Executive Summary
Six Plus Ranch is located in the beautiful Elk River Valley just 10± miles from Steamboat Springs. From its setting at the base of landmark Elk Mountain, the 960± acre ranch features commanding views of the Continental Divide, the upper Elk River Valley and the Steamboat Ski Area. The majority of the ranch is rolling pasture, complimented with a mix of aspen groves, mountain oak and dark timber. The diverse topography, vegetation and habitat of the property attract wildlife and provide excellent big game hunting opportunities. Six Plus is a productive ranch for those interested in a small equestrian or cattle operation, conservation ranch, hunting property or simply a scenic retreat with easy access to the amenities of Steamboat Springs.
General Description
The majority of the ranch is rolling pasture with the exception of that portion on the north slope of Elk Mountain, which consists of aspen groves and mountain oaks interspersed with dark timber and open meadows. The natural grass pastures offer plenty of grazing areas for livestock, horses and wildlife. A small creek flows through the ranch and there are several ponds located in the trees and near the main house. This ranch is relatively unaffected by the mountain pine beetles that have devastated many areas of the western US. From its setting at the base of landmark Elk Mountain, the ranch features commanding views of the Continental Divide, the upper Elk River Valley and the Steamboat Ski Resort. There are numerous home sites well positioned to allow excellent views of the ranch as well as the surrounding mountains, including Steamboat Ski Resort. An internal road offers access from the county road to the ranch improvements. Several additional internal roads and trails provide access to the various areas of the ranch. The ranch’s location on the public road makes it unnecessary to travel through any private property to access the ranch and no other parties have right of entry through this ranch to access their property. These are both advantages that increase privacy.
Broker's Comments
Six Plus Ranch offers a unique combination of scenery, privacy and wildlife habitat with close proximity to the amenities of Steamboat Springs. A ranch encompassing nearly 1,000 acres of diverse land within 10 minutes of Steamboat Springs is difficult to find, especially one that enjoys excellent aesthetics, access and wildlife habitat. When standing on this property admiring the surrounding mountains and unspoiled river valley, it is unbelievable how close the Steamboat Ski Resort actually is. Without significant improvements or conservation easements, the ranch is a blank canvas for future owners to preserve or develop the property to their liking.
Learn about the locale
Location
Six Plus Ranch is located at the base of Elk Mountain, the anchor of the beautiful Elk River Valley north of Steamboat Springs. The Elk River is a main tributary of the Yampa River, which drains the majority of northwest Colorado. Dominated by classic working cattle ranches, the middle Elk River Valley provides a classic setting for the Six Plus Ranch. The neighboring properties are still agricultural in nature and the adjacent ranch to the northeast is protected from development by a conservation easement. The ranch is accessed by Routt County Road 52E (RCR-52E), a gravel road maintained by the county throughout the year. RCR-52E connects to paved State Highway 129 (SH-129) two miles east of the ranch. SH-129 is the arterial for the Elk River Valley and connects with US-40 in Steamboat Springs. Steamboat is a 10-minute drive to the southeast, the local Bob Adams Field Airport is minutes from the ranch and commercial service is available at the Yampa Valley Regional Airport approximately 40 minutes to the southwest. Steamboat Lake is 20 minutes north, crowning the Elk River Valley. The ranch is a three-to three-and-a-half hour drive from Denver and Denver International Airport (DIA).
Locale
While development has forever changed the landscape around most Rocky Mountain ski resorts, ranching still prevails around the Steamboat Springs area. Despite its beauty and proximity to Steamboat Springs, the Elk River Valley in particular has been relatively sheltered from development. Cattle and horse ranches dominate the landscape and many of the properties throughout the valley have been permanently protected with conservation easements.The town of Steamboat Springs is a charming community with approximately 10,000 residents. Steamboat is a unique Colorado town, influenced by, but not dominated by, the ski area. The town still maintains its western heritage and its small-town character. Steamboat is removed enough from I-70 and the front range of Colorado that it is unlikely to become as densely developed as other Colorado resort areas.Many of the people who live, work and play in Steamboat do so because of the diversity and quality of the recreational activities the area is known for. Steamboat Ski Resort is world famous for its champagne powder and great tree-skiing. The town boasts good schools and wonderful restaurants as well as the regional health care center. You won’t find any malls in Steamboat Springs, but you can shop at an eclectic array of quality stores, many of which are housed in 100-year-old buildings along Main Street.
