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 approximately 50 miles 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 approximately 3.5 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 only approx. 50 miles from world class skiing, golf, mountain biking, boutique shopping, resorts, fine dining and medical care in Steamboat Springs, and 30 miles from the Yampa Valley Regional Airport which provides private FBO services and direct flights to numerous US cities. It is also located approximately 35 miles 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.