Evans Ridge Ranch

Evans Ridge Ranch is one of the few remaining private holdings in a landscape defined by conservation and exclusivity, with convenient access to the Denver Metro Area. The ranch encompasses 643 acres, with historical provenance dating back to Colorado’s second territorial governor, John Evans. Set beneath Mt. Blue Sky and Vance Peak, the property ranges from 8,500 to 9,800 feet in elevation. It features classic alpine terrain—timbered ridges, open meadows, rugged draws, and the year-round waters of Corral Creek, which attract elk, deer, moose, and other native wildlife. A conservation easement protects the land while generously allowing for three additional residential sites.  A rustic cabin and idyllic barn sit in an aspen-ringed meadow, offering a glimpse into the ranch’s early use and longstanding stewardship. Surrounded by protected lands, end-of-the-road privacy, and adjacent to the exclusive Evans Ranch and National Forest, this is a secluded retreat, with private access, in one of the most storied and conservation-minded corners of Colorado’s Front Range, just minutes from Evergreen and about an hour from Denver.

Evans Ridge Ranch is listed in conjunction with the Upper Bear Headwaters Ranch. The properties are offered for sale individually, although they are currently owned and managed together. 

Overview

Evans Ridge Ranch offers end-of-the-road privacy in the seclusion of the Colorado foothills. The property’s location is highly desirable, providing a sense of isolation while still being just a 20-minute drive from Evergreen and about an hour from Denver. The pastoral drive from Evergreen along Bear Creek leads to this private gated ranch community.. Upon entering the property, you arrive at the barn and cabin in an open meadow dotted with aspen groves adjoining Corral Creek.. These improvements are flanked by dense forest with dramatic cliff faces and steep canyon draws. As you ascend the road towards the top of the ranch property, incredible views of Mt. Evans (Mt. Blue Sky) are revealed, enhancing the ranch’s alpine aesthetic.

Improvements

Evans Ridge Ranch includes a historic horse barn and a charming two-bedroom cabin. The conservation easement allows for four potential building envelopes, three of which can be developed with new residences. A new owner can transform the property into a lasting family legacy while preserving the pristine open space for generations to come.

Location

Evans Ridge Ranch is conveniently located 20 minutes west of Evergreen, Colorado, just under an hour from Denver. Its latitude is the same as Cherry Hills Village in the Denver Metro Area.

Locale

Only a 20-minute drive from the ranch, Evergreen is a classic Colorado foothills town offering many shops, restaurants, and recreation. While the property is an easy drive from modern amenities, the area provides outstanding access to outdoor recreation while maintaining a secluded setting in a rugged mountainous location. Thanks to its convenient proximity to town, many neighboring ranch owners either commute to work in Denver or use the property as a retreat to escape the city. Denver International Airport is about 90 minutes from the ranch, allowing easy air travel.

History

Originally homesteaded in 1890 by the Devlan brothers, the ranch was gradually expanded through additional homesteads and land acquisitions to form the Devlan Ranch. In 1919, Leonard Metcalf—an MIT professor of John Evans Sr.—purchased the property with the Devlans staying on as caretakers. After Metcalf’s death, John Evans Sr. acquired the ranch in 1928. In 1935, his sister Margaret and her husband Roblin Davis took ownership, and their family has stewarded the land ever since. Four generations have spent summers at the ranch, riding, hiking, and exploring what Margaret fondly called “God’s country.”

Climate

The ranch’s location provides a mild summer climate, with average highs in the 70s, offering a refreshing escape from the summer heat in Denver. Fall in the area is spectacular, with warm days in the 60s and cool nights as the aspens light up the property with their yellow and orange hues. The area usually receives between 80 and 100 inches of snow in winter, with temperatures consistently in the 30s. Despite the high elevation, winters bring cold temperatures and ample snowfall, but you can expect around 300 days of sunshine annually.

Overview

Evans Ridge offers a rare opportunity for unlimited outdoor recreation less than an hour from downtown Denver. With an extensive road and trail system, the property offers owners access to remarkable high-elevation viewsheds, gaining 1,500 feet of elevation from top to bottom. Whether hiking, horseback riding, or driving an ATV, the trails lead to high-elevation open parks and meadows overlooking the valley below and the sprawling peaks of the Front Range, with Mt. Evans (Mt. Blue Sky) as the centerpiece. The upper meadows host an old sawmill site and provide excellent views and ideal elk and mule deer habitat, creating a unique hunting experience in an alpine setting.

Hunting

Located in GMU 39, Evans Ridge provides excellent habitat for elk and mule deer amidst open meadows, timbered hillsides, and livewater on the headwaters of Corral Creek. Tags are available through the draw, and the property qualifies for the landowner preference program through Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Since unit 39 is mostly private land and due to its steep and challenging topography, it receives limited public hunting pressure, making Evans Ridge Ranch a haven for multiple wildlife species.

Fishing

Nearby Bear Creek offers ample public access to a classic mountain trout stream, just 20 minutes from the ranch. For the more adventurous angler, the headwaters of Bear Creek and other small streams and ponds in the Mount Blue Sky Wilderness offer remote fly fishing for brook trout in a scenic high-elevation setting. Additionally, several gold-medal fisheries are within an hour’s drive of the property. The South Platte near Deckers and in Cheesman Canyon, renowned for its year-round tailwater fly fishing, is only an hour away from the ranch.

Recreation

In addition to what’s available on the ranch—extensive trails for hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, and outstanding hunting—Evans Ridge Ranch is just 20 minutes from Evergreen, a hub for year-round recreation. Evergreen Lake Park offers hiking, biking, and fishing in the warmer months, and becomes a popular public ice skating destination in winter. Several other nearby parks—Three Sisters, Lair O’ the Bear, and Elk Meadow—offer excellent mountain biking and hiking for all skill levels, all within a 30-minute drive. Evergreen is also home to a scenic municipal golf course nestled in the foothills. For winter sports, Loveland Ski Area is just under an hour away, with Breckenridge, Keystone, and Copper Mountain also within easy reach via I-70.

Horses

Evans Ridge Ranch has all the infrastructure to be a turn-key equestrian operation. The historic 8-stall horse barn with tack room, hay loft, and ample trails throughout the ranch make it ideal for horse enthusiasts.

Ranch Operations

Limited cattle grazing has historically occurred on the ranch during summer.

Water Rights

A network of historic ditches, springs, and developed pipelines dates back to 1893. The Devlan Ditch & Pipeline, Devlan & Squaw Springs collectively carry 0.93 cfs to irrigate approximately 6 acres of horse pasture surrounding the barn area and provide domestic and stock water.

Mineral Rights

All mineral rights owned by the Seller will be conveyed to the Buyer upon sale.

Taxes

Total annual taxes are $6,782.08.

Conservation Value

The Mountain Area Land Trust Conservation Easement on Evans Ridge Ranch preserves the property’s incredible open space, wildlife habitat, and agricultural values while providing a framework for the responsible development of three new residences within the four available building envelopes. A future owner could restrict the property further for additional conservation benefits.

Investment Value

Evans Ridge presents a rare opportunity to invest in a Front Range legacy holding that has remained in the same family for generations.