SAGE CREEK RANCH
Fort Bridger, Wyoming
$25,495,000
8,689± Acres
INTRODUCTION
Sage Creek Ranch is arguably the premier big game hunting property available today. Spanning approximately 8,689 deeded acres in the picturesque southwest corner of Wyoming, it’s located just 5-10 miles southeast of Mountain View in Uinta County. The ranch controls Bureau of Land Management (BLM) grazing leases on an additional 18,000+ acres, and it borders the Wasatch National Forest for over 5 miles. Surrounded entirely by public land, the ranch offers a finite setting that ensures a truly endless expanse of recreational acreage with no private land interruptions. Ranch elevations start around 6600± feet on the lower portion of the ranch to 8,600± feet as you work south towards the Wasatch National Forest boundary. The bordering forest is part of an expansive National Forest complex and the High Uinta Wilderness area. These lands, the largest in southwestern Wyoming and northern Utah, provide remarkable recreational opportunities and wildlife benefits.
The mountainous watershed of Sage Creek is a robust, year-round flowing stream that runs through the heart of the ranch’s upper section for about 8+ miles. It eventually connects with Cottonwood Creek, which flows through the lower portion of the ranch for approximately 3± miles. The upper portions of the Sage Creek basin offer high aesthetic appeal, featuring aspen and pine-covered mountain land.
Fed by runoff from Sage Creek and Cottonwood Creek, the approximately 100-acre private Reed Reservoir offers significant water resources for the ranch. In addition to its vital role in irrigation, the reservoir serves as a fantastic recreational facility, featuring a world-class still water fishery and opportunities for water sports like water skiing and jet skiing.
Sage Creek Ranch offers a rare confluence of natural resources, containing an abundance of water, productive agricultural land, and diverse wildlife set within rolling to rugged topography mixed with open rangeland to riparian creek bottoms and aspen and evergreen-filled high country. The ranch epitomizes the Western lifestyle.
1 Sage Creek Ranch | Fort Bridger, Wyoming
QUICK FACTS
• 8,689± deeded acres
• Proven world-class big game hunting for trophyclass elk, mule deer, pronghorn, and black bear
• 5 year-long Trout Unlimited restoration project to be completed on Sage Creek, which runs through the ranch for 8± miles, by year-end 2025
• 100± acre private reservoir with trophy native cutthroat trout and tiger trout
• 10 big game landowner tags with the ability for more
• Approximately 5 miles of Forest Service Boundary
• 11± miles of year around live water
• Surrounded by public land
• Rich with wildlife-friendly habitat and productive ag land
• Approximately 1,500± acres irrigated via 6 pivots and flood irrigation
• Controls 18,000± acres of BLM grazing leases
• Comfortable improvements and recreational amenities
• The ranch has been very lightly grazed, and used as a tool to maximize wildlife habitat
• The ranch was recognized as the 2019 Green River Landowner of the Year for land stewardship efforts
• No Conservation Easement
• 20-45 minutes from Fort Bridger Airport serving general aviation and private flying
• 120± miles from Salt Lake City International Airport
Sage Creek Ranch | Fort Bridger, Wyoming
RANCH FACTS
The lower portion of Sage Creek Ranch, 2,007± acres sitting at around 6,600± feet of elevation, is open country comprised of irrigated land, including around 555± acres under pivot, rangeland, and a riparian corridor created by Cottonwood Creek which runs through this portion of the ranch for about 3± miles. The seller acquired the lower portion of the property after initially purchasing the upper portion for several important reasons. First, the water rights linked to the lower portion perfectly complemented those of the upper portion, giving the owner substantial control over water management on the ranch and effectively reducing any impacts on downstream users from the upper ranch. Additionally, the lower portion features a beautifully remodeled owner’s home and a renovated manager’s residence, offering extra accommodations for hunting partners or a dedicated space for a ranch manager.
