Brian became a ranch partner with Hall and Hall in 2005 when he opened our northwest Colorado office. Originally from the Midwest, Brian strongly supports saving our agricultural heritage. In 1996, he received a master’s degree from the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business and has specialized in high-value real estate since then. Brian holds real estate licenses in Colorado and several neighboring states. An avid sportsman, he is an active member of numerous conservation organizations and promotes wildlife and aquatic habitat protection and enhancement. Brian enjoys the good life in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, where he lives with his wife and two daughters.
A landmark river property located just five miles from Steamboat Springs, the 1,113± acre Yampa River Ranch offers an exceptional confluence of water, fishing, location, and investment appeal. This legacy ranch boasts one of the longest contiguous stretches of private river in the entire Yampa valley, with 1.5± miles of the Yampa River plus another .85± mile of multiple side channels. The cottonwood-lined river corridor supports a highly productive fishery with diverse natural habitat that sustains healthy wild trout populations. Senior water rights supply irrigated hay meadows, which are complemented by expansive alfalfa fields. Its riparian zones and production areas provide rich habitat for a diverse range of wildlife, including waterfowl, raptors, mule deer, and migratory elk. The ranch operates with limited expenses that are covered by multiple income streams. Strategically located just minutes from both the Steamboat Ski Resort and a commercial airport, the ranch enjoys premier accessibility. With no existing conservation easement, the property also presents substantial future land use flexibility and preservation potential, making it an exceptionally compelling river property with proximity to a world-class resort town.
Yampa River Ranch is composed of a contiguous block of deeded land measuring approximately two miles north to south and 1.5 miles east to west. The Yampa River traverses the center of the ranch from east to west, anchoring the heart of the property with its meandering course through old-growth cottonwood forests and riparian wetlands. From the river, the ranch lands rise onto bluffs on both the north and south ends of the property. The middle third of the ranch encompasses the river corridor, its associated wetlands, and the primary irrigated hay production area totaling approximately 120± acres. The historic headquarters and the currently operating commercial gravel pit are located in this central section.
The northern third rises roughly 130 feet above the valley floor to a bluff that peaks at 6,900 feet in elevation. This elevated portion offers panoramic views of the Steamboat Ski Area, Sleeping Giant, Flat Tops, and other surrounding mountain ranges. Accessed via a private gravel ranch road from Highway 40, this area includes reclaimed gravel mining zones, alfalfa fields, and recreational amenities such as shooting and driving ranges.
The southern third of the ranch is marked by an elevated plateau planted in alfalfa that is about 50 feet above the river. This portion of the ranch is bordered by County Road 33A on the west and south boundary lines. The county road crosses the river via a modern bridge, providing easy year-round access to both sides of the river. Two additional residences are on this third of the ranch, each with access from the county road. This part of the ranch also features panoramic views of the valley and surrounding mountains.
Yampa River Ranch has been thoughtfully stewarded for decades. It is an excellent candidate for a future conservation easement. Current ownership has chosen to allow the new owners the choice of how and when to preserve this exceptional property. The ranch has no known unusual limitations on future building, subdivision or preservation.
Yampa River Ranch is both an outstanding trout fishing ranch ready for immediate enjoyment, and an investment asset with multiple revenue sources and future opportunities ranging from various development scenarios to a monumental conservation easement. It is a rarity to find a significant stretch of high-quality river on a large 1,113± acre parcel that is so close to a major ski resort town, especially one that does not already have a conservation easement. This is a high enjoyment and low cost of ownership property that is an exceptional investment opportunity.
Yampa River Ranch is located in central Routt County of northwestern Colorado. It is remarkably close to the four-season mountain resort town of Steamboat Springs—only five miles from downtown and eight miles from the Steamboat Ski Resort. The property is also less than twenty miles from the commercial airport in Hayden, providing convenient air access.
Yampa River Ranch is situated at the western gateway to Steamboat Springs, fronting US Highway 40, which connects Steamboat to the regional airport in Hayden. Driving up the valley from the airport to town, the ranch is the last large undeveloped property before entering the developed urban and exurban areas around Steamboat.
