When ancestral tribes of Native Americans wandered into Paint Rock Creek Canyon in what is now north-central Wyoming over 10,000 years ago, they knew they had found an exceptional place. Abundant fresh water, a mild climate and huge herds of game enticed them to call this place home for thousands of years. Today, this exceptional corner of Wyoming is occupied by amazing Paint Rock Canyon Ranch, a premier working legacy ranch that has been in the hands of only two families since it was homesteaded over a century ago. Thus, Paint Rock Canyon Ranch elegantly controls approximately 83,604 acres (7,177 deeded) with several miles of blue-ribbon trout streams, remarkably productive grasslands, fascinating archaeological sites and big game habitat that is second-to-none in the Rocky Mountains.

INTRODUCTION:

Paint Rock Canyon Creek is born on the western slopes of 13,165-foot Cloud Peak, the highest point in Wyoming's Bighorn Mountains, and then rushes many miles through a deep limestone canyon. At the foot of this canyon, the trout-rich creek breaks out into the Bighorn Basin at about 5000 feet, and into the holdings of Paint Rock Canyon Ranch, in a lovely setting of broad hay meadows fringed by red sandstone cliffs. Located at the end of the road, Paint Rock Canyon Ranch offers private Western grandeur like few ranches anywhere in the Rockies.

FISHING:

Paint Rock Canyon Creek and its tributary Medicine Lodge Creek offer more than 8 combined miles of private fishing for wild rainbow and brown trout that grow fat and strong. Several additional miles of fishing are directly adjacent to ranch on BLM land and rarely accessed by the public. Many fish reach 14 to 17 inches in these streams, and will rise readily to dry flies. The largest fish in the stream exceed over 20 inches. As the ranch is located high in the basin, water quantity is never an issue, and water quality is top-notch. Additionally, a couple of springs on the ranch could easily supply large trophy trout ponds.

HUNTING:

As the ancients discovered, wildlife thrives along Paint Rock Creek as well. Large resident herds of trophy elk, pronghorn, mule deer and whitetail deer can all be found on the ranch itself and on adjacent public lands. Commonly, herds of up to 600 elk can be seen in the ranch's meadows. Big game hunting is outstanding and very private, even on public land sections that are largely blocked in by the ranch's holdings. The ranch is rich with gamebirds as well: pheasants, turkey, chukkar, sharp-tailed grouse, geese, ducks and blue grouse are all present in huntable numbers on and around the ranch.

PRODUCTION:

In operation as a cattle or sheep ranch for over 100 years, Paint Rock Canyon Ranch has been fine-tuned as a commercial enterprise. Its irrigation rights are spectacular and about as senior as they come, and permit amazing crops of hay on over 1400 total irrigated acres. Each year the ranch's meadows produce over 3000 tons of hay, thanks in part to six pivots that irrigate nearly 1000 acres.

RANCHING:

Cattle ranching is the economic mainstay at Paint Rock Canyon, with 1250 cow/calf units currently supported. The unique foothills location of the ranch allows these animals to graze in the adjacent high country federal leases in the summer months, and in the lowlands to the west in the fall and winter months. The ranch's hay production support these animals throughout the winter, usually with an excess of hay to sell as well.

IMPROVEMENTS:

Physical improvements on Paint Rock Canyon Ranch are almost too many to enumerate. The cattle operation includes a full complement of barns, shops and outbuildings and a cow camp cabin on permitted Forest Service land. Two employee houses are included as well as a large apartment. The owner's compound is a spectacular, sprawling 4500-square foot home on a single level, with amazing views of the red bluffs of Medicine Lodge Canyon, the Paint Rock Canyon gorge and the distant Absaroka Range. It includes a state of the art kitchen and a 1000-square foot gym. Designed by a prominent California architect, it is filled with fascinating design details and fits into the Wyoming landscape perfectly. Close to the owner's house is a 2500-square foot guest house with its own 5-car garage. Two additional 2500-square-foot homes are also included on the ranch, one near the ranching community of Hyattville and another on the bench near the owner's complex. At Paint Rock Creek Canyon Ranch, there is never a shortage of space for guests!

YOUTH CAMP:

A final major improvement on this exceptional property is a youth camp constructed by the Alm Family Foundation, which has served disadvantaged youth from the Los Angeles area for several years. Its award-winning design includes a lodge and commercial kitchen and several cabins and dormitories. The youth camp may or may not be continued in operation, as per the buyer's decision.

CONSERVATION:

The Nature Conservancy has acquired a conservation easement on 4595 acres of the ranch property. The terms of this easement allow for a 1000 square foot retreat cabin and a second youth camp facility to be constructed within the easement boundaries if desired. The conservation easement allows for the best of the natural features and the agricultural use of the land to be preserved for generations to come.

RECREATION:

The western Bighorn Mountains are filled with recreational potential. In addition to the world-class hunting and fishing on the ranch, horseback riding, hiking and backpacking is available in the adjacent Bighorn National Forest and its Cloud Peak Wilderness Area. Almost in the backyard is the Medicine Lodge State Archaeological Site, with informative displays, fishing and camping. Cody and a regional airport, the eastern gateway to Yellowstone National Park, is only 90 minutes away, and the famous hot springs at Thermopolis are only about an hour's drive.

PRICE:

Yes, those ancient Americans who first found Paint Rock Creek knew a good thing when they found it. We at Harrigan Land Company know a good thing when we find it, too, and Paint Rock Canyon Ranch is like no other place we've visited. If you're intrigued by this one-of-a-kind legacy ranch, we can meet you there for your introduction to a part of Wyoming that we're confident that you'll never forget.