Manzanares Creek Ranch

• Unimproved sporting retreat
• Tucked within the headwaters of the Huerfano River
• Offers over a mile of Manzanares Creek with excellent fly-fishing on nearly a mile of Huerfano River
• Southern and northern border adjoining public lands for over a mile with access to tens of thousands of acres of recreational opportunities
• Located in GMU 861 offering excellent elk and mule deer hunting
• Perimeter fencing with a network of interior ranch roads
• Unencumbered views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains

Manzanares Creek Ranch is a 518-acre sporting retreat with approximately one mile of both sides of the Huerfano River and 1.2 miles of Manzanares Creek in Huerfano County. The property is within the headwaters of the Huerfano River and offers excellent fishing for brown, rainbow, and brook trout. Near the foot of three 14,000-foot peaks of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and close to wilderness and the Great Sand Dunes National Park, the ranch adjoins public lands and offers a multitude of recreational opportunities. The property is also within a prized hunting unit and offers excellent elk and mule deer hunting on the ranch and adjoining public lands. This is a great investment opportunity and is well priced with its river, creeks, and sporting attributes.

The ranch is located along the upper stretches of the Huerfano River. This picturesque high mountain valley is between the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the west and the Wet Mountains to the east. The valley provides a unique mixture of working ranches and stunning views of the Sangre de Cristo Range, which is the longest range in Colorado and contains ten named 14,000-foot peaks. The property itself contains extremely attractive scenery with views of aspen woodlands, dense forest, and open meadows rich with native grasses and wildflowers.

Location

Manzanares Creek Ranch is situated near the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range in south-central Colorado. This 518-acre private ranch with sweeping views is comprised of a mixture of timbered hillside and tree-lined river bottom. This ranch is one of the few large privately owned parcels in the Upper Huerfano River Valley. Elevations on the ranch range from approximately 8,350’ to 9,600’. From Interstate 25 take exit 52 at Walsenburg and go west on State Highway 69 25 miles to Gardner then 12 miles to Redwing. From Redwing take Huerfano County Road 580 a few miles to the ranch entrance. The ranch is located approximately 3 hours from Denver, 1 1/2 hours from Colorado Springs and Taos, and 3 hours from Santa Fe.

Improvements

There are currently no structural improvements on the ranch providing a clean slate for future owners to personalize the property however they like. The property is perimeter fenced and does have an internal network of trails.

Locale

Much of the surrounding National Forest is essentially roadless and in pristine natural condition, providing outstanding wildlife habitat and backcountry recreational opportunities to thousands of acres of National Forest system land.

HISTORY

The area is rich in scenic beauty and unique history dating back to the Comanche and Ute Indians as well as the Spanish Conquistadors who named the Sangre de Cristo (“Blood of Christ”) mountain range. The Sangres are one of the longest mountain chains on earth with ten peaks over 14,000 feet high and over two dozen rising 13,000 feet. This area was once part of an original Spanish land grant that stretched to Kansas and contained over 4 million acres. The valley provides a unique mixture of working ranches while also retaining its Hispanic heritage which dates back over 150 years.

Climate

• Average annual precipitation: 36.0 inches
• January temperature: High: 45°, Low: 10°
• July temperature: High: 85°, Low 52°
• Days of Sunshine per year: 300+

Hunting

The ranch provides an extremely valuable and pristine habitat for many game species including elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, black bear, bighorn sheep, and mountain lion. Elk stay on the ranch to calve in early summer and remain for the season. There is also an abundance of mule deer on the ranch which occupy the ranch year-round, except when winter snows force them to lower elevations. Black bear and turkey are also frequently seen on the ranch.

Fishing

While not well known to the public, the upper stretches of the Huerfano River is an excellent fishery supporting healthy populations of brown, rainbow, and brook trout. The lack of public fishing pressure is very unique for a fishery of this caliber in Colorado. There is approximately 1 mile of both sides of the Huerfano River, as well as an additional 1.2 miles of both sides Manzanares Creek flowing through the ranch.

Recreation

The abundance of nearby public lands offers tens of thousands of acres to hike, ride, fish, hunt, cross-country ski, or enjoy however you please. The area is surrounded by the San Isabel National Forest, the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness Area, and the Great Sand Dunes National Park. Much of the surrounding National Forest is essentially roadless and in pristine natural condition, providing outstanding wildlife habitat and backcountry recreational opportunities to thousands of acres of National Forest system land.

Ranch Operations

Manzanares Creek Ranch is currently being operated as a recreational hunting and fishing ranch. The ranch would also be ideal for an equestrian operation or small cattle ranch.