.

The ranch contains numerous, diverse natural plant communities: aspen forest, spruce, fir and pine forests, mesic sagebrush shrubland, lower montane willow carr, wet meadows and dry pastures. Together these offer an attractive diversity that provides habitat and forage for abundant wildlife populations.

The original headquarters improvements for the ranch are conveniently located along the highway, while the main house is a short drive away in a very private and quiet setting. The headquarters area includes the original house, cabins, barns, sheds, corrals and shop, plus a helipad and hangar.

From its location at the base of Custer Mountain, the main house commands panoramic views from the rivers and meadows of the ranch up into the high country of the adjacent state forest. The showcase custom home is 8,074 square feet of superb craftsmanship with European character. The warm and inviting home was completed in 2003 and features an efficient floorplan for entertaining. There are two floors plus a partial basement and the upper floors feature enhanced fenestration to incorporate panoramic mountain views. There are four bedrooms, five baths, two offices and three wood-burning fireplaces. Outside there is a beautifully built stone patio with fire pit surrounded by irrigated gardens and landscaping.

Both the main house and ranch headquarters buildings are supplied by Mountain Parks Electric and there are several buried propane tanks. Domestic water is sourced from two good wells and waste water treatment is provided by septic and leach fields.

The ranch was historically utilized as the headquarters for a large cattle operation and is owner-rated at 150 animal units. It is currently optimized for horses and high-quality weed-free hay production and generally produces approximately 900 tons without fertilizer. The ranch boundary is fenced and there are nine fenced pastures ranging in size from approximately 10 to 100 acres. The timber on the ranch has been selectively harvested throughout its history and now has a variety of age classes. The owners have proactively managed the ranch to counteract the impacts of the mountain pine beetles that have infested most pine forests of the western US and Canada.

Water plays a key role on this ranch for irrigation, recreation, wildlife and aesthetics. The Michigan River runs through the ranch from southeast to northwest for approximately six miles. The North Fork joins the main stem of the river about half-way through the ranch. The Michigan and the North Fork rise in the Medicine Bow and Never Summer Mountains to the east and south of the ranch. The Michigan River and its tributaries provide particularly rich trout and wildlife habitat as well as benefits to regional water quality and storage. A considerable portion of the water produced by the upper North Platte River watershed flows through the Michigan River. Since it is located high up near the sources of the river and its tributaries, this part of the Michigan will not get de-watered like some downstream areas may when lower ranches are irrigating.

Michigan River Ranch has long been considered one of the landmark properties of the area. It’s no wonder that travelers on the highway will often pull over and take pictures of the trout stream meandering through its lush meadows in the shadow of snow-capped mountain peaks.

From the ranch, there are a few prominent sites that attract the eye. The dramatically rugged peaks in the Rawah Wilderness Area to the northeast of the ranch are North and South Rawah and Clark Peaks. These are all over 12,000 feet and form the spine of the Medicine Bow Range.

To the southeast is famous Nokhu Crags, a mountain peak and rock formation located within the Colorado State Forest just northwest of Rocky Mountain National Park. The 12,485-foot peak is a part of the Never Summer Mountains on the northwest side of the continental divide.

On a clear day, the 12,000-foot peaks of the Mount Zirkel Wilderness are visible to the west across North Park. On the other side of these mountains are the Yampa and Elk River valleys and Steamboat Springs.

North Park is well-known for its abundant wildlife. A wide variety of large and small mammals, birds and waterfowl can be found on the ranch and in the vast neighboring public lands. The ranch’s miles and miles of river, together with the associated riparian and floodplain areas, irrigated meadows and sagebrush grasslands provide excellent habitat for fish, waterfowl and animals.

Wildlife flourishes in the extraordinarily healthy ecosystem of the ranch and migrates freely from the neighboring state forest to the ranch. The ranch provides forage, cover and habitat throughout the year for wide-ranging wildlife species such as moose, elk, mule deer, black bear, mountain lion, bobcat, eagles, ducks and geese. The variety of ecosystems provides excellent habitat for migratory waterfowl and summer-resident songbirds. In the fall in particular, the cooler weather brings elk down from the hills to the ranch’s verdant meadows where they congregate for the rut. In the spring, moose and elk calve in the protected willows of the riparian areas.

As they meander through the ranch, the Michigan River and the North Fork give an angler private fishing that is on par with the spectacular scenery around it. The rivers are classic high-country meadow streams with corner pools and beaver ponds. Six miles of gently flowing water offer the perfect habitat and natural structures to produce remarkably hefty fish. The river averages 15 to 25 feet in width below the confluence of the Michigan and North Fork, and 10 to 20 feet in the forks above the confluence.

The banks of the river have been maintained in their natural condition, with streamside willows present throughout, protecting against erosion and providing shade and shelter that are highly beneficial to trout. The willow carr shades the river thereby keeping the water cool and provides organic material that serves as food for macro invertebrate populations which in turn provide ample food for trout.

