Cottonwood Ranch On The Yellowstone

Nestled just five miles east of Columbus, Montana, Cottonwood Ranch on the Yellowstone presents a rare and pristine 440± acre retreat along one of the West’s most celebrated rivers. With about two miles of live water frontage, including both primary and side channels of the Yellowstone River, the property offers exceptional access to a dynamic and wild riparian ecosystem. This stretch of the Yellowstone is known for its beauty, vitality, and recreational richness.

Approximately 200± acres of the ranch are covered in mature cottonwood bottomlands—a lush and diverse habitat that supports robust wildlife populations. The balance of the acreage transitions into productive pastureland, much of which is flood irrigated, adding agricultural value to the sporting potential. A long-term tenant has managed the ranch for over 25 years, maintaining a modest cow/calf operation and putting up hay annually. Improvements include a basic ranch house, livestock corrals, and various utility structures—functional but aged, providing a blank canvas for new ownership.

Approximately 120± acres sit outside the floodplain, offering elevated and highly desirable building sites for a home, lodge, or cabins. This unspoiled land boasts strong populations of whitetail deer, wild turkey, elk, waterfowl, and pheasant, along with diverse fishing opportunities. Additionally, the property has the tools in place for habitat improvements to be made to further maximize the sporting and agricultural potential.

Easily accessed year-round via a private end-of-the-road setting, the property offers both seclusion and proximity to amenities—just 45± minutes from Billings and an hour and 45± minutes from Bozeman. Cottonwood Ranch on the Yellowstone is an extraordinary opportunity to own a generational property rich with natural beauty, recreation, and future potential.