Sandhills Ranch

Land

SANDHILLS RANCH
15,490± Acres | Runs 400+ Pairs | 3+ Miles of Yampa River | 22± CFS of Water Rights
The Sandhills Ranch consists of approximately 2,220± deeded acres, together with approximately 13,290 acres within the Sandhills BLM grazing allotment, creating access to approximately 15,490 acres of deeded and associated grazing lands. Sandhills Ranch brings together the scale, water, grazing resources, and productivity that define a true western cattle operation.
Located in northwest Colorado near Maybell and just over 30 minutes west of Craig, Sandhills Ranch is an exceptional agricultural ranch currently operating with over 400 cow/calf pairs for an average grazing period of approximately 6 +/- months. The ranch combines irrigated meadows and productive Yampa River bottoms with expansive native rangelands, developed livestock water, and thousands of acres of wide-open western country.

BLM Grazing Allotment

The 13,290± acre Sandhills BLM grazing allotment significantly expands the grazing resources associated with the ranch and is an important component of the overall agricultural operation.
The allotment is permitted for approximately 1,637 AUMs, with a permitted grazing period extending from April 21 through November 19.
Combined with the deeded acreage, irrigated and sub-irrigated pastures, productive river bottoms, and native rangelands, the allotment provides a substantial grazing component to the operation and contributes to the ranch’s ability to currently run over 400 pairs for an average period of approximately 6 +/- months.
Livestock water has been developed throughout both the deeded lands and the Sandhills allotment. Numerous water tanks are strategically located across the range, providing reliable water sources and helping distribute livestock throughout the grazing country.

Water, Yampa River & Irrigation

Water is one of the defining features of Sandhills Ranch.
The ranch extends for more than 3± miles along the Yampa River, creating a remarkable combination of agricultural productivity, livestock water, wildlife habitat, recreation, and scenery.
Approximately 22± CFS of water rights support the ranch’s agricultural operations. The ranch features approximately 160 acres under pivot irrigation, along with an additional 300± acres of irrigated and sub-irrigated pasture.
The irrigated fields and productive river-bottom meadows provide valuable agricultural ground that complements the ranch’s extensive native grazing lands. These areas offer productive forage while also attracting wildlife from the surrounding country.
Beyond the improved agricultural ground, Sandhills Ranch transitions into expansive native rangelands characteristic of northwest Colorado. Rolling native grasslands are interspersed with sagebrush and bitterbrush, creating productive grazing country while maintaining the natural western landscape of the region.

Extensive Livestock Water Development

An extensive livestock watering system serves both the deeded acreage and Sandhills grazing allotment, providing very good water distribution throughout the ranch.
The system includes four water wells tied into five water-storage tanks, which distribute water to 14 livestock tanks throughout the grazing country.
This network of wells, storage facilities, and livestock tanks is an important component of the ranch operation, allowing cattle to utilize a broad area of the available range while providing dependable water throughout the grazing season.
Together with the Yampa River, irrigated and sub-irrigated lands, and other developed water resources, the livestock watering system further strengthens the agricultural capabilities of Sandhills Ranch.

State Land Lease

The Seller currently holds a lease on approximately 647 acres of Colorado State Land Board property. This acreage is not included as deeded acreage and the existing lease is not transferable or assignable by the Seller.
A purchaser interested in leasing the 647± acres may make application directly through the Colorado State Land Board. Any future lease or approval will be at the sole discretion of the State Land Board and subject to its application, review, and approval process.
The state lease should therefore be viewed as a potential additional opportunity rather than a guaranteed component of the sale.

