F Bar 4 Ranch

The scenic, 396-acre F Bar 4 Ranch is an ideal fit for the big game hunter, gentleman rancher or family retreat. The property is located a short distance south of Westcliffe, Colorado in the foothills of the Wet Mountain Valley. Westcliffe is an easy three-hour drive from Denver, a 1.5-hour drive from Colorado Springs, and 45 minutes from Canon City and Pueblo. Year-round access is provided by County maintained roads to the ranch gate. The Silver Cliff Airport (eight nautical miles south of Westcliffe) is within a 10-minute drive from the ranch and features a 54' x 7,000' runway. The property is directly bound on the west by the 1.1-million-acre San Isabel National Forest with the towering, snow-capped peaks of the Sangre De Cristo range serving as the backdrop to the ranch. Some of Colorado's most distinguished 14'ers make up the vast backyard of the F Bar 4 Ranch. The famous Crestone Needles, Crestone Peak, Kit Carson Mountain, and Humbolt Peak are there for your viewing pleasure. The 360-degree views from the ranch also include the Collegiate Peaks and Pikes Peak to the north and the Spanish Peaks to the south. The 100-mile Rainbow Trail skirts the base of these mountains and stretches from New Mexico to Salida, Colorado. A ride to the Great Sand Dunes is not out of the question as they are just across the mountain range to the south. The Wet Mountain Valley is famous for its unparalleled views, rural-ranching lifestyle, and endless miles of wilderness hiking trails through high-mountain meadows bursting with wildflowers and 52 alpine lakes for fly-fishing. Custer County was formed in 1877 and is the 10th smallest of the 64 counties in Colorado. Its tranquil valley, spectacular mountains and hundreds of thousands of acres of National Forest make the county one of the most desirable for hunters, hikers, climbers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds. The Wet Mountain Valley reminds visitors of what Colorado once was, and Custer County still is. HUNTING Through Colorado Parks & Wildlife, landowners can apply for the Landowner Preference Program in receiving elk, mule deer, and pronghorn licenses for each 160-acre deeded increment. The F Bar 4 Ranch is located in GMU 86, which is an over-the-counter bull elk unit for 2nd and 3rd rifle seasons. Archery tags are also issued over-the-counter (either sex). Muzzleloader tags (cow and either sex) are drawn with no preference points. The majority of mule deer licenses drawn for the unit have been obtained with zero to one preference point. Black bear and turkey are also common residents. LAND The ranch comprises 396 +/- acres with varying topography ranging from sub-irrigated grass meadows to pine and aspen-covered forest. Cottonwood Creek provides live water via an irrigation ditch to the meadow bottomlands and there are ponds and springs located throughout. The elevation of the property is optimal for fall big game habitat and ranges from 9,000 to 9,800 feet, increasing in elevation from east to the west and peaking along the National Forest Service boundary. The ranch is perimeter fenced and provides ample native grass forage for cattle and horses. An interior road system extends throughout for ease of access. The property is not encumbered by a conservation easement. IMPROVEMENTS The owner's residence totals 2,854 square feet and features a two-story, five-bedroom, three-bath design that was extensively renovated in 2014 (interior and exterior). The home was updated with custom, mountain-themed finishes (wood mill work, upgraded cabinetry and appliances, granite countertops, stone & tile flooring and stamped concrete). Other features include an oversized master suite with a walk-in shower, large concrete patio off-of the main entrance and master suite, an attached two-car garage, large deck accessed by the upper-floor bedrooms, expansive rock fireplace, loft overlooking the living room, oversized picture windows, mudroom, laundry room