Trent came to Hall and Hall in the spring of 2003 after spending eight years with The Idaho Nature Conservancy where, as Lands Program Director, he was responsible for overseeing the chapter’s real estate activity around the state. Trent also served as the Conservancy’s field representative for central Idaho where he worked with local communities and landowners to preserve working ranchlands and resolve natural resource conflicts. He became a partner of Hall and Hall in March 2004 and holds real estate licenses in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. A native of Virginia, Trent graduated from Woodberry Forest School and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Hampden-Sydney College. Trent and his wife, Cecile, moved west to Idaho in 1994. Enjoyment of the outdoors is evident in Trent’s dedication to fly-fishing and upland bird hunting. Trent maintains strong ties to the southeast and is a trustee of The Duke Endowment based in Charlotte, NC and a committee member of the Josiah Charles Trent Memorial Foundation in Durham, NC. He is a current board member of the Idaho Rural Health Association and past president of the board of directors for the Wood River Land Trust and was an original board member of the Blaine County Land, Water, and Wildlife Program. Trent and Cecile have two children, a son Parker and a daughter Airey.
Featuring 1,442± deeded acres, over two miles of national forest boundary, and multiple creeks and streams, including approximately one mile of Grand Ronde River frontage, Ronde River Ranch is a premier agricultural, sporting, and lifestyle property that represents the best of the Inland Northwest. The ranch is set in the heart of the Blue Mountains encompassing its own tranquil valley 15 minutes west of the attractive college town of La Grande, an hour from Pendleton, Oregon, home of the world-famous Pendleton Round-Up, and two and a half hours from Boise, Idaho, and its first-rate commercial airport.
Residential and agricultural improvements on the property are of the highest quality and blend functional excellence with aesthetic appeal. The main building compound is situated at the entrance to the ranch along State Highway 244 and features a beautifully crafted three-bedroom farmhouse with a separate garage and ranch office, a large, heated shop and equipment storage building, a well-preserved, historic loft barn, open-sided horse barn with pipe stalls, saddle barn with a remodeled studio apartment, and an excellent set of covered cattle working facilities that emphasize efficiency and safety. A lovely three-bedroom guest home sits adjacent to the ranch’s outdoor riding arena and offers expansive views across the ranch from its private, elevated location.
Ronde River Ranch is home to a diverse and verdant landscape highlighted by irrigated meadows, native grasslands, stands of ponderosa pine, and lush riparian areas that support livestock as well as a host of resident wildlife, including impressive numbers of Rocky Mountain elk. Utilizing excellent water rights and a well-maintained pressurized irrigation system with five center pivots and wheel line sprinklers, the ranch offers tremendous operational flexibility and can be managed for a variety of purposes, from cow-calf or purebred operations to seasonal grazing and hay sales.
The ranch lies within the highly coveted Starkey-52 wildlife management unit and based on its size qualifies for up to three landowner preference tags for available big game hunts. Flowing for over 200 miles from the Blue Mountains to its confluence with the Snake River, the Grande Ronde River is one of the state’s most beloved waterways and provides important habitat for rainbow trout, bull trout, and runs of summer steelhead and spring and fall Chinook salmon.
Ronde River Ranch is an impeccably improved and meticulously maintained agricultural, sporting, and lifestyle property that epitomizes the finest attributes of the Inland Northwest. The ranch encompasses approximately 1,442 deeded, contiguous acres and includes an adjoining US Forest grazing allotment consisting of about 100 acres at the northeast end of the property. The ranch is home to a diverse and verdant landscape highlighted by irrigated meadows, native grasslands, forested uplands, and lush stream corridors that support livestock as well as a host of resident wildlife
State Highway 244 crosses the northern end of the ranch and provides convenient, year-round access from La Grande and Interstate 84. Approximately 280 acres lie north of the highway and consist of sprinkler-irrigated hay fields and pasture, sub-irrigated meadows, timbered rangelands, and willow and cotton-wood-lined riparian areas. One of the ranch’s three irrigation wells is located in this section along with an associated pump house and large hay shed. Additionally, this part of the ranch encompasses approximately one mile of the Grand Ronde River along with one mile of lower Bear Creek, including its confluence with the Grand Ronde. In the 1960s, the lower reaches of Bear Creek were channelized to improve drainage for hay production and pasture. More recently, a restoration project initiated by state, tribal, and federal agencies revitalized lower Bear Creek, transforming it from a straightened channel into a meandering, naturally functioning stream with greatly enhanced fish and wildlife habitat and water quality.
