As we’ve discussed before, adjacency to public land, such as a National Forest, National Park, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, state land or wilderness areas, adds incredible value to a ranch. Neighboring public lands can give you private access to recreation, increase your operational capacity with the right permits, offer strategic advantages for the sportsman, protect view-sheds for the foreseeable future, and in general, make your deeded property feel infinitely larger. Here are a few of the top properties on the market adjoining public land:
Jack Creek Ranch | Shell, Wyoming – $1,900,000
The Jack Creek Ranch and adjoining Bighorn National Forest offers outstanding opportunities for the outdoor enthusiast, including some of the best big-game hunting in the state, upland bird hunting for blue grouse and sage grouse, horseback riding, hiking, snowmobiling, ATV riding, and wildlife viewing.
Sundance Bench Ranch | Cameron, Montana – $2,450,000
Sundance Bench Ranch is the perfect Montana ranch retreat situated in the coveted Madison Valley. In addition to fly-fishing on the famed Madison River, the property directly adjoins the Beaverhead National Forest and enjoys unprecedented access for hunting and recreation. Directly to the west lie landmarks like Wade Lake, Cliff Lake, and the West Fork of the Madison River – all of which are a short hike right from the ranch.
Singing Elk Ranch | Yampa, Colorado – PRICE JUST REDUCED to $2,995,000
Singing Elk Ranch is set in a pristine alpine environment and directly neighbors the Routt National Forest & Flat Tops Wilderness Area. These vast resources provide an array of recreational pursuits and exploration right out your doorstep.
Kiowa Creek Wildlife Sanctuary | Scottsbluff/Gering, Nebraska – $3,900,000
Kiowa Creek Wildlife Sanctuary is bordered on 3 sides by the Carter Canyon state wildlife area and is managed by the Nature Conservancy and Nebraska Game Fish and Parks. The wildlife area just extends the great diverse opportunities for wildlife viewing, hunting, horseback riding and other recreation. Several thousand more acres of public access lands surround the ranch.
Jeff Gordon’s Coulter Valley Ranch | Carbondale, Colorado – PRICE JUST REDUCED to $8,500,000
This unimproved working/sporting ranch adjoins BLM ground with an associated grazing permit that is also quality hunting ground. This property can be whatever you want it to be – a horse farm, cattle ranch, or recreational getaway/preserve.
Dakan Ranch | Larkspur, Colorado – $8,900,000
Situated between Denver and Colorado Springs near the town of Larkspur, Dakan Ranch represents one of the few front range ranches adjacent to National Forests. This affords the ranch convenient access to amenities, but is unique in its seclusion, scenery and solitude.
Double R Ranch | Walden, Colorado – $13,600,000
Double R Ranch is a historic ranch holding grazing permits on an adjoining 9,700 acres of BLM land and 792 acres of State land. With well maintained improvements that fit the scale and needs of a cattle operation, the ranch currently runs 925 cows.
The Lower Ranch Cross Mountain | Craig, Colorado – $25,000,000
This portion of Cross Mountain Ranch consists of 27,566 deeded acres that adjoin and are intermixed with over 113,000 of acres of Bureau of Land Management and State land, on which they hold grazing permits for sheep and cattle. With significant water resources, the property also adjoins Dinosaur National Monument.
The Cottonwood | Daniel, Wyoming – $30,000,000
The Cottonwood offers 11,138 deeded acres intermixed with over 55,800 of acres of BLM, Forest Service and State lands. A 105-square-mile ranch in one contiguous block adjoining the Bridger-Teton National Forest and the Wyoming Range, this is a sustainable cattle operation with plentiful water and forage, allowing grazing of 24,643 AUMs on the deeded and neighboring public lands.
Wasatch Peaks Ranch | Peterson, Utah – $39,000,000
The ranch, combined with the adjacent National Forest, has a continuous ridgeline of 11 miles that includes 24 peaks, 15 bowls and cirques, plus a 4,600 foot vertical rise. That’s more ski terrain than Vail!
Upper Ranch at Cross Mountain | Hayden, Colorado – $55,000,000
The property borders and has access to hundreds of thousands of acres of public lands including National Forests, Bureau of Land Management, and Colorado State lands. Cross Mountain Ranch leases over 53,000 acres of these lands for livestock operations and recreational purposes. The Upper Ranch borders the Routt National Forest for just under 19 miles providing unlimited opportunities to recreate and explore the Routt and White River National Forests as well as the Flat Tops Wilderness Area.
Here’s a quick video recap for your viewing pleasure: