Carter Creek Ranch

The Carter Creek Ranch is an ideal Colorado mountain ranch offering prime sporting and agricultural values with easy accessibility. The ranch lies directly off of US Highway 40, just 13 miles north of the town of Kremmling – known as the “Sportsman’s capital of Colorado.”  Denver is less than a two hour drive, while Steamboat Springs is just 45 minutes north and the Winter Park/Granby area is under an hour’s drive southeast. The ranch consists of approximately 880 acres of deeded land and also has a grazing lease on 1,390 adjacent acres of BLM and 380 acres of State land. The property is characterized by rolling native grass and sagebrush hillsides, protected creek bottoms and draws, and lush green meadows.  The ranch directly neighbors the 11,500-acre Carter Mountain State Trust Lands, affording trophy hunting, fishing, horseback riding, and other recreational opportunities for the outdoor enthusiast. Carter Creek meanders its way for over a mile through the length of the property and has historic water rights to support a 2+/- acre pond, and approximately 140+/- acres under irrigation.

Carter Creek Ranch features a craft-built log main home that is uniquely situated atop a hillside for stunning views of the surrounding valley, Whiteley Peak to the north, and Wolford Mountain Reservoir and the Gore Mountain Range to the south. The ranch also has a comfortable manager’s home located by the headquarters shop and is well appointed with equestrian and livestock handling facilities.

State Lease Disclosure

The Carter Creek Ranch lies in Middle Park, a high and narrow basin in north-central Colorado that surrounds the headwaters of the Colorado River. Situated on the western edge of the valley, the property overlooks Muddy Creek, Wolford Mountain Reservoir, Whiteley Peak, and the Gore Range. Backing up to thousands of acres of State land, BLM and adjoining National Forest, the property is practically surrounded by public land and wide open spaces. The ranch’s BLM grazing allotment adjoins the property on the southern end and a state lease connects with the property on the northern side.

Elevations on the ranch range from 7,500 to 8,000 feet and reach higher as you wind your way up into the Carter Mountain State Land to the east. The deeded acreage features rolling hillsides, and draws and bends carved by Carter Creek that runs for over a mile through the ranch from the eastern edge of the property down to the western border. There are dramatic sandstone bluffs and rock outcroppings that overlook and protect two large swales that serve as lush irrigated pasture. A 2-acre pond sits in the middle of the property that adds a wonderful aesthetic value, and the rolling irrigated hay meadow overlooks the ranch from the north.

Climate

• Rainfall (in.): 12.0
• Snowfall (in.): 50.2
• Precipitation Days: 86
• Sunny Days: 249
• Avg. July High (deg F): 81
• Avg. Jan. Low (deg F): -1

Improvements

Carter Creek Ranch includes a log home with 3-bedrooms and 2 ½-baths. This main residence is situated atop a hillside for stunning views of the surrounding valley, Wolford Mountain Reservoir and the distant Gore Mountain Range to the south, and Whiteley Peak to the north. The house is well appointed and features a game room, 2-car garage, a wrap-around deck, and sun garden.

The ranch also has a 3-bed 2-bath manager’s home that is very clean and well maintained. A stone’s throw from the manager’s house is a two-car detached storage garage. A large equipment shed/barn support equine and livestock activities and are complete with corrals, chutes, scales, and a calving barn.

Location

Carter Creek Ranch is located just 13 miles north of the town of Kremmling on the east side of Highway 40. Another 45 minutes north of the ranch is Steamboat Springs, and Granby is less than an hour away. The property is easily accessible year-round via Highway 40, and driving to the ranch from Denver takes just about 2 hours.

Hunting

Hunting on the ranch and in the adjacent Carter Mountain State Trust Lands (STL) presents an opportunity to harvest trophy elk and mule deer. The Middle Carter (Gunsight) STL neighbors the property to the north and to the east and can be accessed from the ranch. This area is known for producing quality bull elk and big buck mule deer. Upland game can also be hunted in this area. Hunting in the STL is open annually from September 1^st to the end of February.

Horses

The Carter Creek Ranch is well suited for equestrian operations. Miles of trails can be found right off the property and meander their way through the STL area, BLM, and National Forest lands for endless trail riding opportunity. A heated barn, corrals, and irrigated pastures support horses and the horse enthusiast.

Fishing

Though there isn’t any fishing directly on the ranch itself, there is fantastic fishing in the surrounding area on the Colorado River, Blue River, Muddy Creek, Williams Fork, and Fraser River, just to name a few. Additionally, the ranch holds the exclusive water rights on the Parsons and Dietrich Reservoirs, which are teeming with wild cutthroat trout and are closed to the public.

Recreation

Other recreation includes alpine skiing at nearby Winter Park or Steamboat Springs ski resorts, snowmobiling throughout thousands of acres of public land, ATV’ing, hiking, and golf.

Ranch Operations

Carter Creek Ranch works very well as a standalone cattle operation, or in conjunction with larger ranch holdings. The ranch is complete with livestock handling facilities, and can support a small herd year-round with supplemental feeding.

As a standalone operation, the ranch can support around 80-100 pair year-round. Nearby and adjoining leases from private parties are being utilized by the present owner, which increases the carrying capacity up to approximately 300 pair. Contact the listing broker for more information.

The ranch features about 140 acres of productive irrigated meadow.

Water Rights

Carter Creek Ranch enjoys the entire 104 acre-feet of water rights from the 9-acre Parsons Reservoir, which flows from a head gate through Carter Creek onto the ranch. A well-maintained network of irrigation ditches then delivers water throughout the ranch. Several springs and wells also help support operations on the ranch.

Leases

The BLM grazing allotment is rated at 105 AUM’s for May 18^th thru July 1^st every year. The 1,390 acre allotment is divided into a north and south pasture and these are rotated every year, leaving one to rest and one to graze.

A State of Colorado Agricultural lease of 380 acres is rated at 81 AUM’s. 363 acres is dedicated to grazing, while approx. 20 acres is dedicated to the irrigated hay meadow.

State Lease Disclosure