The balance of the ranch lies south of Highway 244 and features the residential improvements and main ranch buildings as well as the remaining two irrigation wells that service the ranch. This section features productive sprinkler-irrigated hayfields, rolling grasslands, timbered uplands, and brushy riparian areas associated with Bear Creek and Jordan Creek and several other season drainages. From the highway, one immediately enters the ranch compound consisting of the main home, shop buildings, barns, cattle-handling facilities, and corral areas. A recently constructed guest home, situated beyond the ranch compound in a private, elevated setting, offers stunning views across vivid green irrigated meadows that attract elk and other wildlife. Whether watching the fog lift from dew-covered meadows, listening to elk bugling as they head toward timber-cover, or stargazing under the darkest of night skies, the guest home enhances the ranch experience and promises unforgettable memories for all who visit.
Ranches in the upper Grande Ronde Valley seldom come to market and often remain in family ownership for generations. Ronde River Ranch represents a unique opportunity to own a highly productive property with first-rate improvements and exceptional recreational and lifestyle amenities in one the of the region’s more desirable and tightly held areas.
Ronde River Ranch lies in the foothills of the Blue Mountains, approximately 15 minutes northwest of La Grande (population 13,100), the county seat for Union County and home to Eastern Oregon University. La Grande is a vibrant, mid-sized community that offers a full range of services and amenities, including high quality healthcare at La Grande Hospital and Regional Medical Clinic, and an excellent, jet-capable general aviation airport, La Grande/Union County Airport. The ranch is accessed from La Grande and Interstate 84 via State Highway 244, an all-season, two-lane road crossing the north end of the property. Pendleton, the commercial hub for northeastern Oregon and home to the world-famous Pendleton Round-Up rodeo event, is an hour’s drive northwest of the ranch. Pendleton features an excellent airport that is supported by multiple fixed-base operators and as well as a small commercial carrier, Boutique Air, that provides daily round-trip flights to Portland International Airport. Only 25 minutes in length, these brief flights otherwise eliminate the need to make the four-hour drive between the ranch and Portland. Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco, Washington is an excellent small regional airport two hours northwest of the ranch offering direct flights to ten western cities. Boise, Idaho, and its metropolitan area are two and a half hours southeast of the ranch and home to the area’s largest airport with 28 non-stop flights to cities across the US.
The Grande Ronde Valley, home to the community of La Grande, is distinguished by its stunning natural beauty, rich history, diverse recreational opportunities, and robust farming and ranching sector. Once known as Copi Copi, or “Valley of Peace,” by indigenous peoples, the valley is renowned for its fertile soil and picturesque farmlands framed by the Blue Mountains to the west, the Wallowa Mountains to the east, and the Elkhorn Mountains to the south. The Grande Ronde River and its tributaries are vital to the valley, providing essential irrigation water for the area’s farms and ranches, offering world-class fishing and floating opportunities, and supporting important habitat for a host of native fish species, including runs of salmon and steelhead. Spanning almost two-and-a-half million acres in the northeastern corner of Oregon and western Idaho, the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest surrounds the valley and plays a critical role in the local culture and economy, providing livestock grazing, forest products, wildlife habitat, and year-round recreational opportunities. With landscapes packed with rugged canyonlands, forested backcountry, and high mountain lakes, this diverse national forest truly offers something for everyone, from hiking, camping and boating to downhill skiing and winter sports at Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort 45 minutes south of La Grande. The area's heritage, rooted in Native American traditions and early European settlement, is celebrated through various cultural events and festivals. La Grande, which hosts Eastern Oregon University, benefits from a vibrant academic and cultural scene, while its small-town charm, with local shops and community events, adds to its appeal. Located along Interstate 84, the valley offers easy access to larger cities regional cities while maintaining a low-key, rural atmosphere.
Elevations range from approximately 3,000 feet at the north end of the ranch along the Grand Ronde River to approximately 3,400 feet at the southern boundary of the property. The area features a humid continental climate with sunny and dry summers, cold winters, and four distinct seasons. In the summer months, temperatures usually reach well into the 80s with low humidity, while winters tend to be cold and snowy with temperatures ranging from the mid-20s to mid-30s. Spring and fall are milder seasons with temperatures ranging from the 40s to 60s. Precipitation is highest during the winter months, while summer tends to be quite dry with only occasional light showers or thunderstorms. Total annual rainfall in the area is approximately 18 inches.
Ronde River Ranch consists of 1,442 deeded acres, more or less, plus an associated US Forest Service allotment of approximately 100 acres.