Moreover, while the lower portion attracts pronghorn and mule deer, providing some sporting opportunities, it also offers a valuable agricultural income-producing component. A new owner can lease out the agricultural operation on this portion of the ranch, generating income while enjoying quality accommodations for overflow guests and maintaining control over water resources.
The upper portion of the ranch is comprised of approximately 6,682± acres of which approximately 4,400± acres are aspen, timber, flood irrigated meadows, two pivots planted in sainfoin, and sagebrush mountain range. Native range, sagebrush flats, the 100± acre trout filled Reed Reservoir and over 8+ miles of restored Sage Creek riparian creek bottom make up the balance of the upper ranch.
5 Sage Creek Ranch | Fort Bridger, Wyoming
7 Sage Creek Ranch | Fort Bridger, Wyoming
IMPROVEMENTS
The ranch is thoughtfully developed, offering a balance of functionality and comfort without excessive embellishments. The structures are well-suited to the environment, providing comfortable accommodations with some finer amenities.
LOWER RANCH IMPROVEMENTS:
• Owner’s Home: A 2,700± squarefoot single-story home, renovated in 2015, featuring 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and a 3-car attached garage. The home is finished with above-average quality.
• Manager’s Home: Just under 1,000± squarefoot, this 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom home was renovated in 2016 and is in good condition.
• Additional structures include a mobile home, an older shop, a livestock shed, and functional corrals.
UPPER RANCH IMPROVEMENTS:
• 1920s Owner Home: Renovated in 2009, this 2,000± square foot house offers 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and a 2-car garage, all in nice condition.
• Recreational Facilities: A shooting house, complete with power, water, sewer, and a 2-bedroom apartment, was built in 2019. Additionally, a 200± square foot elevated metal frame hunting blind with a bathroom is located on the upper ranch.
• Clery Brand Metal Shop: Constructed in 2014, this 4,000± square foot building includes a concrete slab, power, water, sewer, 2 bedrooms, and a bathroom.
AG FACILITIES:
• The upper ranch features approximately 21,000± square foot of functional working corrals with additional runs, pinch fencing, a loading chute, and a connected scale house.
• Two metal grain bins, with an estimated 10,000± cubic foot capacity each, complement the cattle facilities.
HISTORIC BUILDINGS:
• Two historic wooden buildings are present on the upper ranch, though they have no functional value.
Sage Creek Ranch | Fort Bridger, Wyoming
RECREATION BIG GAME AND UPLAND BIRD HUNTING
This area attracts hunters from around the world, drawn by its exceptional trophy-sized big game. Sage Creek Ranch should be considered an excellent sporting ranch for trophy elk, mule deer, and antelope thanks to the owner’s longstanding habitat and wildlife management efforts. Additionally, black bear and moose occupy the area. The ranch hunts productively in both archery and rifle season.
A new owner will not be short of an opportunity to pursue big game as the ranch currently has 10 big game landowner tags. Situated in Region K for deer, it offers 4 landowner deer tags. The ranch has 4 antelope tags; two in unit 95 an two in unit 99. Located in Unit 107 for elk, it includes 2 landowner bull elk tags, with the possibility of applying for more bull elk landowner tags. In addition to the 10 total landowner tags currently available, elk, mule deer, black bear, and antelope tags are generally obtainable annually for residents and are typically on a drawing system for non-residents.
According to the local Wyoming Game and Fish Biologist, the ranch is essentially a wildlife sanctuary as it is surrounded by public land with the ranch itself providing excellent habitat with its food (irrigated land as well as good mountain brush such as serviceberry), water, and cover. Through conversations with the game biologist, additional research, and observations during rides around the ranch, we’ve gathered valuable insights confirming the exceptional wildlife opportunities. As mentioned, the ranch serves as a sanctuary for elk and consequently, elk numbers on and around the
ranch are abundant with opportunities at bull elk in the 330-350 inches range.
