Willow Creek Ranch Colorado

With 2890 +/- acres (970 in Wyoming and 1920 in Colorado), this unit is made up of a combination of two irrigated pivots covering approximately 370 +/- acres of alfalfa grass mix hay ground and large sagebrush and native grassland pastures.  The pivots are serviced by wells with good producing power and electric motors. One pivot is a 13-tower, and the other is an 8-tower. The headquarters has a long list of good improvements. Land The Willow Creek Ranch Colorado is the primary livestock headquarters.  The headquarters improvements include two large and well-designed corral systems that allow for ease of handling livestock, three homes, and a bunk house, as well as the “Cantina,” which is an excellent lodging area featuring four guest rooms with private bathrooms as well as a nice open kitchen and living area for entertaining guests.   The “Cantina” is attached to the large 60’X130” shop building that is used for working on equipment and equipment storage. The Willow Creek Ranch has the #1 water right on Willow Creek and the water rights out of the Elk Lake (OVO Reservoir), which is 22 acres in size and at max holds 398-acre feet of water for late season water after Willow Creek drops later in the year. The Willow Creek Unit is also home to large herds of pronghorn antelope and mule deer, as well as sage grouse and one of the largest concentrations of sharp-tail grouse in the area.   There are also grazing permits on the adjacent state and BLM lands that border the ranch, making this a well-rounded ranch for any producer. The Wyoming portion of the ranch could qualify to receive two deer, two antelope, and two elk landowner tags since it is not part of the Colorado RFW program. Please check current state and local game regulations for verification. Additional Leases:  State Ag Lease  – 160 acres Four Mile grazing allotment- 2337 acres Recreation The ranch is currently collectively enrolled in the Ranching for Wildlife program with other ranches in the area.  Under current management, the wildlife and habitat are managed for quality to produce better quality feed and habitat as well as older age class elk, mule deer, and pronghorn antelope.   The program allows landowners to maximize their opportunity to utilize their property in exchange for public access on a limited basis.   The ranches do yearly habitat projects such as brush and timber mitigation and water projects to enhance the availability of quality feed and water. Colorado Ranching for Wildlife is a cooperative program with private landowners and Colorado Parks and Wildlife that includes incentives to improve habitat on private land. Landowners create diverse plant communities that benefit wildlife throughout the year by managing grazing systems, working on various habitat improvement projects, and developing viable water sources. These well-managed lands provide essential habitat for various species, including grassland-nesting birds, migratory ungulates such as elk, mule deer, and pronghorn, as well as any other wildlife within the ecosystem and pollinators. The program introduced in 1986 was designed to give public hunters access to private ranches. Still, in turn, a considerable benefit allows private landowners to dictate their season dates for optimal hunting opportunities. For landowners, the elk and pronghorn season is a 90-day season that coincides with any open public season. The Mule Deer season is a 60-day season. The RFW license is a weapon of choice license. RFW is limited to ranches with at least 10,000 contiguous acres that contain a significant number of species for which licenses can be drawn. These species include elk, mule deer, and pronghorn on the Slater Creek Ranch. In addition to hunting, that ranches have a great road system through out the property provides additional recreational opportunities that include hiking, mountain biking, UTV and snowmobiling. Region & Climate The area is known for more than 300 days of sunshine and “Champagne Powder” snow.   The area averages 154 inches annually of normal accumulations.  Winters are beautiful, with the valley remaining snow-covered for most of the season, but the summer and fall keep people coming back year after year to visit the beautiful Rocky Mountains.   Location Northwest Colorado is surrounded by endless beauty and filled with history. The nearest towns include Slater, Craig, Hayden, and Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The Slater Dixon Ranches are 45 minutes from Yampa Valley Regional Airport. The nearby town of Dixon, Wyoming,  has a private airport with a 7000 x 75 ft runway just minutes from the ranch. The town of Steamboat Springs is located at 6,732 ft in elevation in Colorado’s Yampa Valley. It is home to the Howelsen Hill ski area and the Steamboat Ski Resort. Not only is Steamboat known for its legendary skiing & snowboarding, but the nearby hot springs are therapeutic in nature, especially after a long day on the slopes. Located near the city center, the long-standing Old Town Hot Springs is equipped with swimming, soaking pools, and water slides. This experience is worthwhile and fun for all ages.