The ranch is embedded within a region defined by rich cultural history, seasonal tourism, and strong year-round recreational appeal. Steamboat Springs, referred to as “Ski Town, U.S.A.,” is an attractive hub offering world-class skiing, sporting pursuits, and a vibrant arts and culinary scene. The surrounding Yampa Valley is celebrated for its ranching heritage, trout-rich rivers, and panoramic mountain landscapes, making the area highly desirable for residents and visitors alike.
The ranch was originally homesteaded in 1886 and acquired by the current ownership family in 1917. With over a century of continuous family ownership, it has been officially designated as a “Centennial Ranch” by the state of Colorado. This designation underscores its historical significance and legacy status in the Yampa Valley.
The ranch consists of approximately 1,113.48± deeded acres, per survey.
Existing structural improvements include three modest residential homes as well as multiple agricultural support buildings, storage sheds, and barns. The overall infrastructure reflects the property's low overhead-focused operation, supporting its blend of agricultural, recreational, and investment uses.
Water resources are a cornerstone of the Yampa River Ranch. The property benefits from senior irrigation rights dating back to 1892, which serve approximately 120± acres of hay meadow, plus additional irrigated pasture lands. In addition to these rights, the ranch includes water storage rights in two reservoirs and diversion rights from nine natural springs. These historic and ample rights enhance the property’s agricultural and ecological value. All appurtenant water rights are offered with the sale.
Mineral rights include any appurtenant rights owned by the Seller, including the gravel rights associated with the active gravel mining operation currently under lease.
The current year’s property taxes are $5,998.20. The County Assessor’s agricultural property classification results in an extraordinarily low tax rate for a property of this size.
Well known as one of Colorado’s premier trout fisheries, the Yampa River gets its start in the high elevations of the Flat Tops, Gore, and Park mountain ranges surrounding Steamboat Springs. The river grows quickly as it gathers flows from a multitude of feeder streams and creeks. By the time the Yampa flows through the ranch, the river has grown to 40 - 80 feet in width. It is big water, yet is still easily wadable in all but the highest flows during runoff.
The stretch of river on the property measures 1.5± miles in length, plus there is another .85± mile of multiple side channels. The deeded ranch includes both sides of the river in all but one short stretch, where it still includes the north bank. You can fish the entire length from bottom to top without ever leaving the river. This section of the Yampa is very healthy with a cobble streambed, cottonwood and willow-lined banks, and strong aquatic biomass, insect and baitfish populations. The braided side channels provide an uncommon but beneficial natural element that is used by trout for spawning and rearing habitat for juvenile fish, as well as for fish seeking refuge during high water.
On Yampa River Ranch, a very high quality fishery is the result of abundant holding water and a variety of riffles, pools, runs and confluences that consistently produce large wild trout. The river is typically fishable in every season, whether with dry flies, nymphs or streamers. Rainbows and browns are the most common trout, with an occasional whitefish and northern pike.
The cottonwood-lined Yampa River corridor and productive agricultural fields offer prime habitat for a range of wildlife. Species commonly observed on the ranch include mule deer, migratory elk, waterfowl, and raptors. The diversity of ecosystems on the property—from riparian to upland—supports both resident and migratory species throughout the seasons.
Recreational amenities on the ranch include a high-quality private fishery, sporting clays, shooting ranges, and driving ranges. Its proximity to Steamboat Springs further enhances year-round recreational access to skiing, snowboarding, golf, mountain biking, hiking, and fine dining, making it an ideal base for a variety of pursuits.
Yampa River Ranch operates as a low-overhead, multi-revenue ranching property. Agricultural activities include irrigated hay production and cattle grazing, while a commercial lease on an active 62.7± acre gravel pit provides a steady royalty income. Recreational leases for fly-fishing, shooting sports, and driving ranges add to the property's earning potential. Upon completion of gravel extraction, the pit is subject to reclamation by the lessee, maintaining the land’s long-term integrity. This diverse mix of income sources and modest operational expenses position the ranch as a viable long-term hold.
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