The waters on the ranch are generally meandering meadow streams, with a high degree of sinuosity. They are low gradient steams that are easily fished from the bank or by wading. Bank vegetation is characterized by grass interspersed by willows. Fish can be found nearly anywhere, but the bigger ones tend to congregate in the deeper water and corner pools. These trout have not been fished over much and will attack a dry fly or streamer aggressively.

The Michigan and North Fork Rivers have healthy, self-sustaining populations of brown, rainbow and brook trout. Although two-thirds of Jackson County is public land, the majority of the land along the Michigan River is privately owned and inaccessible but for owners and their guests. This creates a fishery that benefits from relatively low impact compared to public access areas.

Conservation Easement

Over decades, the stewards of Michigan River Ranch have been good to this land. The property has been well-managed and thoughtfully maintained with an eye towards preservation. The current owners of the ranch recognized the exceptional scenic and wildlife values of the property and entered into a conservation easement to protect it in perpetuity.

The land is still privately owned and no public access has been granted. Certain development rights have been erased and others retained. The easement protects and preserves the wildlife and wildlife habitat, natural plant communities, open space condition and scenic values of this landmark property.

The easement, which was granted to Colorado Open Lands, reserves two homesites which can be sold separately. A parcel of 38± acres along the highway is excluded from the easement and the owners can build a small cabin in a picturesque spot on Custer Mountain. In addition to the current improvements, the easement allows an additional guest or caretaker house and accessory structures.

History

This ranch is one of the oldest in North Park and served as the headquarters for the Stelbar ranches which controlled over 120,000 acres at one time. The stage coach which came over Ute Pass historically stopped across the highway from the headquarters, where a cluster of cabins welcomed visitors until the 1990s. The current owners purchased the ranch from Stelbar in 1998.

2,100±

Michigan River Ranch consists of approximately 2,080± deeded acres. Of the total, approximately 750± acres are irrigated.

Seller’s ownership of appurtenant mineral rights will be transferred to buyer at closing. We understand the seller owns the majority, but not all, of the mineral rights.

Due to its location near the intersection of several mountain ranges, Michigan River Ranch lies in the heart of an amazing recreational paradise. Within a 10-mile radius of the ranch are the State Park, Roosevelt National Forest, Rawah Wilderness, Rocky Mountain National Park, Never Summer Wilderness, Arapaho National Forest, Neota Wilderness, Owl Mountain State Wildlife Area, Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge, Routt National Forest and various other state and BLM lands. It would take a lifetime to explore all the recreational opportunities that this area has to offer.

To complement its vast live water resources, Michigan River Ranch benefits from a significant amount of adjudicated irrigation water. The ranch maintains a total of 92.9± cfs of irrigation water rights and 4.5 cfs of stockwater rights from the Michigan River plus shares equating to 200 acre-feet in Meadow Creek Reservoir. These water rights irrigate approximately 750± acres of the ranch. In addition, there are five wells, two for domestic use and three for stock watering.

The 2008 property taxes were $10,749.20.

MANAGEMENT SERVICES – Hall and Hall’s Management Division has a very clear mission – To represent the owner and to ensure that his or her experience is a positive one. Services are customized to suit the owner’s needs. They often begin with the recruiting and hiring of a suitable ranch manager or caretaker and are followed by the development of a management or operating plan along with appropriate budgets. Ongoing services include bill paying, ranch oversight, and consulting services as needed. Even the most sophisticated and experienced ranch owners appreciate the value of a management firm representing them and providing advice on local area practices and costs. Wes Oja and Jerome Chvilicek at (406) 656-7500 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (406) 656-7500      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (406) 656-7500      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (406) 656-7500      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (406) 656-7500      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or Randy Clavel at (303) 861-8282 are available to describe and discuss these services in detail and welcome your call.

RESOURCE ENHANCEMENT SERVICES – Increasingly the value of a ranch is measured by the quality of each and every one of its resources. Coincidentally the enhancement of a ranch’s resources also increases the pleasure that one derives from the ownership of a ranch. Our management services have included the assessment of everything from wildlife habitat to bird habitat to water resources and fisheries and the subsequent oversight of the process involved with the enhancement of these resources. Wes Oja or Jerome Chvilicek at (406) 656-7500 are available to describe and discuss these services in detail and welcome your call.

SPECIALIZED LENDING - Over the past 59 years Hall and Hall has created a legacy by efficiently providing capital to the intermountain west. In addition to traditional farm and ranch loans, we specialize in understanding the unique aspects of placing loans on ranches where value may be influenced by recreational features, location and improvements and repayment may come from outside sources. Our extensive experience and strong relationships with our lenders allows us to quickly tell you whether we can provide the required financing.

Competitive Pricing ● Flexible Terms ● Efficient Processing
In-House Appraisals ● Common Sense Underwriting
Dave Roddy ● (406) 656-7500
Mike Hall, Judy Chirila, or Randy Clavel ● (303) 861-8282
Monte Lyons ● (806) 698-6882