Big Stick Ranch spans 605± deeded acres and is the only large acreage property within 15 minutes of
Durango, Colorado, offering direct access to the San Juan National Forest from within its boundary.
Positioned on the southern shoulder of the La Plata Mountains, the ranch borders approximately one mile
of National Forest to the north and one mile of BLM land to the south, which connects to the 6,450-acre
Perins Peak State Wildlife Area, creating exceptional opportunities for hunting, recreation, and wildlife
viewing. The landscape features open meadows, wooded slopes, and a diverse mix of old-and new-
growth aspen, Douglas fir, spruce, Gambel oak, serviceberry, and chokecherry, with elevations ranging from 8,400' to 9,260'. Accessed via County Road 124 and a recorded easement across a neighboring ranch, the property includes a natural spring and wildlife water tanks and remains unimproved aside from road and fencing. With no structures or conservation easements, it offers a blank canvas for a private mountain retreat or legacy estate, just 25 minutes from Durango-La Plata County Airport.
With no existing improvements, Big Stick Ranch serves as a true blank slate for its next owner. This land could be developed into a premier hunting property close to Durango, the new owner could complete with a cabin and corrals, transform this land into a private residence offering country living with city access, or craft this land into a cool-climate mountain retreat for those escaping hotter regions like Texas or Arizona.
LOCATION
The ranch is located at the base of the La Plata Mountains with clear in-your-face views of Baldy Peak (10,850'), Silver Mountain (12,388'), Deadwood Mountain (12,274'), and Hesperus Mountain (13,232'), SO you will never lack views!
HUNTING
Located in Game Management Unit 74, hunting has been the primary focus on the Big Stick Ranch, along with some cattle grazing. And the location of the ranch is prime for that, being located on a reach of USFS that is very difficult to get to unless from this property! The game population in the area (the ranch, USFS, BLM and SWA) includes Bear, Deer, Dusky (blue) Grouse, Elk, Rabbit, Squirrel, & Turkey. The property currently leases to a hunting outfitter on a year-to-year basis.
With almost a mile of San Juan National Forest boundary on the north, and 1-mile of boundary with BLM on the south, the property provides abundant access for hunting, horseback riding, and other recreational pursuits on the surrounding government
lands. The north accesses over 165,000-acres of USFS with a two-track trail directly to the forest from the property.
The BLM, 280 acres on the south border, is itself adjacent to a 2-mile border with Perins Peak State Wildlife Area, the total acreage of that SWA is 6,450-acres, managed for hunting only. Because it is a winter range for deer & elk it is closed to the public
December through April. Other times it can be accessed by the public for hunting, but only if they have a valid Hunting or fishing license or State Wildlife Area (SWA) pass.
Water: While the property has no water rights, it has a spring & some water tanks that support the wildlife. There are currently no wells on the property, as there was no need because of no structures, but properties in that area and north of Hwy 160 like the ranch,
do show good wells, reasonable depths and good production based on the information at the Division of Water Resources.
Here is the place at the end of the road, and against the forest, to build your legacy ranch close to Durango; In an area that supports that kind of improvement. No need to tear anything down. Go to the drawing board, drill some wells, build a barn,
run some horses, hunt that land, and live in a house of your dreams, and once in a while dash into town. It's all here for you to
build your vision.
