Huntsman Ranch

The Huntsman Ranch is a thoughtfully assembled private mountain retreat at the end of a private road and is surrounded by the National Forest on three sides. The ranch lies below the towering Huntsman Ridge with gorgeous mountain views in all directions, and remarkable big game hunting opportunities right out the back door. Diverse landscape features include a nice mix of aspen groves and dark timber, interspersed with grassy meadows and ponds that are watered by numerous irrigation ditches that bisect the ranch. There is a turn-key 5-bedroom lodge for entertaining, as well as a cook house, and several cabins and outbuildings. The Huntsman Ranch is the perfect combination of attributes with great proximity to the world-class amenities of Aspen and Crested Butte.

Location

The ranch is located on the Western Slope of Colorado, west of Aspen and Crested Butte. It is situated at the end of a private road, approximately two miles from a county road that is maintained year-round. Elevations on the ranch range from 7,800 to 8,400 feet, and it is surrounded by the Gunnison National Forest on three sides.

Improvements

The main gathering place is a beautiful, turnkey 5-bedroom lodge, fully equipped with new, state-of-the-art off-grid systems. Every detail has been meticulously refined to provide a great space for family, guests, and entertainment. There is also a vintage log cook house, a two-bedroom log cabin, four one-room cabins, a machinery shed with a shop, and other miscellaneous outbuildings. 

Hunting

The ranch is situated in a very desirable location for big game hunting. It is surrounded by the Gunnison National Forest on three sides, where healthy populations of elk, mule deer, and moose call home. This section of National Forest is designated as non-motorized, and the nearest public access point is several miles away. 

The ranch boasts numerous attributes that give wildlife good reasons to call it their home, including a nice mix of aspen groves and dark timber interspersed with grassy meadows and ponds that are watered by numerous irrigation ditches that bisect the ranch. There are also several acres of food plots placed in strategic locations.

The ranch lies within Game Management Unit 521, which offers over-the-counter elk tags for second and third rifle seasons. It also qualifies for Colorado’s Land Owner Preference Program, which offers additional possibilities for mule deer tags. 

Recreation

The ranch is very accessible and usable due to its gentle slope and a nice trail system throughout for hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, ATV’ing, snowmobiling, or cross-country skiing. The fact that the ranch is surrounded by the National Forest on three sides greatly expands the scope of recreational opportunities available and makes the ranch feel much larger than its actual size. There are some nearby lakes and a nice stream that parallels the east boundary of the ranch.

Ranch Operations

Historic water rights delivered through a series of ditches throughout the ranch, water some very nice grassy meadows and ponds. The ranch offers great summer grazing, as well as hay production. A lot of effort has been placed upon best management practices with regard to weed control and improving grazing and hay production, and it shows!

Conservation Value

The ranch is not encumbered by any conservation easements, but would be an excellent candidate for an easement, if desired.