Additionally, the ranch offers opportunities to encounter highcaliber trophy mule deer, with many reaching 190+ inches and some exceeding 200+ inches, with the only real limitation of opportunity being the winters and how the deer come through them on a given year.
Moreover, GoHunt.com reports a strong antelope population in the area, which our observations have confirmed. Hunters can expect ample opportunities to spot sizeable bucks on both the lower and upper portions of the ranch, as well as the adjacent BLM lands.
While the ranch is not heavily populated with black bears due to limited berry vegetation, evidence of a large black bear previously harvested on the ranch suggests there are hunting opportunities both.
Lastly, several sage grouse leks have been noted on or near the ranch and there is a healthy amount of sage grouse utilizing the ranch as nesting habitat.
The owner has previously enrolled a small portion of the deeded acreage in the “Access-Yes” hunting program. Hunting is walk in only and access are controlled, ensuring the sporting opportunities on the balance of the ranch remain unaffected. Enrollment in the “Access-Yes” program is a year-to-year commitment, and a new owner is not obligated to participate.
11 Sage Creek Ranch | Fort Bridger, Wyoming
FISHING RECREATION CONTINUED
Reed Reservoir is a private body of water located within the ranch’s deeded acreage, spanning nearly 100± acres. It’s ideal for water sports like water skiing and jet skiing and is also a world-class still-water fishery. It hosts native cutthroat trout weighing 10 to 12 pounds and tiger trout—a hybrid of brown and brook trout—reaching nearly 20 pounds, supported by abundant food sources. Additionally, the owner collaborated with aquatic experts from Montana to establish three professionally designed, permitted, and constructed ground-release ponds along Sage Creek, which also contain large trout.
Sage Creek runs through the upper portion of the ranch for approximately 8± miles and has been recognized as an instrumental tributary for the restoration of Colorado River cutthroat. Consequently, Trout Unlimited and the Wyoming Game and Fish have teamed with the current owner and are completing a 5-year long project that has involved improving fish passage, trout habitat, and riparian area habitat along 11± miles of Sage Creek, including a stretch on the adjoining Forest Service above the ranch, the entire reach of Sage Creek through the ranch, and a lower reach within the BLM ground adjoining the ranch to the north. While Sage Creek is not large, it will offer seasonal opportunities for a smallstream fishery. Once restoration is complete, it will support a vibrant, live-water ecosystem ideal for Colorado cutthroat trout. The enhanced cold-water stream will feature prime habitat, natural structure, and healthy riparian vegetation— creating a flourishing environment for both fish and wildlife.
OTHER
In addition to exceptional big game hunting and fly fishing, the ranch offers a variety of world-class recreational activities. Enjoy clay shooting with friends and family at the shooting house, water ski or jet ski on Reed Reservoir, and explore miles of trails by UTV or horseback. The ranch’s proximity to five miles of forest service boundary provides endless hiking opportunities both within and beyond its borders.
13 Sage Creek Ranch | Fort Bridger, Wyoming
Sage Creek Ranch | Fort Bridger, Wyoming
WATER & IRRIGATION
Water rights on the ranch are significant and since the owner has put the lower and upper parts of the ranch under single ownership, the combined water rights enable the owner to have significant control of the irrigation supply and water levels in the reservoir and streams that run through the ranch, allowing the Sage Creek ecosystem to thrive how an owner may desire.
The upper portion of the ranch includes two gravity-fed pivots and flood-irrigated meadows, managed primarily to benefit wildlife. Reed Reservoir—fed by Sage Creek and holding approximately 1,076 acre-feet of water— maintains levels ideal for fishing and water recreation throughout the summer and fall. It also provides water for downstream irrigation on the ranch, with distribution varying by year based on conditions and ownership objectives.
