Porcupine Creek Homestead

Porcupine Creek Homestead is roughly 50 miles northeast of Bozeman and 38 miles from Livingston. Bozeman’s Yellowstone International Airport offers full-service commercial and private air services, while Mission Airfield offers services for private air travelers. The small ranching community of Wilsall lies just ten miles from the property. Accessed off a newly paved county road (Shields River Road), which splits into Porcupine Creek Road, the county-maintained gravel road travels east to a trailhead entering the Crazy Mountains.  

Wilsall is a small ranching community established in 1909 by area ranchers William and Sally Jordan, thus the name “Will-Sal”. Its population of roughly 250 residents has remained relatively static in number over the decades. The community is supported by basic services such as the Bank Bar restaurant, the Mercantile, which offers groceries and local meats, Val’s Diner, a post office, a small school, and fuel. A large granary stands tall against the landscape as a reminder of the days the rail passed through town. True to tradition, a rodeo arena remains on the east side of town, hosting an NRA pro rodeo event each June and a “ranch” rodeo in August, where the area ranchers test their skills against one another in a venue that is nothing short of local!  

Livingston is 30 minutes south of Wilsall. Established in 1882, Livingston became a hub for the Northern Pacific Railroad, and to date, it remains an important part of the area’s commerce. Livingston is also a gateway city to the north entrance of Yellowstone Park, located an hour south. A growing population of roughly 9,000 residents is made up of a melting pot of fishing guides, writers, artists, actors, and area ranchers. Livingston thrives on tourism, and the historic downtown district is well-preserved and charming. Most notable is the Livingston Round Up, which is a week-long rodeo event kicked off by a parade and centered around the 4th of July. This pro rodeo event is considered one of the greatest rodeo events in the country, with the best riders, the best rodeo stock, and one of the most scenic venues imaginable.  The town offers a full spectrum of services, boutique shopping, and outstanding restaurants. Interstate 90 passes through town and is a major east-to-west travel way. The fabled Yellowstone River courses through the center of town, emerging from the park and Paradise Valley to the south, traveling north before turning easterly, passing entirely across the state of Montana before its confluence with the Missouri near the North Dakota border. It remains the longest unaltered river in America and attracts anglers globally.  

Bozeman is located roughly 30 miles southwest of Wilsall. It is the hub of the region, with a large airport and a lively “city” of 54,000 residents. Bozeman was established around Montana State University and today offers a wide array of events, a historically preserved downtown district, and a volume of quality restaurants. Bozeman is a full-service town with virtually any service or amenity one might desire.  

Notable is that traveling north from Livingston or even east from Bozeman, the lands quickly become rural. Subdivisions wane, and the lands in the upper Shields Valley become part of a larger agricultural landscape where land holdings are typically large, preserving the integrity of the valley. As someone stated long ago, “rural Montana is where real people live”. 

The property resides at an elevation of just over 6,000 feet. The west side of the valley, where Porcupine Creek Homestead is located, receives abundant precipitation throughout the year, maintaining the lush landscape. Elevation plays a role in the lush landscape as the typically cooler weather at elevation is not only quite pleasant to live in but also maintains a green landscape well into late summer. It is common to find summer temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to mid-80s throughout most of the summer, with the heat of August often approaching or exceeding the 90-degree level. Springs are often cool and wet as the region bounces between winter and summer before finding equilibrium and long days of sunshine. Winter generally arrives in December with short days and temperatures that often drop below zero, which continue through January as snow levels increase. Mid-to-late winter months can often become relatively mild, but often with the milder temperatures, snow levels increase substantially as winter storms blow through. Fall is one of the best times of year. As Montana reaches into September, the summer heat resides, and the nights become cool again. As the days shorten, the fall colors are triggered, and valley rain showers become more abundant, often leaving the mountains with a dusting of snow, contrasting against the brilliant fall color. Regardless of the time of year, the relative humidity in Montana is low. During the coldest of winter days in the sun, or the warmest of summer in the shade, most find it comfortable to be outside.  

