Keith Family Ranch

Held by one family since 1979, the 230± acre Keith Family Ranch sits on paved Hwy 151 near Ignacio CO and covers 230± contiguous deeded acres. Its productive core is 90± acres of flood-irrigated hay ground and pasture, served by 120 shares of The Pine River Canal Company. Beyond the meadows, dry grazing ground climbs into piñon-juniper hills that hold a resident elk herd, and the Southern Ute Indian Reservation forms the eastern boundary.

Land

The heart of the ranch is a broad valley floor of flood-irrigated meadow. The headquarters sits near the middle of the valley, with the irrigated ground spread around it and three ponds through the headquarters and pastures. Beyond the meadows, roughly 145 acres of dry grazing ground rise gently into piñon-juniper hills, including about 30 acres of timber and brush that give the elk herd cover. The higher ground looks out across the irrigated valley to the surrounding mesas and the San Juan foothills. The Southern Ute Indian Reservation borders the ranch to the east and there are Indian ruins and artifacts scatters throughout the property.

Improvements

The headquarters sits near the center of the ranch, surrounded by irrigated meadow. Every building is within a short walk of the house, the corrals and the ponds. The 1958 farmhouse has about 1,600 square feet including basement, with 3 bedrooms and 1 bathrooms. It’s heated by propane and a wood/pellet stove.
Main shop/barn. The 130 x 90 clear-span building covers about 11,700 square feet. That’s room for RVs, trucks, a stacked hay supply or the full equipment line under one roof. It has a dirt floor and is well suited to big equipment and stock.
Shop. The 30 x 45 shop is insulated, with a concrete floor, roll-up doors and bench space, so you can work on equipment year-round.
Livestock facilities. A hay barn, a covered livestock shelter, pipe corrals and a round pen handle cattle and horses. All of it sits close to the irrigated pastures.
Original homestead. The ranch’s original homestead still stands, a link to the property’s early history and a candidate for restoration.

Recreation

Located in in Game Management Unit 751, a resident elk herd, mule deer, wild turkey and black bear share the property, and it’s common to see wildlife in the meadows from the house. Three ponds add water and life to the headquarters and pastures. With corrals, a round pen and room to ride across irrigated meadow and up into the piñon-juniper hills, it’s well suited to horses.
Recreation within an hour: Durango is about 40 minutes away, with mountain biking, rafting on the Animas River and the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Purgatory Resort is about 70 minutes for skiing. Pagosa Springs, about 50 minutes, adds its hot springs and Wolf Creek Ski Area. Navajo Lake State Park lies down Highway 151 for boating, fishing and camping, and Vallecito Lake is nearby. Chimney Rock National Monument is also along Highway 151. To the north, the San Juan National Forest and Weminuche Wilderness open up hiking, horse packing, fishing and backcountry camping.

Agriculture

The irrigated meadows produce hay and alfalfa, and the dry grazing supports livestock through the season.

Water/Mineral Rights & Natural Resources

Water is the defining asset. The ranch holds 120 shares of The Pine River Canal Company, with certificates in hand, and lies within the Pine River Irrigation District. All shares convey with the ranch. Canal water runs from April through early October and flood-irrigates 90± acres of hay, alfalfa and pasture. A private well, with a pump replaced in 2020, serves the home, and three ponds hold water through the headquarters and pastures.

Region & Climate

The ranch sits at about 6,500 feet. Summers are warm and dry, with afternoon monsoon showers in July and August; winters are cold but sunny, and Highway 151 is maintained year-round. Average annual precipitation is about 14 inches, much of it arriving with the July–September monsoon. Snowfall totals about 38 inches over a typical winter, but it seldom comes more than a few inches at a time and is usually gone within a day. July highs average in the upper 80s, and January lows fall into the single digits.