Climate
With elevations ranging from approximately 6,875 to 7,500 feet, Six Plus 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 and low 80s, with lows in the 40s and 50s. Winter typically means temperatures ranging from the teens at night to 30s during the day. Snow will accumulate during the winter months, though the valley traditionally receives quite a bit less than the surrounding mountain ranges.
Aesthetic Considerations
There are few spots in Colorado that offer a pastoral mountain valley setting as scenic as this. The ranch offers expansive views of the bucolic Elk River Valley and the surrounding mountains. Wolf Mountain and Pilot Knob lie to the west, Sand Mountain and Hann’s Peak rise up at the north end of the Elk River Valley, the Park Range which forms the Continental Divide are to the east, Steamboat Ski Area to the southeast and, of course, Elk Mountain to the south.
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Acreage (Deeded & Leased)
Deeded Acres: 960±
State Leased Acres: 0±
Private Leased Acres: 0±
BLM Leased Acres: 0±
Indian Leased Acres: 0±
Other Leased Acres: 0±
Total Leased Acres: 0±
Total Acres: 960±
Additional Information
The ranch is an excellent candidate for a future conservation easement, and the current owners have chosen to allow the new owners the choice of how and when to preserve this exceptional property. Please contact the listing broker to further discuss the conservation potential of this ranch.
Improvements
Located in the center of the property, at the edge of the trees ascending Elk Mountain, the ranch headquarters consists of a modest 1,200 square foot house and numerous agricultural outbuildings. There are also the remnants of an historic cabin and barns, likely built by the original homesteaders. Power and phone are installed to the main house, domestic water is provided by a spring, gas is by propane and wastewater treatment is by septic and leach field.
Water Rights
The ranch holds all the rights to Wilbur Springs #1 through #5 and is a 50% owner of the G&H No. 1 Spring right, all of which are adjudicated. These water rights will transfer with the property to the new owner.
Mineral Rights
Any mineral rights appurtenant to the property that are owned by the seller will transfer with the real estate.
Taxes
Property taxes for the ranch are estimated to be $1,101.
Learn about the recreational amenities
Wildlife Resources
The location, habitat and low human impact on the ranch attract a variety of wildlife. The grasses, cover and water in particular draw elk, mule deer, antelope and grouse. Black bear and mountain lions are seldom seen but exist in the area as well. The ranch is located in the Colorado Division of Wildlife’s Game Management Unit 214 and offers good elk and mule deer hunting opportunities. The habitat in this area has produced rather large herds of elk and deer, and tags are quite plentiful. For deer, all GMU’s in Colorado are limited license areas, meaning that tags are only available through the annual draw process. Extra tags are sometimes available after the draw for those units with more animals and/or fewer hunters. There have historically been leftover buck deer tags for both archery and rifle seasons in GMU 214. Bull elk tags are available over the counter for residents and non-residents for archery and two of the four rifle seasons (second and third). Tags for the first and fourth rifle seasons are available though the draw process. These factors combine to make Six Plus Ranch a choice property for a resident or non-resident owner interested in big-game hunting.
Recreational Considerations
Six Plus Ranch offers excellent hiking, biking snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, hunting, horseback riding, wildlife viewing. The ranch is located just two and one-half miles from the Christina State Wildlife Area, offering approximately two miles of public fishing on the Elk River. The 1.2 million acre Routt National Forest is located just two miles east of the ranch and several access points are within a 15-to 30-minute drive. Steamboat, the National Forest and Wilderness areas surrounding the property offer opportunities for other adventures including kayaking, camping, water-skiing, snow-skiing, golfing, snowboarding, soaking in natural hot springs, and scenic drives.The area is a veritable playground for outdoor enthusiasts; each season offering a full menu of possibilities ranging from the intense to the simply relaxing.
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