As previously mentioned, the original 2,000± square foot Victorian-style house was constructed in the late 1800s. The farmhouse was ideally sited to absorb the views of both the Bridger and Crazy Mountain ranges, yet nestled amongst the valley lands to provide protection from the elements. After purchasing the property in 2005, the current owners desired to restore the original house to its period. Discovering a multitude of structural issues, they determined that it would be best suited to tear the structure down and replicate it to its original form. This two-level, two-bedroom, one-and-a-half bathroom home is elegant in its vernacular and furnishings. The second floor comprises two bedrooms with a nice sitting area doubling as an office and a large bathroom complete with a walk-in shower and a jetted tub. Ground-level porches and elevated balconies bring the outside in and absorb the surrounding views with the added advantage of facing the southwest and northeast, respectively, which brings advantage to the prevailing winds, naturally cooling the house in the evenings after even the hottest summer days.

The lower level has a comfortable living area open to the dining area. A functional, efficient kitchen with custom cabinetry adjoins the dining area and adjacent half bath and laundry area. The front entrance, enclosed by a porch, enters a small, open mudroom area with the second-level stairs extending towards the center of the house. Hickory flooring runs throughout the entirety of the house. The modernized touches include copper gutters and metal roofing over the porches. An outdoor patio and fire pit extend off the dining area with large, mature trees and landscape enveloping the site while still providing views of the surrounding mountains. An old wooden granary was preserved as a remnant of the days long past. The stone patio flows out to this structure, and landscaping continues beyond. The adjacent pond adds to the serenity literally within steps of the residence. Ducks and geese nest there, rearing their young through the spring and summer months.  

The 3,920± square foot heated barn is dual in purpose and first-rate for equestrian enthusiasts. The lower level offers six 12’x12’ stalls for horses, a tack room, a bathroom with a dog wash area, and a volume of storage space that hosts equipment such as a tractor and John Deere Gator UTV, which are included in the sale. Each stall has one-inch-thick rubber lock-padded mats atop a 12-inch-high graduated field of stone and crushed stone for urine drainage away from the mats, as well as stall drains, one per stall, that drain well outside the barn. There is also a wash stall area with padded rubber flooring and walls with a similar drain system. A 16-foot-wide aisle allows equipment to be driven through for ease and convenience.

Internal stairs lead up to a 1,800± square foot loft apartment. This two-bedroom, one bathroom dwelling is finished to the same degree as the main house, complete with hardwood flooring, custom cabinetry, and countertops. A comfortable living area, large enough to include a dining area, contains a bar-top seating area to the kitchen, complete with modern appliances. The apartment also includes a laundry room.  

Adjacent to the horse barn is an oversized two-stall heated garage used to store vehicles, which is large enough for additional storage.  

Both the main house and barn have their own well and septic systems. The barn septic was designed to accommodate up to a 5,000 square foot residence in the general vicinity of the barn and overlooking the lower pond, should a larger main residence be considered. A site feasibility study was conducted, concluding that the selected site was located outside of the 100-year floodplain.

There are approximately 300,000 water rights on file with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC). In general terms, a water right allows water to be used in a prescribed manner while the state maintains the ownership of the resource itself. Water rights in Montana have defined attributes, including source, flow rate, volume, priority date, point of diversion from the source, allowable place of use, and purpose of use, such as livestock water or irrigation water for crop production. Water rights holders must use the water in accordance with the parameters of their water rights. One key attribute of water rights in Montana is the priority date. Montana operates under the prior appropriation system, under which the most senior rights have priority to receive their water in times of water supply shortages. This concept is often referred to as “first in time, first in right.”