Wildlife & Hunting

Sandhills Ranch lies within Colorado Game Management Units 3 and 11, an area of northwest Colorado well known for abundant wildlife and a longstanding hunting tradition.
The diversity of the ranch creates an equally diverse wildlife habitat. Irrigated fields, Yampa River bottoms, sub-irrigated meadows, native grasslands, sagebrush, and bitterbrush provide habitat and forage for elk, mule deer, pronghorn, small game, upland species, and other wildlife.
One of the impressive aspects of the property is the movement of wildlife between the ranch and surrounding public lands. Elk and deer pour into the irrigated fields from the bordering public country, taking advantage of the productive forage and river-bottom habitat.
The ranch’s borders with BLM and State lands further expand the surrounding habitat and place Sandhills Ranch within an enormous landscape of public and private western country.
For the sportsman, this creates a property where the agricultural operation and wildlife habitat naturally complement one another.

Recreation on the Yampa River & Beyond

While Sandhills Ranch is first and foremost a productive agricultural operation, its recreational opportunities add another dimension to the property.
With direct access to more than three miles of the Yampa River, owners can enjoy fishing, rafting, floating, wildlife viewing, and other river-based recreation directly from the ranch.
The thousands of acres of open country are equally well suited for horseback riding, ATV riding, hiking, hunting, exploring, and simply enjoying the privacy and wide-open landscapes of northwest Colorado.
Beyond the ranch boundaries lies an extraordinary amount of public land and outdoor recreation.
Dinosaur National Monument, the Gates of Lodore, Browns Park, and Vermillion Falls are all within approximately 1½ hours of the property. The surrounding region offers opportunities to float remote stretches of the Yampa and Green Rivers, explore expansive BLM lands, travel through remote canyons, hunt, fish, ride, hike, and experience some of western Colorado’s most scenic and lightly populated country.
Sandhills Ranch is positioned in the heart of it all.

Access & Location

Despite its expansive acreage and rural western setting, Sandhills Ranch offers convenient year-round access.
Two parcels have access and/or frontage along paved Highway 318, while County Road 143 traverses directly through the southern parcel. This combination provides practical access for livestock, equipment, ranch operations, and recreational use.
The ranch is located less than 10 minutes from Maybell and just over 30 minutes west of Craig.
Maybell is a small rural community situated along the Yampa River and surrounded by ranching country. It also serves as a gateway to the extensive public lands and recreational opportunities of western Moffat County.
Craig serves as the primary regional service center for northwest Colorado and offers grocery stores, restaurants, lodging, medical services, schools, agricultural and hardware suppliers, and other everyday amenities.
Approximately one hour southwest of the ranch, Rangely provides additional shopping, dining, lodging, fuel, medical services, and everyday necessities.
Vernal, Utah, approximately 1½ hours from Sandhills Ranch, serves as a larger regional commercial center with extensive shopping, restaurants, lodging, medical care, agricultural services, and recreational amenities.

Regional Air Access

For commercial air travel, Yampa Valley Regional Airport near Hayden is approximately one hour from the ranch and provides convenient regional and commercial air access to northwest Colorado.
Vernal Regional Airport in Vernal, Utah provides an additional regional air-travel option, including service connecting the region with Phoenix, Arizona.
These options provide convenient regional connections while allowing Sandhills Ranch to retain the privacy, space, and rural character that make this part of northwest Colorado so desirable.

A True Northwest Colorado Ranch

What sets Sandhills Ranch apart is not one individual feature, but the combination of resources assembled within a single agricultural property.
Over 400 cow/calf pairs currently run for an average period of approximately 5½ months. Approximately 2,220± deeded acres. A 13,290± acre BLM grazing allotment permitted for approximately 1,637 AUMs. More than 3± miles along the Yampa River. Approximately 22± CFS of water rights. Approximately 160 acres under pivot irrigation. Approximately 300± acres of irrigated and sub-irrigated pasture. Four wells, five storage tanks, and 14 livestock tanks.
Add the extensive native rangelands, wildlife, hunting, bordering public lands, year-round access, and proximity to some of western Colorado’s most remarkable recreational country, and Sandhills Ranch becomes an offering that is increasingly difficult to replicate.
Sandhills Ranch is a working western ranch where water, productive agriculture, extensive grazing resources, the Yampa River, wildlife, and thousands of acres of open country come together to create an exceptional northwest Colorado agricultural holding.