Location & Area:
The ranch is near the historic town of Trinidad in Southern Colorado, conveniently located along I-25, only 21 miles north of Raton, New Mexico and 116 miles south of Colorado Springs (which serves as the closest major airport). Trinidad is situated in the Purgatoire River Valley near the base of Raton Pass and in the past was along the upper branch of the Santa Fe Trail. Today Trinidad is home to around 9,000 residents, most major services and the Trinidad State Junior College.

The area has an average annual precipitation of 15.5 inches and has a semi-arid climate. Summer days are hot, but due to Trinidad’s high elevation (6,010 ft.), summer nights are cool and temperatures drop sharply after sunset. Winters are cold, but more mild than most mountain towns in Colorado.

Ranch Setting:
The setting of this ranch is among one of its greatest attributes. Located just 6.5 miles from town, this ranch is very accessible yet it has a very secluded feel. The ranch sits in the foothills below the base of Fishers Peak and nearby Barela Mesa and has spectacular mountain and rugged rangeland views from the Spanish Peaks up north to Mesa de Maya way out east. This is truly a picturesque western setting that has great working ranch and recreational features that are hard to find in one ranch offering.

Wildlife:
Located in Colorado Game Unit 140 the San Miguel Creek Ranch has fantastic hunting opportunities for the avid sportsman including mule deer, elk, antelope, bear, mountain lion, bobcat, turkey and other diverse species of birds. The tree cover includes cedars, pinions and “buck brush” with some cottonwoods and willows in the creek draws.

Land & Water:
The San Miguel Creek Ranch has diverse landscapes that have been very well cared for. There are 7 fenced pastures that have excellent warm season and cool season native grasses for grazing. The ranch typically runs 175 cow/calf pairs year round. The ranch is well watered and has a spring-fed pipeline that carries water to 16 stock tanks throughout the ranch. There are many dirt ponds and 5 creeks on the property, of which 3 are seasonal and 2 are year-round including San Miguel Creek- these are excellent water sources for livestock and wildlife. The topography changes over 1,000 feet (from 6,000 to 7,000) on the ranch and has a beautiful mix of timber and brush covered hills and ridges, separated by good grass valleys. The ranch is not encumbered by any conservation easements, although it would be a good candidate for one.

The ranch also utilizes an adjoining State Land grazing lease of approx. 480 acres on the NE boundary of the deeded land, plus an additional 1,200 acres of private grazing lease adjoining the deeded also. There is a parcel of 120 acres within the ranch boundary that is not owned by seller, but not fenced out either…this could be pursued by a new owner.

Improvements:
Main home: This very nice 3,500-square-foot, 2-story home was built in 2011. It has 3 bedrooms and 3 baths, granite countertops, big windows to capture the views, upgraded finishes plus a covered deck to enjoy those magnificent sunsets! The home sits on the ridge overlooking the ranch valley with huge views of Fishers Peak and the surrounding mesas and mountains. In this barnyard you also have a metal shop/barn and cute tack shed in the horse corral.

2nd home site: a well maintained manufactured home with an addition for a total of approximately 3,500 square feet. It has 4 bedrooms and 3 baths. Plus, there is a nice large metal shop/barn at this home location, too.

3rd home site: an older ranch home that sits at the established cattle headquarters of the ranch. It is 2,000 square feet and has 2 bedrooms and 1 bath. At this location there are pipe livestock corrals and sheds, a large Quonset barn and multiple railroad box cars for storage.

Taxes: 2014 taxes were $3,642