Wallace Creek Ranch is a rare, large-scale Western Slope offering — 1,440± deeded acres of working agriculture, live water, and trophy big game country on the Western Slope of Colorado. Bordered by BLM ground for roughly two miles and sitting just a half-mile from the White River National Forest, the ranch combines the kind of contiguous deeded scale, public-land access, and productive ground that is increasingly difficult to assemble in today’s Colorado ranch market.
Tucked between the White River National Forest to the south and the Bookcliffs to the north, conveniently located off I70, the ranch captures mountain and valley views in every direction. Including roughly 350± acres of irrigated pasture and hay meadows anchors the working side of the operation, with the balance of the property carrying a rich mix of cedar, piñon pine, oak, mountain meadow, and cottonwood-lined creek bottom — the kind of habitat diversity that holds wildlife in numbers and gives an owner real options on how to use the land. Between the ranch, the BLM and Forest service permits(offered separately), the current operation carry’s 140 pairs from May to the end of December.
Wallace Creek Ranch is the kind of legacy Western Slope holding that delivers on every dimension a serious land buyer evaluates: scale, water, agriculture, hunting, public-land access, and long-term optionality.
Wallace Creek Ranch has operated historically as a cattle and hay operation, and the production base reflects it. Approximately 350± acres of irrigated pasture and hay meadows are supported by Wallace Creek water rights, with infrastructure that includes side-roll sprinklers, one big gun, a center pivot, and access to flood irrigation in portions of the property. Wallace Creek itself traverses the ranch for approximately one mile, and a small stocked pond sits at the upper end of the property, in addition to Spring Creek on the other side of the ranch providing great wildlife habitat.
The ranch carries three BLM grazing allotments(included) plus a Forest Service grazing allotment(offered seperatly) — a meaningful operational asset that extends summer carrying capacity well beyond what the deeded acreage alone could support. The ranch coupled with the permits currently and historically has carried 140 AUs and could be included in the purchase of the ranch and its permits. The property is unencumbered by conservation easements, leaving full flexibility for an incoming owner to operate, improve, or restructure the ranch as they see fit.
Ranch elevations range from 5,700 to 6,600 feet, climbing from creek bottoms through rolling irrigated pastures into cedar, piñon, and oak. The topography offers level, sloped, and rolling ground — opening up multiple potential building sites with nearby power and commanding views toward:
The mix of irrigated meadow, mountain timber, and two live-water creek bottoms create a visual variety — and a habitat variety — that simply doesn’t exist on most Western ranches at this scale.
Wallace Creek Ranch sits within Game Management Unit 42, one of the more accessible big game units on the Western Slope. The unit qualifies for over-the-counter elk tags during 2nd and 3rd Rifle seasons and is eligible for landowner deer vouchers annually — a meaningful advantage for owners who want a reliable hunt without burning preference points. Historically the ranch has received 6 landowner buck tags every season.
As the seasons progress into October and November, high numbers of elk and deer migrate onto the ranch and through this corridor, funneling off the surrounding BLM and National Forest country and onto the deeded ground. Hunting opportunity on the property includes:
With roughly two miles of common BLM boundary and the White River National Forest just a half-mile away, public-land access for hunting and recreation is effectively at the back door.
The true strength of Wallace Creek Ranch lies in its flexibility. At 1,440± contiguous deeded acres with live water, irrigation, three BLM allotments, and direct public-land access, the property supports a range of ownership models. A buyer can choose to:
This kind of diverse, multi-use Western Slope ranch — at this scale, with live water, irrigation, OTC hunting, and public-land access — is increasingly rare in the Colorado market.
Wallace Creek Ranch represents the increasingly scarce combination of scale, working agriculture, live water, public-land access, and trophy hunting in a single contiguous Colorado offering. Whether held as a legacy family property, a working cattle operation, a private recreation retreat, or a long-term land investment, the ranch is positioned to deliver lasting value across every dimension that matters to a serious land buyer.
“Upon my first visit to the ranch I felt like based on the maps, we would be right on top of the interstate. However, I was pleasantly surprised to discover the expanse of beautiful properties that are tucked away from the I70 corridor, seemingly completely unknown to its travelers. Quiet, peaceful, and views for days! Not what I had expected at all. Then there is the wildlife! No wonder they love this ranch, its big green pastures skirted by P&J edging their way out, and creek bottoms on both sides channeling the migration right into this property. Spring and into fall I can be enjoying this ranch with its year-round access. An hour forty to Vail, fifty minutes to Glenwood, the same for Grand Junction. Secluded but no isolated.”
— Reese Lovell, Listing Broker
Reese Lovell, Owner and Broker of Full Curl Ranches, grew up between the Arkansas River and Ozark Mountains, where his love for the outdoors and wildlife first took root. After falling in love with Colorado during family visits, Reese moved to the Rockies in 2014 and quickly built a reputation as a trusted expert in Western Colorado ranch real estate. Known for an investor’s eye, a knack for thinking outside the box, and a drive that defies the typical ranch broker mold, Reese has successfully led hundreds of millions of dollars in transactions, earning a reputation as a trusted advisor and lifelong partner to his clients. Reese and his wife, Alli, live the ranching lifestyle firsthand, operating South Rim Ranch and managing a personal portfolio of real estate investments. They share in active roles in their church, global missions, and conservation organizations. At the core, Reese and Alli are committed to living humbly, stewarding land responsibly, and honoring the gift of creation.