As part of the deeded acreage, Reed Reservoir’s water is exclusively utilized by Sage Creek Ranch, with flows controlled as it merges into Cottonwood Creek. From there, water is diverted into the income-producing lower ranch, supporting additional flood irrigation and pivot irrigation. 16 www.fayranches.com | 800.238.8616 | info@fayranches.com
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION
The current owner does not run a cattle operation but does lease some strategic grazing to enhance wildlife habitat and support conservation, which are the ranch’s primary goals. A neighbor runs about 80 head of cattle on the lower ranch for part of the year and another neighbor lightly grazes the upper portion of the ranch for a short amount of time. The ranch includes cattle grazing permits on approximately 18,000+ acres of adjoining BLM lands so if a new owner is interested in increasing production, the ranch has the infrastructure, water and grass to run a meaningful farm and ranch operation as proven by previous ownership.
With four pivots and additional grass, a new owner may consider the lower portion of the ranch as the incomeproducing arm of the ranch that can be run by the owner or leased to a tenant without interfering with the management and enjoyment of the upper portion of the ranch for its recreational pursuits while generating a meaningful revenue stream.
OTHER INCOME POTENTIAL
The minerals and the water on the ranch are assets one could explore as income generators if one desired.
TROUT UNLIMITED AQUATICS
RESTORATION PROJECT
Five years ago, in 2020, Trout Unlimited (TU), the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and the Sage Creek Ranch owner embarked on a critical initiative to restore the Colorado River cutthroat trout, identifying Sage Creek as a pivotal area for this endeavor.
This project has transformed over 11 miles of Sage Creek running from Forest Service, entirely through Sage Creek Ranch and the adjoining BLM, enhancing fish passage and increasing the creek’s habitat to nearly three times more than before. By redirecting the water back to its natural channel in strategic areas, the creek’s ecological balance is being restored. Key efforts include the introduction of over 20+ rock riffle structures, the creation of several deep pools, and the addition of log habitat structures in multiple areas, all of which contribute to a thriving aquatic environment. Replacing culverts and improving diversions have further facilitated fish movement.
Riparian habitat improvements, set for completion by the end of 2025, involve planting new cottonwood trees, installing wildlife-friendly fencing, enhancing wetlands, and seeding and planting new riparian vegetation. These actions are vital for sustaining a healthy ecosystem along Sage Creek and ensuring the long-term quality of the fishery. In 2025, as the project nears completion, TU plans to continue seeding and planting vegetation, enhance the upper diversion, conduct
maintenance on restored stream sections, improve the Reed Reservoir diversion, and install riparian fencing on the BLM section during spring and summer.
This project is essential for the revival of the Colorado River cutthroat trout. As the habitat restoration phase concludes, the final step involves removing the existing fish population in Sage Creek and stocking the Colorado River cutthroat trout to restore and establish a thriving population. This project not only revitalizes a native species but also enriches the entire ecosystem, ensuring its resilience for future generations.
The outcome of this project will be instrumental in restoring the Colorado River cutthroat trout. The ranch will enjoy a thriving, healthy cold-water stream filled with riffles, runs, pools, and natural structures where Trout can flourish. Additionally, it will support a vibrant and productive riparian ecosystem. For a new owner, seeing this project to completion and ensuring its maintenance is crucial for preserving these ecological benefits and sustaining the trout population for generations to come.
19 Sage Creek Ranch | Fort Bridger, Wyoming
21 Sage Creek Ranch | Fort Bridger, Wyoming
LOCATION & ACCESS
Sage Creek Ranch is ideally situated near the Wasatch and Ashley National Forests, the High Uinta Wilderness Area, and the Flaming Gorge National Recreational Area, known for its exceptional fishing opportunities for trophy German brown and lake trout.
Located on the eastern side of the Bridger Valley, the ranch is in close proximity to small rural communities such as Fort Bridger, Lyman, and Mountain View. These towns offer essential services, including schools, government offices, churches, banks, grocery stores, and agricultural support.
