One of the finest combinations of exceptional privacy, live water, wildlife, and year-round access ever offered in the Mountain West, the Crystal Creek Ranch is located one hour from Steamboat Springs in the majestic Williams Fork River basin of northwest Colorado. This 3,460-acre legacy ranch boasts over seven miles of pristine live water and is surrounded by the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest and BLM on three sides. The ranch is home to North America’s largest elk herd which is drawn in by the lush grassy meadows and the South Fork of the Williams Fork River which bisects the heart of the ranch for more than three miles. Owned by the same family since 1934, the Crystal Creek Ranch stands alone as an unrivaled legacy ranch and an incredible investment opportunity.
One of the finest combinations of exceptional privacy, live water, wildlife and year-round access ever offered in the Mountain West, the Crystal Creek Ranch is located one hour from Steamboat Springs in the majestic Williams Fork River basin of northwest Colorado.
This 3,460-acre legacy ranch boasts over seven miles of pristine live water and is surrounded by the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest and BLM on three sides. As you enter the lower portion of the ranch at 7,200 feet in elevation, towering Cottonwood’s line the South Fork of the Williams Fork River. The ranch continues to climb in elevation to 9,200 feet where you become surrounded by a magnificent high-country setting.
The ranch is home to North America’s largest elk herd which is drawn in by the lush grassy meadows surrounded by Conifer and Aspen stands, and the South Fork of the Williams Fork River which bisects the heart of the ranch for more than three miles. Numerous streams that originate on the adjacent 1,000,000+ acres of National Forest traverse the ranch and supply significant historical water rights that irrigate over 200 acres of grass meadows.
Locale
Crystal Creek is within one hour of world class skiing, golf, mountain biking, boutique shopping, resorts, fine dining and medical care in Steamboat Springs, and 45 minutes from the Yampa Valley Regional Airport which provides private FBO services and direct flights to numerous US cities. It is also located approximately 45 minutes from the quaint town of Craig with its small-town conveniences including grocery, restaurants, hotels and medical care.
Climate
The region is known for its beautiful summer weather with high temperatures reaching into the 80s, and its fairly cold winters with lots of snowfall and low temperatures reaching into the single digits. Regardless of the time of year, sunny days prevail a large part of the time.
Improvements
A county-maintained road provides year-round access and dead-ends at the lower portion of the ranch where two homes and two cabins are located along the river, as well as corrals and several vintage outbuildings. There is also one additional cabin located on the 290-acre National Forest inholding portion of the ranch. Several other potential building sites are located throughout the ranch.
Location
The ranch is in the Williams Fork River Basin of northwest Colorado, between the towns of Steamboat Springs and Craig. Easy year-round access to the ranch is provided by US Highway 40 or State Highway 13, and other county-maintained roads. The ranch straddles the South Fork of the Williams Fork River, nine miles south of the main stem of the Williams Fork River.
History
This area of northwest Colorado has a rich history of folks who homesteaded in the 1800s in search of a better life. The current owners have resided here for generations since 1934 and have poured their lives into refining the legacy that the ranch is today.
Recreation
Year-round recreational opportunities abound on the Crystal Creek Ranch. The ranch borders the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest for over seven miles. There are many miles of trails throughout that can be utilized for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, ATV touring, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. There are even some possibilities for rock climbing, if one so chooses.
Hunting
The ranch is in Game Management Unit 12 which offers over the counter bull elk hunting tags. The ranch also qualifies for landowner buck tags. The largest elk herd in North America, the White River herd, frequents the ranch and provides some fantastic hunting and viewing opportunities.
Fishing
With over seven miles of live water traversing the ranch via six streams and a river, wild trout can be found in numerous locations. The South Fork of the Williams Fork River flows through the center of the ranch for over three miles and could easily be enhanced to create an even more incredible cold-water fishery.
Ranch Operations
The Crystal Creek Ranch is currently being utilized for summer cattle grazing, commercial big game hunting, and horseback riding. The ranch currently leases an additional 859 adjacent acres of BLM lands with 193 AUMs of associated grazing. All historical water rights will convey with the sale, the current property taxes are $4,322 and the ranch is not encumbered by any conservation easements.
Investment Value
The current ranch market in Colorado has demonstrated strong demand for unique, private, well located ranches with significant water and wildlife resources, that are priced appropriately. The Crystal Creek Ranch checks all the boxes with incredible water and wildlife resources, unlimited recreational opportunities, end of the road privacy, year-round access, modest improvements and an incredible location. This is a very rare offering providing the opportunity to own one of the most desirable ranches in the Mountain West that will always remain a fantastic investment for future generations.
