North Fork River Ranch

North Fork River Ranch: Water Rights, Irrigation, and River Frontage

Welcome to North Fork River Ranch, a productive agricultural and recreational property situated on 357± acres in the North Fork Valley just outside the charming town of Hotchkiss, Colorado. This ranch boasts a strong history of hay production with years of carefully maintained soil, abundant water, waterfowl and big game animals, and over a mile of river frontage on the North Fork of the Gunnison River.

Key Features
• Highly Productive Farmland: Short Ditch feeds a several center pivots, watering over 185± acres, excellent for hay production and autumn grazing. The ranch has been 100% organic for nearly 20 years. Also, there is no conservation easement on the property.
• Wildlife & Recreation: There is over 1 mile of North Fork of the Gunnison River on the west end of the property, and 10 ponds scattered across the ranch. This property is eligible to apply for the Landowner Preference Program, and there is a resident elk herd and trophy mule deer in the river valley.
• Residence & Improvements: There are two homes on the ranch, multiple outbuildings, storage sheds, and all farm equipment needed to maintain the ranch is included in the sale. There are solar panels that sell power back to DMEA to off set power costs.
• Water Rights: Includes 116.5± shares of Short Ditch Company, 116.5± shares of Short Ditch Extension Company, and 237.5± shares of The Smith McKnight Ditch Company—supporting reliable irrigation across the ranch.

Located in Game Management Unit 63, this 367± acre ranch meets the requirements to apply for landowner hunting tags through the Landowner Preference Program, and a resident elk herd and trophy mule deer frequent the property throughout the year. The 1± mile of North Fork of the Gunnison River that runs on the west end of the property offers excellent fishing for rainbow and brown trout, and the 10 ponds on the ranch are multi-use between waterfowl habitat, sediment control and irrigation. The mix of hay fields and abundant water creates the perfect scenario for successfully filling your game tags.

North Fork River Ranch is supported by substantial and historically reliable water rights, critical to its long-standing productivity. The property includes 116.5± shares of the Short Ditch Company, 116.5 shares of the Short Ditch Extension Company, and 237.5± shares of The Smith McKnight Ditch Company. These combined rights ensure consistent irrigation for over 185± acres of hay fields, feeding multiple center pivots and enhancing both crop yield and livestock grazing capacity.
The main residence with 3 beds and 3 baths, is perfect for your family, and the second home has potential to be a caretaker home or an income producing rental. In addition, there are several outbuildings including 3 Quonset hut buildings, a grain silo, a workshop, and a storage shed, ensuring ample storage for all your farming equipment. All the equipment necessary to turn the soil, put up hay, and maintain the land is included in the sale of the property, making it a turnkey investment ready for its next steward.

The ranch is well connected being just minutes from the town of Hotchkiss, Colorado, 30 minutes from Delta, and 1 hour from Montrose and the Montrose Telluride Regional Airport, ensuring easy travel and access to amenities such as grocery stores, shopping, and the hospital. The recreational options in the North Fork Valley are endless, from hiking and biking, to horseback riding, fishing, rafting, and hunting or taking tours of the local wineries and fruit orchards.

Whether you’re looking for a productive hay farm, a recreational retreat, or a long-term land investment, North Fork River Ranch offers an incredible mix of water, wildlife, in one of Colorado’s most desirable valleys.