2004 & 2005 years granted
70 acres
Water rights encumbered
Conservation Values Protected
- Agricultural Open Space: This conservation easement is located on the larger Gold Run Ranch, which was homesteaded in the early 1900s. The original owner, Ernest Ray, raised sheep on the property until the late 1950s. Gold Run Ranch is still a working ranch, producing organic grass-fed beef that is hormone-free, pesticide-free, and steroid-free. The ranch has also been home to a small herd of bison, along Willow Creek, the first major tributary of the Colorado River.
- Scenic Open Space: The public can view this scenic open ranchland property from CO 125. Four other conservation easements held by Colorado Headwaters Land Trust on property owned by the same landowner are located nearby. This easement borders both BLM land and the Arapaho National Forest.
- Wildlife Habitat: The property provides habitat to many species of wildlife, including elk, mule deer, black bear, mountain lion, moose, red fox, porcupine, and pine chickaree. There is an elk migratory corridor that comes from the Trail Creek drainage and C Lazy U Ranch to the east, down Gold Run, and across CO 125 into the hay meadows and riparian habitat of Willow Creek on the south side of the highway. Blue grouse and sage grouse can be found on the property, as well.