Improvements and Land Attributes

Improvements Structure (s): • Ranch Style Log and Stone Home – 2,672 SF • Year Built: 1968 • Bedrooms: (3) • Baths: (3) • Garage: Attached, 2‐Car 676 SF

Outbuilding: 20’ x 64’ Wooden Shed with Metal Siding and Roof

Well: (1) Domestic –  Permit # 73819

Utilities: Electric, Phone, Satellite Internet / TV / Septic and Well

Acreage: 152.30 per Custer County Assessor Records

Land Attributes: Mountain Views: Sangre De Cristo’s, Wet Mountains, Nearby San Isabel National Forest Access, Creekside, Ponds, Meadows

Topography: Level, Rolling, Very Useable Acreage

Recreation:  ATV, Hiking, Camping, Horses, Wildlife Viewing

Protective Covenants: None

Conservation Easement: Yes – San Isabel Land Protection Trust

Nearest Town(s): Westcliffe, Colorado – 8 miles   

Access: Maintained Year‐Round. Gravel County Road, to Private Gravel & Driveway.

Location and Accessibility 

Little Creek Ranch is located approximately 8 miles northwest of Westcliffe, Colorado in Custer County.  It is easily accessible from the major Colorado cities without crossing mountain passes.  Denver is 3 hrs – Colorado Springs – 2 hrs and Pueblo – 1 hr. from the Ranch.  Commercial air service is available at all these cities and a local airport with a 7,000′ paved runway is located just south of Westcliffe and is capable of handling private jets.  Westcliffe was built in the late 1800’s as the end-of-the-line for the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad to harvest the rich silver and gold deposits found in the area and many remnants of that ancestry exist to this day.  A community of 4000 residents, Westcliffe retains a small-town environment with its arts community, historic buildings, shops and restaurants.  The Wet Mountain Valley is certainly one of the most scenic and unspoiled mountain valleys in Colorado.  It continues to maintain its rural charm, western heritage, and ranch country feel.  

Recreational Activities

The property is a recreational base for many activities with over 300+ days of sunshine and fresh mountain air.  Enjoy horse back riding, hiking, ATV use, camping, hunting, and more in the nearby San Isabel National Forest and Sangre De Cristo Wilderness.  The Sangre de Cristo Wilderness sits just west of the property and consists of 220,00+ acres. All of this wilderness is is managed by the Forest Service and the National Park Service. Four fourteeners are clumped together in the midsection of the Wilderness, including Crestone Needle (14,197 feet). Many climbers, consider the Needle to be Colorado’s most challenging 14,000-foot peak.  Melting snow feeds many creeks and small lakes, and nourishes a forest of oak, aspen, and spruce.  Colorado’s Rainbow Trail arcs through the Sangre de Cristo mountain range, providing roughly 100 miles of outdoor fun.  Enjoy everything from hiking to horseback riding to biking on the immense trail. Motorized trail vehicles can also use a portion of the route as well as many of the area’s side trails and four-wheel drive roads. Interested in hunting or fishing? The Rainbow Trail offers plenty of that, too. Many side trails lead visitors up to mountain lakes and streams for fishing, and during hunting season, gamesmen will find plenty of bear, deer and elk nearby.  Day trips may also include a trip to DeWeese Reservoir State Wildlife Area, world class rafting or fly fishing along the Arkansas River or winter skiing at Monarch Mountain.

Conservation Easement 

Little Creek Ranch is protected by a conservation easement held by the San Isabel Land Protection Trust.  It is also borders several thousand acres of larger ranches also protected by conservation easements which will insure limited building development in the area, privacy, and unspoiled views for the ranch in the future. The conservation easement allows for all uses that are normal and customary for mountain ranches and allows for the construction of an additional residential home, barns and other agricultural outbuildings.   Remodel the ranch cabin and use it as a guest home and build a new home if you choose.  There are many options here.

Water Features

Little Creek which is also known as Willow Creek is a seasonal creek which flows through a portion of the ranch.  It would serve nicely as a water source for maintaining ponds, gardening, cattle and horses, and is also an important water resource for wildlife. 

Water Rights

The property has a state permitted domestic well which allows an owner the right to use this water for in-house use, watering livestock and irrigation of up to 1 acre of land.  The property also has a decreed water right along Little Creek for maintaining pond water, gardening, and water for livestock.

Zoning and Taxes

Agricultural Zoning – Taxes based on 2020 assessments were $1,728 per year.

• Contact: Jeff Switzer
• Contact Email: jswitzer@rmranchland.com
• Contact Phone: (719) 963-2513 

Cooperating Brokers Welcome