A private and scenic alpine property that is accentuated by a live water brook and mountain solitude.
Red Hawk Ranch is a pristine high alpine retreat located in the Upper Yampa River Valley of northwest Colorado. The ranch is situated atop an elevated plateau and boasts 360-degree mountain views, numerous recreational opportunities, and borders the Routt National Forest. Trails link the ranch to over 1 million acres of forest lands, leading to countless high alpine lakes and landmarks and the famous Flat Tops Wilderness Area.
Comprised of 95 +/- acres, the ranch encompasses a remarkable diversity of terrain including pine timber draws, mature aspen groves, lush open meadows, scenic overlooks, and sagebrush hillsides. This topography and the property’s adjacency to the Flat Tops produces tremendous habitat for moose, elk, deer, black bear, mountain lion, and countless other wildlife. The ranch also features a gently flowing creek that falls into the Smith Creek Basin below the ranch.
Red Hawk Ranch is located in the coveted Upper Yampa River Valley of northwestern Colorado. With Vail Valley just 35 miles to the south and Steamboat Springs 40 miles to the north, the ranch is situated right in the middle of quintessential Colorado high country. The property itself is tucked away on the western side of Routt County, directly neighboring the 1.2 million acre National Forest. Continuing west from the ranch, the National Forest quickly transforms into the pristine 235,000-acre Flat Tops Wilderness Area, which is the second-largest Wilderness Area in Colorado, comprised of numerous aqua blue high-alpine lakes, emerald green mesas, as well as other stunning geological features and landmarks that beg to be explored. The Upper Yampa Valley is mostly made up of large agricultural ranches with lush irrigated hay meadows on the valley floor along the river, and open sagebrush steppe landscapes with timbered side drainages reaching up to higher terrain. Singing Elk Ranch is just 9 miles from the rural community of Toponas. The agricultural town of Yampa with its basic amenities is a short drive up the road. Commercial air service, jet accessible airport and FBO, and more extensive amenities are readily available in nearby Vail Valley.
An ideally situated 10-acre building envelope comes complete with a domestic well, utilities, and an impeccably maintained road to the ranch entrance.
The ranch is accessed from State Highway 131 and County Road 3, traversing up Porcupine Ridge to the elevated plateau of Five Pine Mesa. Singing Elk’s 423 acres are mostly forested, rolling terrain with a mix of healthy spruce, fir, and lodgepole pines, along with mature aspen groves. The ground cover is a mixture of native high elevation grasses and sagebrush. Upon entering the ranch one is greeted by a large open meadow along the northern boundary. The log home is perched just east of this meadow in a large stand of aspen trees. Crossing the middle of the property and flowing from the northwest corner is a lush riparian area that feeds a picturesque 3-acre lake along with natural spring water. The lake area is improved with a sandy beach, boat dock, and cookout area that enhances the use and enjoyment of the water. Continuing south from the open riparian meadow the property becomes more densely timbered and blends in seamlessly with the National Forest along the entirety of the western boundary where the ranch has its own private gated access. This southern half of the property is stellar elk and deer habitat. With an overall gently sloping gradient and steeper rocky outcroppings on the eastern side, this area acts as a funnel for migrating wildlife in the fall.
The ranch sits at an elevation of around 9,000 feet. There are approximately 60 frost-free days per year at this elevation and the climate is characterized by cold winters and cool summers. The mean values for participation are 16.4 in./yr. with 120 inches of snowfall. February is the driest month and August is the wettest.
Red Hawk Ranch provides excellent habitat for a variety of game. The White River Elk Herd, North America’s largest elk herd, is found here and takes up residence in the sprawling Flat Tops, migrating east right through the ranch to lower elevations during the fall hunting season. Trophy mule deer are also prolific on the property and adjoining National Forest lands. Elk tags are readily available over the counter, and mule deer tags are obtainable through the draw. Other species include black bear, mountain lion, and the occasional moose. Archery hunting is permitted on the property and rifle hunting opportunities are endless on nearby National Forest lands. The property falls within Colorado GMU #26.
Nearby fly-fishing is abundant within the Yampa River Valley and on high-alpine lakes in close proximity to the ranch. The Yampa River is a short drive and is considered a hidden gem amongst Colorado trout enthusiasts. The tailwater section of the Yampa below Stagecoach is one of the prized pieces of water in the region. The 780-acre Stagecoach Reservoir is known for its great trout and northern pike fishing. To the south of the ranch, the Colorado River is easily accessible for miles of floatable gold medal fly-fishing.
Other recreational pursuits include endless snowmobiling and cross-country skiing in the winter months as well as hiking, canoeing, and mountain biking in the summer.
The ranch is currently operated as a family recreational retreat and hunting property, however, it could easily support summer grazing if an owner desired.
Red Hawk Ranch enjoys membership to the Ranches at Five Pine Mesa, providing additional resources and economical ranch management. The Association consists of a total of ten properties ranging between 50 and 400+ acres. Five Pine Mesa is structured similarly to an HOA and provides shared amenities to member-owners, including a 53-acre central parcel that is owned by the association and has a shared barn with a workshop, storage loft, and manager’s apartment. The common parcel also features a luxurious 1,378 square foot log cabin that overlooks a private pond and is available for accommodating owners and their guests. The HOA employs a full-time manager/caretaker who performs interior road and fence maintenance, home monitoring and maintenance, as well as general coordination of ranch activities and winter access via snow machine.