For additional services, Evanston is about 40± miles to the west, while Salt Lake City and Ogden, Utah, are approximately 110-120 miles away, offering comprehensive services.
www.fayranches.com | 800.238.8616 | info@fayranches.com
UINTA COUNTY OVERVIEW
Uinta County, the twenty-second largest in Wyoming, spans approximately 2,082 square miles and has a population of around 21,118±. Situated in the southwestern corner of Wyoming, the county was formed in 1869. Originally extending from Utah to Montana, it was reduced to its current size in 1911 with the creation of Lincoln County.
AIRPORT SERVICES
Private air travel is facilitated by airports in Fort Bridger (6,400-foot runway) and Evanston (7,300-foot runway), both providing convenient access. For commercial flights, Salt Lake City International Airport is about a 120± mile drive from the ranch.
23 Sage Creek Ranch | Fort Bridger, Wyoming
25 Sage Creek Ranch | Fort Bridger, Wyoming
MINERAL RIGHTS
All mineral rights appurtenant to the property and owned by the seller will convey to the buyer at closing. Mineral rights are not guaranteed. It is suggested that the buyer conduct a mineral search with a title company.
CONSERVATION | STEWARDSHIP
The Sage Creek Ranch is not encumbered by a Conservation Easement but proves to be an excellent candidate for a conservation easement if a new owner wants to explore as the seller has been approached by multiple land trusts regarding the opportunity of a conservation easement.
The current owner was honored as the 2019 Green River Region Landowner of the Year for outstanding conservation and wildlife habitat enhancement efforts. Over the past 15± years, they have transformed the property by replacing miles of barbed wire with wildlife-friendly fencing and lightly and strategically grazing cattle while protecting riparian areas. They’ve added pivots to boost wildlife forage and introduced three new bottom-release aerated ponds stocked with native cutthroat trout. Reed Reservoir has also been enhanced and remains available for angling and water sports year-round.
Each of us at Fay loves the land and wants to see it remain a productive agricultural ground and a quality fish and wildlife habitat. Through promoting thoughtful land stewardship, Fay has guided owners toward a legacy of conserving wide-open spaces, enhancing and creating fisheries and wildlife habitats, and implementing sustainable agricultural operations. Fay is proud to say that since our company began in 1992, our clients’ conservation ethics and land-use practices have significantly enhanced our work landscape.
Sage Creek Ranch | Fort Bridger, Wyoming
Sage Creek Ranch, located in southwestern Wyoming near Mountain View, spans approximately 8,689± deeded acres and is renowned for its world-class sporting pursuits while also offering an agricultural income component. The ranch is augmented by BLM grazing leases on over 18,000 acres and borders the Wasatch National Forest for approximately 5± miles, offering expansive recreational opportunities. Elevations range from 6,600 to 8,600 feet, with landscapes featuring productive irrigated ground, sage plains, riparian creek bottoms, and aspen and pine-covered mountains. Sage Creek, recently restored for Colorado Cutthroat Trout habitat, and Cottonwood Creek enhance the ranch’s aesthetic and agricultural value, feeding the 100-acre Reed Reservoir, which supports irrigation and recreational activities like fly angling for trophy-class Trout and water sports. The ranch combines abundant natural resources, diverse wildlife, and a variety of terrains, embodying the Western lifestyle with its blend of irrigated lands, riparian areas, and high mountain ranges.
Sage Creek Ranch | Fort Bridger, Wyoming
North Portion
South Portion
Please contact Curtis Ferney at (208) 709-0001 | cferney@fayranches.com to schedule a showing. This is an exclusive listing. An agent from Fay Ranches, Inc. must be present at all showings, unless otherwise noted or other arrangements are made. To view other properties we have listed, please visit our web page at www. fayranches.com.
$25,495,000 Cash
Conventional Financing 1031 Exchange
Offer is subject to errors, omissions, prior sale, change or withdrawal without notice, and approval of purchase by owner. Information regarding land classification, carrying capacities, maps, etc., is intended only as a general guideline and has been provided by the owners and other sources deemed reliable, but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Prospective purchasers are encouraged to research the information to their own satisfaction.
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