Elk Highlands Ranch

Elk Highlands Ranch contains approximately 1,700 diverse deeded acres consisting of pasture, rolling hills, ponds, lush gulches with year-round spring fed creeks and high-altitude saddles. The ranch also leases a contiguous 640 acres of Colorado State Land Trust ground for grazing for a total of nearly 2,340 acres. Within approximately two hours are both of Colorado’s most populous cities and their international airports. The ranch is nestled near the top of the Currant Creek Valley which carries its named tributary to the Arkansas River. On the west are multiple peaks rising to nearly 10,700 feet. On the east is Thirtynine Mile Mountain: the hulking southern monument to South Park which rises to nearly 11,600 feet. The ranch shares a 2.5 mile portion of its western border with Pike National Forest making it and incredible jumping off point for some of the most remote National Forest in the area. Satisfy your desires to hike, camp, ride horseback and hunt either on the ranch or outside its borders on public lands.

The area is rich with history. So much so that Congress declared it a National Heritage area in 2009 to preserve its roots in mining and ranching. This distinction is shared with only 55 other areas in the United States. The ranch itself features a portion of this history with its renovated and restored homestead which was built by John Bender in 1885- 9 years before Colorado earned its statehood. In addition to Mr. Bender’s residence, there is a renovated log cabin with kitchen, living area, one bedroom and bath and a large loft. Log barns and another log cabin from the same vintage still serve the Ranch, along with functioning steel corrals. Increase capacity with your coach as there are RV hookups at headquarters.

Silviculture is at the forefront on the ranch. A forest management plan is being built and a partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), a division of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is being formed to address timber thinning of the fir and spruce on the ranch currently impacted by the Spruce Budworm- a native species to Colorado running its natural cycle. This proactive effort will also include regeneration practices and starts new growth much faster than letting the affected areas run their natural course. A potential future contract with the NRCS will include reimbursement payments for a large portion of the work to be done and such contract is assignable to a new owner.

Sporting opportunities abound in this draw only Game Unit 58. Opportunities for Pronghorn Antelope, Elk and trophy Mule Deer exist. The ranch is eligible for Colorado’s Landowner Preference Program. Historically the ranch has received over ten big game hunting tags. These tags can be enjoyed by the landowner or monetized to outfitters in the area. The ponds have historically been stocked with trout and other angling opportunities exist nearby including on the Gold Medal waters of the South Platte River locally known as the “Dream Stream” as well still water opportunities on Antero, Spinney Mountain and Elevenmile Canyon Reservoirs. These opportunities afford a landowner a complete wildlife experience that is difficult to find on a ranch of this size.

For complete details on the Elk Highlands Ranch, please download our brochure at the "Brochure" link near the top of this page.