In the heart of Summit County, Colorado, the coveted Lower Blue River valley is prized for its outdoor recreation, bucolic landscape, and unspoiled mountain scenery. The attractive character of this valley is exemplified in one of its landmark properties - Pass Creek Ranch. Located at the confluence of Pass Creek and the Blue River, this 1,153± acre ranch features a diverse landscape, including tree-lined river and creek corridors, aspen, and conifer forests, irrigated hay meadows, and rolling pasture lands. Outstanding trout fishing on the Blue River is complemented by abundant wildlife and excellent hiking and riding. Adjacent national forest lands provide a dramatic backdrop for the ranch improvements and a huge backyard for additional recreation.
Pass Creek Ranch’s unique location features stunning panoramic vistas of both the Gore Range and the Williams Fork Mountains. The custom owner’s home is situated in a very private location overlooking the river with excellent views of the surrounding peaks. The ranch headquarters area includes caretaker and guest homes, along with equestrian and agricultural buildings, which support income that covers ranch expenses. Pass Creek Ranch is located only 80 miles west of Denver and within 15 to 30 miles of the four ski resorts and the towns of Summit County, providing easy access to a full assortment of services and amenities.
The ranch is situated at the base of the Williams Fork Mountains, directly below Ute Pass. Pass Creek forms just below the summit and descends through White River National Forest until entering the northeast corner of the ranch. The creek forms a steep canyon on the ranch, with timbered hillsides and rock cliffs. The drainage opens as it flows west to the Blue River, which forms the west boundary of the ranch. The Blue River and lower Pass Creek riparian corridors are dominated by massive old-growth cottonwood, spruce, and aspen trees. Lush, irrigated hay meadows line the creek and the river, and an alfalfa field along Pass Creek is a magnet for elk and deer. A gentle sagebrush hill buffers the ranch from Ute Pass Road and a neighborhood to the south. The neighbor to the west is a large ranch that is protected from development by a conservation easement. Highly usable terrain on the ranch contrasts with the steep slopes of the adjacent national forest, which forms the entire 2.2-mile north boundary line of the ranch. Pasture Creek is a second drainage which flows out of the national forest and into Pass Creek. There are several ranch roads that transition into trails in the national forest, providing hiking and riding access to a variety of overlooks, as well as a waterfall on Pasture Creek.
Only an hour west of Denver, Summit County is considered the metro area’s outdoor playground. The county has four major ski resorts, each with their own character - Breckenridge, Keystone, Arapahoe Basin, and Copper. Just beyond the bustling resort-based development of Summit County lies the Lower Blue River Valley, where Pass Creek Ranch is located. This area is surprisingly undeveloped due to the large amount of nearby national forest and wilderness lands, along with numerous large ranches protected with conservation easements. The Lower Blue River Valley will continue to be sought after because of its rare combination of recreational and scenic strengths and proximity to Denver and Summit County resort areas.
With year-round paved road access, Pass Creek Ranch is only 15 to 20 miles from the towns of Silverthorne, Dillon, and Frisco, and less than 30 miles from the four ski resorts. This results in convenient access to a multitude of dining venues and shopping options ranging from small boutiques to major retailers such as Whole Foods, Lowes, and Murdoch’s, and a full-service hospital. Air travelers can land 30 minutes from the ranch at McElroy Field in Kremmling, with a 5,540’ jet-capable runway. Commercial service is 90 minutes away at Eagle County Regional Airport in the Vail Valley, and at Denver International Airport.
Rugged 1,000-foot slate cliffs create a dramatic backdrop for the ranch headquarters. This historic ranch compound has a variety of lodging, equestrian and agricultural facilities supporting the owner, employees, and guests. Well-maintained three-bedroom/two-bath caretaker and guest/rental homes are located here and serve as gatekeepers to the balance of the ranch. The owner’s home is in a very private location overlooking the river with views across the valley at the 13,000+ foot peaks of the Gore Range and Eagles Nest Wilderness. The finely crafted 5,684± square foot main home features log post and beam construction with a soaring 30-foot-high great room anchored by a massive stone fireplace. The primary bedroom suite has its own floor, and there are four additional bedroom suites for guests. A gourmet kitchen and multiple indoor and outdoor dining areas are ideal for entertaining. The orientation of the valley and the mountains to the west make for stunning sunsets.
The Blue River is well known as a trophy trout fishery. Located downstream of Dillon Reservoir and upstream of Green Mountain Reservoir, the ranch lies along an exceptional stretch of this high-quality medium-sized freestone river. The Blue benefits from the controlled releases out of Dillon Reservoir, but also has a wider variety of aquatic food sources than immediately below the dam. Professional structure improvements to the river have further increased the number and size of fish on the ranch. The river frontage on Pass Creek Ranch measures .7 miles, plus there is another .6 miles of adjacent national forest frontage that can be accessed directly downstream. The Blue River fishes well from late March through November, with excellent Green Drake and Pale Morning Dun hatches in June and July, and epic grasshopper and attractor dries on summer afternoons. There are abundant rainbows, browns, and cutbows, and even a few brookies and Kokanee salmon. Additionally, a pond with wild brook trout is fed by Pass Creek. The ranch also has historic water rights to irrigate productive hay meadows with water from Pass Creek and the Blue River.