A defining feature of Ronde River Ranch is the exceptional quality of the building improvements. Over the past several years, the current owners have either replaced or significantly upgraded each of the major structures on the property, achieving a level of quality rarely seen on ranches of this type. The attention to detail is evident in the outstanding craftsmanship of the main residence and guest home as well as the ranch's operational facilities.
Main Residence: Constructed in 2023, the charming craftsman-style main residence is located on the site of the original farmhouse at the ranch entrance and seamlessly blends traditional aesthetics with modern conveniences and sensibilities. The home features approximately 3,330 square feet on two stories with three bedrooms, two and half bathrooms, a spacious kitchen with an attached dining room, an office, and an open living room. The main staircase leads from the entryway upstairs to a den with large windows overlooking the ranch, where a telescope and binoculars are placed next to comfortable chairs for viewing wildlife and quiet reflection. The hallway leads to two guest bedrooms that share a “Jack and Jill” bathroom, while the master bedroom, located at the end of the hallway, boasts a vaulted ceiling with recessed airflow and lighting. The master bedroom also includes a generously sized master bathroom and walk-in closet. The main residence also features a large, two-car garage with a half-bathroom and an office on the second floor. A breezeway that doubles as a covered porch on hot summer days provides direct access to the garage from the main floor of the residence.
Guest Home: Also constructed in 2023, the contemporary-style guest residence is located beyond the ranch compound in a private, elevated setting bordered by a grove of ponderosa pines. Offering wonderful views to the south across the ranch’s irrigated meadows and timberlands, this home could easily serve as the property’s primary residence. Designed around a spacious, open floorplan, the guest home features three bedrooms, three bathrooms, kitchen, dining room, and living area. The third bedroom and bathroom are located on the second floor of the home. Depending on one’s interests, this space could instead serve as a recreation or cinema room. Additionally, the guest home includes an attached, two-car garage.
Main Shop/Storage Building: The main shop building at Ronde River Ranch is among the finest we have seen. Built in 2022, the main shop consists of approximately 5,200 square feet and features a concrete front apron and oversized, roll-up doors enabling easy access and ample storage for large pieces of equipment. This heated, well-lit facility also includes a large vet room, full bathroom, laundry area, kitchen, and storage loft. The ranch’s fuel tanks are conveniently located here as well.
Historic Barn: Constructed around 1918, the loft barn, sitting opposite of the main residence, is the ranch’s signature structure and a well-known landmark for anyone traveling along Highway 244. The barn consists of approximately 6,500 square feet and been well-maintained by the owners. It is currently used for tool and equipment storage as well as nighttime calving.
Other Ranch Improvements: The property features a host of other structures essential to ranch operations. These include:
Ronde River Ranch benefits from an abundance of surface and subterranean water and is as close to being “drought proof” as one would find. The Grande Ronde River, Bear Creek, and Jordan Creek are year-round streams crossing the ranch, plus the property features multiple seasonal creeks and developed livestock and wildlife ponds. For irrigation water, the ranch holds a permit from the State of Oregon (G-18808) to irrigate up to 290.8 acres from March 1 through October 31 utilizing three on-site wells. The permit allows for a maximum diversion rate of two and a half cubic feet per second and a volume, or “duty,” of three-acre feet per acre for a total of 872.2-acre feet annually.
All mineral rights appurtenant to the property and owned by the Seller will convey to the new owner at closing.
Annual property taxes are approximately $10,465.
Ronde River Ranch offers excellent fishing and hunting. With a mile of both sides of the Grande Ronde River, one can enjoy year-round fishing for resident rainbow trout and seasonal fishing for steelhead when these ocean-going fish migrate into the upper Ronde during the late winter.
The ranch is situated within the Starkey-52 wildlife management unit, which is renowned for its large elk herds. Because of its size, the ranch qualifies for up to three landowner preference tags. Surrounded by thousands of acres of national forest and other large, deeded properties, the ranch attracts hundreds of elk through the season as well as an array of other wildlife, including deer, mountain lions, black bears, forest grouse, sandhill cranes, waterfowl, and migratory songbirds.
Blessed with outstanding water and grazing resources, Ronde River Ranch offers tremendous operational flexibility and can be managed for a various purposes and outcomes, from cow-calf or purebred operations to seasonal grazing and hay sales, with stocking rates adjusted accordingly to meet one’s goals. Currently, the owners of Ronde River Ranch manage the ranch themselves, raising hay and maintaining their small cattle herd and personal horses.
I have purchased four ranches through Hall and Hall over the past 20 years.
I have purchased four ranches through Hall and Hall over the past 20 years, and there is simply no other team in the world like them. They have navigated complexity, professionally attended to every detail, operated with fairness and integrity, and demonstrated an unwavering commitment to me–...
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