Manzanares Creek Ranch - Colorado, Huerfano County, Red Wing

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The ranch is located along the upper stretches of the Huerfano River and the Wet Mountain Valley. This picturesque high mountain valley is between the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the west and the Wet Mountains to the east. The valley provides a unique mixture of working ranches and stunning views of the Sangre de Cristo Range, which is the longest range in Colorado and contains ten named 14,000 foot peaks. The property itself contains extremely attractive scenery with views of aspen woodlands, dense forest, and open meadows rich with native grasses and wildflowers. The ranch possesses the visual and aesthetic characteristics of rugged mountains, pristine natural forests, and traditional western ranches.

There are currently no structural improvements on the ranch providing a clean slate for future owners to personalize the property however they like. The property is perimeter fenced and does have an internal network of ranch roads with a bridge over the Huerfano River.


Manzanares Creek Ranch is situated at the base of Blanca Peak in the Sangre de Cristo Range in south central Colorado. This 520 acre private ranch with sweeping views is comprised of a mixture of timbered mountainsides and tree lined river bottom. This ranch is one of the few large privately owned parcels in the Upper Huerfano River Valley. Elevations on the ranch range from approximately 8,350' to 9,600'. From Interstate 25 take exit 52 at Walsenburg and go west on State Highway 69 25 miles to Gardner then 12 miles to Redwing. From Redwing take Huerfano County Road 580 a few miles to the ranch entrance. The ranch is located approximately 3 hours from Denver, 1 1/2 hours from Colorado Springs and Taos and 3 hours from Santa Fe.


The area is rich in scenic beauty and unique history dating back to the Comanche and Ute Indians as well as the Spanish Conquistadors who named the Sangre de Cristo (“Blood of Christ”) mountain range. The Sangres are one of the longest mountain chains on earth with ten peaks over 14,000 feet high and over two dozen rising 13,000 feet. This area was once part of an original Spanish land grant that stretched to Kansas and contained over 4 million acres. A portion of this land grant, which includes the Forbes Trinchera Ranch is still intact and encompasses a substantial portion of the range to the south. The valley provides a unique mixture of working ranches while also retaining its Hispanic heritage which dates back over 150 years.


Because they contain few commercially valuable mineral deposits and because the main routes of civilization lie elsewhere, this area has changed little from the days of the Spanish Empire which once ruled the area. There is a relative absence of the mining pits, tailings ponds, ski trails, and asphalt highways so evident elsewhere in Colorado. Much of the surrounding National Forest is essentially roadless and in pristine natural condition, providing outstanding wildlife habitat and backcountry recreational opportunities to thousands of acres of National Forest system land.


Average annual precipitation: 36.0 inches
January temperature: High: 45 Low: 10
July temperature: High: 85 Low 52
Days of Sunshine per year: 300+