Water rights with priority dates senior to 1973 go through the court adjudication process. Water use that began after 1973 goes through a permitting process through the state agency, the DNRC. Over the past few decades, the State of Montana has been undergoing a statewide adjudication process to verify the parameters of the pre-1973 senior water rights. This adjudication process is anticipated to take many more years, if not decades. Due to the ongoing adjudication process and the impact of historical water use on the validity of the claims, water rights are typically transferred without warranty. Water rights in Montana are complex, and landowners should always solicit professional advice regarding their individual claims.

Irrigation claims are diverted out of Horse Camp Ditch from the Shields River several miles upstream. Stock water is abundant from the ditch and the variety of springs throughout the lower part of the property.

There are domestic wells with high-quality water for both the barn and the main house.   

Filed claims for the stock, domestic, and irrigation water claims can be delivered upon request. 

Annual property taxes are approximately $10,300 based on 2024 tax estimates.

In addition to the agricultural nature of the valley, it is also a recreational paradise. The valley is loaded with wildlife, including game and non-game species alike. The valley most notably hosts large herds of elk and whitetail deer. It also has an abundance of moose that are more regularly seen in the fall months during the rut. Upland birds, primarily Hungarian partridge, are also in abundance throughout the valley. Black bear are commonly seen during the fall months when the chokecherries are ripe and mule deer and antelope are also abundant.  

Fishing is also a main attraction for the valley and the region. Southwest Montana is touted as having some of the best fly fishing in the world. Within an hour’s drive, some of the finest waters the region offers are to be experienced, including the fabled Yellowstone River. A multitude of smaller streams provide quality fishing opportunities on lesser-known waterways. The Shields River is within view of the homestead. Although it courses primarily through long stretches of private land, Montana’s stream access laws provide public entry from dedicated sites or public byway crossings where anglers can respectfully enter the river, staying within the ordinary high-water mark. The river is off the beaten path and is somewhat rare to encounter other anglers while fishing. Shields River Road continues past the property entrance for more than ten miles before entering the national forest. The river continues well into the public lands to its upper elevated origins. There is quality fishing throughout the entirety of the river, primarily for native cutthroat trout. In addition to the river, there is a multitude of high mountain lakes that offer quality fishing for adventurous anglers. 

Several years ago, a picturesque one-acre trout pond was thoughtfully developed on the property, enhancing the property's natural beauty and recreational charm. Licensed to stock native Yellowstone Cutthroat trout, the pond complements this serene setting. A spacious dock was constructed, providing not only a relaxing spot to unwind, but also an elevated platform ideal for fly fishing. 

Backcountry adventures are endless. In addition to the Shields River Road, Porcupine Creek Road dead ends at a trailhead providing convenient access into the Crazy Mountains. The “Crazies,” as they are referred to, is an “island” mountain range 60 miles long by 40 miles wide, complete with many peaks over 10,000 feet in elevation and complemented by countless alpine lakes. Adventurers can enjoy anything from day hikes to multi-day pack trips on horses through spectacular scenery. In addition, the Bridger Mountains are 20 minutes east, the Absarokas and the associated Beartooth Wilderness begin 30 minutes south, and Yellowstone Park's north entrance at Gardiner is just a 90-minute drive.  

For winter sports enthusiasts, Bridger Bowl Ski Area is just a 40-minute drive from the homestead. Bridger Bowl is a non-profit community ski area that is local in nature. It offers a variety of quality skiing and experiences that separate it from the resort vibe. The skiable terrain offers everything from beginner slopes to fast groomers, tree skiing, and, most notably, its extreme terrain that challenges even the most expert skiers. Adjacent to Bridger Bowl is the Crosscut Mountain Sports Center, which provides superior Nordic skiing.   

Porcupine Creek Homestead is ideally suited and intended for the use of horses. The property is bound by wooden rail fencing and internal pasture fencing. Two similarly sized irrigated hay fields measuring roughly 25 and 24 acres, respectively, are currently cultivated into a grass/alfalfa hay mix and leased to an area operator who dutifully cares for them. Crop alternatives could include cereal grains, sainfoin, or other similar crops.