Bighorn Canyon Fish Camp Summary
Bighorn Canyon Fish Camp, a 70± acre Arkansas River retreat has been in the same family for over 50 years, originally secured through a BLM land swap and never before offered for sale to the market. Properties of this caliber don't frequently become available to the public. Today, that has changed.
One of the few privately-owned stretches of the Arkansas River of this scale featuring both banks between Salida and Cañon City, Bighorn Canyon Fish Camp delivers control over some of the finest trout water in Colorado. While the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area offers over 150 miles of fishing access with almost 100 public access sites, private holdings of this size are uncommon. “The Ark” is a Gold Medal fishery spanning about 102 miles with between 1,500 and 4,000 trout per mile. Rafts and drift boats can be launched directly from the property for float fishing or leisure floats, as well as from numerous public boat ramps. World-class whitewater including Browns Canyon National Monument and the Royal Gorge are within an hour’s drive. The property borders nearly a mile of BLM lands and about half a mile of State Trust Lands. Kuntz Gulch on the south end of Bighorn Canyon Fish Camp provides nearly exclusive entry into over 3,000 acres of rugged BLM lands, which very few can reach. For hunters and backcountry enthusiasts, this kind of access is challenging to replicate in this area. Adjacent public lands provide essentially limitless opportunities for hunting, hiking, biking, and exploring this rarely seen country.
The southern homesite sits in Colorado GMU 86 while the northern portion is in the limited-entry Unit 58, offering opportunities for elk, deer, turkey, and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. The property is positioned along a section of the river known as Bighorn Sheep Canyon, aptly named with the frequent sightings occurring here. Historically, a handful of fortunate tagholders have harvested mature rams on the property.
A utilitarian home, steel-framed shop, and productive well anchor the south. A loafing shed on the northern balance offers livestock or equipment storage. Power has been run to a camping area near the river, ideal for hosting guests or supporting a small outfitting operation. Ample space remains for additional structures.
Direct access from US Highway 50, one of the highest priority thoroughfares in the region, supports reliable year-round access regardless of weather. The Arkansas River Valley, commonly called Colorado's "Banana Belt," is known for its temperate climate with mild winters, abundant sunshine, and less snow accumulation than other high elevation regions.
Day-to-day needs and your desires for an authentic mountain town complete with a walkable downtown grid complete with shops, galleries and restaurants and the summer festival here and there are met in Salida (25m) and Buena Vista (35m). Both towns feature groceries, medical care, gear shops, outfitters, and other conveniences. Cañon City (40m) adds a hospital, major grocery chains, Walmart, Home Depot and a variety of other recognized retailers. Regional services in Pueblo (1h 15m) include medical centers, Costco, and a regional airport. Colorado Springs (1h 30m) and Denver (2h 30m) provide major hospitals, shopping, and commercial air service.
After more than half a century of cherished ownership by a single family, Bighorn Canyon Fish Camp is ready to host a new generation of adventure. The rarity of this offering, the recreational opportunities it unlocks, and the timing of its first-ever availability put Bighorn Canyon Fish Camp in a class of its own along the Arkansas Headwaters.
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“One of the few large scale privately-owned stretches of the Arkansas River featuring both banks between Salida and Cañon City, Bighorn Canyon Fish Camp delivers control over some of the finest trout water in Colorado.”
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