Elk Preserve Stevens Gulch Paonia, CO 81428

The Elk Preserve Ranch consists of 700+/- acres lying between the heart of the North Fork River Valley and the Grand Mesa Plateau. Located only 90 miles from Aspenâs world-class ski slopes and 50 miles Montrose regional airport with flights to Boston, Denver, Dallas, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, P...hoenix, New York, San Francisco, and Charlotte. The Elk Preserve Ranch is 700 acres and encompasses the draws, meadows, and ridges along the south face of the Grand Mesa, adjoining national forest for its entire northern border and BLM land on its eastern border. Just 5 miles north of Paonia, Colorado, on Stephens Gulch Road. Surrounded by public land on two sides, the ranches offer year-round county road access. This exceptional ranch property is a superb wildlife paradise for moose, elk, mule deer, bear, mountain lion, turkeys, eagles, and numerous small animal and bird species, with over-the-counter elk tags available. Current revenue potential includes hunting, limited timber production, grazing, and summer/winter ecotourism. To improve the propertyâs suitability for livestock operations, miles of wildlife friendly new fence has been constructed since 2017. The ranch features year-round live water with two creeks, numerous springs, and spring-fed ponds. Most of the ponds have been improved, reworked, enhanced, cleaned, or newly created since 2017. The terrain of each ranch is as varied as the acreages, elevations run from 7,200' to 8,600' with vegetation mixes of sub-irrigated meadows, sage brush, Gamble Oaks, at the lower end to lush stands of mature aspen, grassy meadows with dark spruce & pine timber stands at higher elevations. To improve wildlife habitat, over multiple acres of low-lying brush has been cleared and reseeded into highland pasture and the creek sides have been cleared for enhanced habitat and fisheries. This improved habitat diversity has driven a vast expansion in game species populations both migratory and year-round herds. This ranch features incredible building sites and fantastic views of the West Elk, Ragged, and San Juan Mountain Ranges. Power is within a mile of the ranch and wells or possible domestic water is available from the local water company. Continue reading