Collard Ranch State Wildlife Area Opens to the Public in Park County, Colorado
We’re excited to share some great news out of Park County: The Collard Ranch, a Confluence Land Company sold property, has officially opened to the public as a Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) State Wildlife Area as of September 3rd, 2025.
Confluence Land Company was proud to represent the seller in this transaction, a milestone that underscores the strength of the market for high-quality western ranch properties, especially those with live water, conservation, and recreational appeal. At the same time, the sale demonstrates the ways private land transactions can yield enduring public benefits when paired with strong conservation partnerships and funding mechanisms. Conservation-driven transactions like the Collard Ranch often require more time and involve greater complexity than a typical private sale, given the detailed due diligence and funding avenues involved when moving land from private to public ownership. In this case, we were able to guide the seller through a relatively lengthy and technical process, ultimately achieving a healthy outcome for them while securing lasting public benefits.
We were fortunate to work with Western Rivers Conservancy, who partnered with CPW and Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) lottery funds to make this project possible. The result is a win on all fronts: a landmark transaction for the seller, the protection of a remarkable stretch of South Park riparian habitat, and the opportunity to offer expanded public access in this ecologically significant region of the state.
The crown jewel of the 1,860+/- deeded acre Collard Ranch is its five miles of Tarryall Creek frontage. Long regarded as one of Colorado’s finest freestone trout fisheries, the Tarryall offers anglers opportunities for browns and rainbows in a classic low-gradient meadow setting. As a tributary of the South Platte River, the willow-lined reach of Tarryall Creek making its course through Collard Ranch offers excellent habitat for aquatic invertebrates and terrestrials, creating a productive wild fishery. The rolling meadows, aspen draws, and year-round live water are important big game habitat in the area, supporting elk, mule deer, and pronghorn.
With the ranch now open as a State Wildlife Area, the public will finally be able to fish a reach that was previously private, a fine addition to Colorado’s public access trout waters. CPW has established clear seasonal guidelines to balance recreation opportunity with habitat management. Fishing is open from May 1st through September 30th each year, with access to Tarryall Creek from designated parking lots. A valid CPW fishing license is required. Hunting is open from October 1st through December 31st for big game and small game seasons, in accordance with CPW regulations for Game Management Unit 50. Access is via designated hunter parking areas only, and a valid hunting license is required. Wildlife viewing is allowed during the same windows as fishing and hunting with Colorado’s State Wildlife Area pass, but the property is day-use only, with no camping, no dogs, and parking limited to designated lots. Once lots are full, the area is considered at capacity. From January 1st through April 30th, the Collard Ranch SWA is closed to protect wintering wildlife.
For our team at Confluence, the Collard Ranch transaction illustrates the dynamic ranch market in Colorado and the enduring value of properties with water, habitat diversity, and scale. Setting a record price per acre while simultaneously opening the door to long term conservation is an uncommon outcome that we are proud to have facilitated. We are grateful to those who trusted us to play a role in this historic project and look forward to seeing generations of sportsmen experience Collard Ranch as one of the newest additions to Colorado’s excellent network of State Wildlife Areas.
