Hayden, Colorado
$3,549,000
340.7± Acres
YELLOW DOG RANCH
INTRODUCTION
Looking for the perfect acreage for your family’s recreation retreat and to hunt big game in Northwest Colorado? Look no further, as Yellow Dog Ranch has it all!
A diverse 340± acres bordering large ranches and perfectly centered in Northwest Colorado’s largest elk migratory corridor, Yellow Dog Ranch is a one-hour drive from Steamboat Springs and located just below Pilot’s Knob off County Road 80.
This family retreat is anchored by a large custom barn with a heated shop, a fully appointed kitchen, a living room with a fireplace, additional bedrooms, and a primary bedroom with a private deck overlooking the ponds.
Center of the universe for recreational amenities, Yellow Dog Ranch’s diverse acreage includes aspen, dark timber, open meadow, dispersed springs, large ponds, and every habitat benefit to attract big game in Colorado’s Game Unit 441. The four ponds include adjudicated water rights that protect the property’s environmental values in perpetuity and a developed spring that supplies abundant water for domestic uses. All ages of the family will appreciate the rainbow trout stocked ponds, which are ideal for aesthetics, recreation, and attracting wildlife.
Since 2007, the current owner has left no details untouched. The minute you enter the welded pipe, gated entrance or walk into the custom barn, you immediately recognize the thoughtful detail that went into developing this ranch and designing the barn’s functionality yet comfort for the entire family. Yellow Dog Ranch is not “just the guys hunting camp,” as the well-appointed kitchen will have the family’s gourmet chef reveling, and the primary bedroom’s private deck is perfect for a good book on a Sunday afternoon. Whether paddle boards on the ponds or marshmallow s’mores at the outdoor fire pit, Yellow Dog Ranch is the complete setting for making family memories.
In addition to Yellow Dog Ranch‘s on-site recreational amenities, you can access millions of acres of US Forest Service (USFS) lands directly from the ranch, including California Park and Slater Park. If you pack a picnic, there are ATV trails that go to Steamboat Lake and all the way to Wyoming.
Tour the Yellow Dog Ranch, and you, too, will appreciate the thoughtfulness and detail that went into perfecting this family retreat and recreational ranch in Northwest Colorado.
1 Yellow Dog Ranch | Hayden, Colorado
QUICK FACTS
• Perfect 340.7± acre recreational retreat close to Steamboat Springs
• Barndominium with heated shop and living quarters
• Private primary bedroom with private deck
• Located in Colorado Game Unit 441
• Additional bedrooms with full bathrooms
• Adjuducated and stocked ponds
• Diverse landscape: aspens, dark pine, meadows
• Excellent hunting for elk, mule deer, and bear
• Equipment available
• Off-grid with solar, lithium battery bank
• Backup propane generator
• Two-thousand gallons of propane
Yellow Dog Ranch | Hayden, Colorado
5 Yellow Dog Ranch | Hayden, Colorado
SCENIC VISTAS
Set at the base of Pilot Knob, the ranch spans aspen groves, open meadows, and dark pine forests. The rolling terrain sweeps down toward Hayden, offering layered views that shift from broad valley expanses to rugged ridgelines. As daylight fades, the lights of Hayden emerge softly in the valley below—tucked amidst Yampa Valley terrain. This gentle glow and vast stretches of unlit sky frame the town in a cinematic, tranquil dusk scene. Yellow Dog Ranch delivers an unforgettable sensory experience—sweeping mountain views by day, an intimate glow of Hayden at twilight, and stunning celestial views well into the night. It’s where landscape, light, and sky unite in perfect harmony.
7 Yellow Dog Ranch | Hayden, Colorado
Yellow Dog Ranch | Hayden, Colorado
Yellow Dog Ranch | Hayden, Colorado
Yellow Dog Ranch | Hayden, Colorado
RECREATION
Yellow Dog Ranch offers year-round recreation activities. Summertime is ideal for hiking, biking, ATVs, or watching wildflowers grow. Fall transitions to elk and deer hunting and making family memories around the outdoor fire pit. World-class snowmobiling and backcountry skiing during the winter months. This ranch is ideal for outdoor adventure, wildlife, and creating lasting memories in Colorado’s scenic backcountry.
HUNTING | WILDLIFE
The primary fall activity at Yellow Dog Ranch is big game hunting. The ranch lies within Colorado’s Game Unit 441 and hosts part of the state’s largest elk herd, the Bear’s Ears/White River population— estimated at 35,000–45,000 animals. Hunters enjoy high success rates, accessible OTC tags, and abundant bulls during all the hunt seasons. Due to the topography, abundant water and diverse tree to open meadow coverage, the ranch experiences good numbers of elk and deer.
Yellow Dog Ranch | Hayden, Colorado
FISHING
Yellow Dog Ranch offers fun, family-friendly fishing in its stocked ponds filled with lively rainbow trout. Nearby public lands provide scenic opportunities to catch brook trout and the occasional native cutthroat trout in clear mountain streams, creating a rewarding angling experience for all ages in Northwest Colorado’s unspoiled wilderness.
Yellow Dog Ranch | Hayden, Colorado
AREA HISTORY
Steamboat Springs and Hayden, Colorado, each have a rich and distinct history rooted in Native American heritage, pioneer settlement, ranching, and the development of recreation and tourism. The first known inhabitants of the Yampa Valley were the Ute tribe, who used the area for seasonal hunting and as a natural gathering place due to its hot springs and wildlife. By the late 1800s, ranchers and settlers moved in, drawn by fertile land, abundant resources, and mineral springs. Steamboat today is renowned for its western heritage, hot springs, and world-class skiing—earning the nickname “Ski Town, USA.”
Located just west of Steamboat Springs, Hayden was settled in the late 1800s and has retained its rural character. It has a strong agricultural base, rodeo traditions, and a close-knit community feel. Hayden also serves as a quieter alternative to Steamboat Springs, which is more tourism-driven.
Ute Indian Tribe 1913
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS & ACTIVITIES
Steamboat Springs, a world-class ski resort, is 60± minutes from the ranch. Known for its “Champagne Powder” and authentic Western charm, it offers over 3,000 acres of ski terrain and winter and summer resort amenities.
Steamboat Springs Ski Resort
Yellow Dog Ranch | Hayden, Colorado
LOCATION
Yellow Dog Ranch sits at an elevation of 8,500± feet in the heart of Northwest Colorado, offering the perfect balance of seclusion and accessibility. Its central location provides easy access to worldclass recreation and services—just an hour from Steamboat Springs, renowned for skiing, dining, and cultural events, and about an hour from Craig, home to larger grocery stores, hardware, and essential services. Only 30± minutes away, Hayden offers small-town charm, community events, and regional airport access. This ideal setting gives owners the rare advantage of enjoying pristine natural surroundings while remaining conveniently connected to Colorado’s vibrant resort and ranching communities.
GETTING THERE
From Steamboat Springs, go west on Highway 40. Turn north on County Road 70. Turn north on County Road 80. The ranch lies on the east side of County Road 80.
AIRPORT SERVICES
Yellow Dog Ranch benefits from convenient access to multiple nearby airports, supporting both general aviation and commercial air travel. Just 20± miles to the south, Yampa Valley Regional Airport (HDN) in Hayden offers year-round commercial flights—primarily to Denver—with seasonal service to additional major hubs. The airport also features Atlantic Aviation, providing full FBO services for private aircraft. For expanded airline connectivity, Denver International Airport (DIA) is approximately a three-hour drive away, offering a full range of domestic and international flights. Whether flying commercial or private, Yellow Dog Ranch is well-positioned for easy travel to and from Northwest Colorado.
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WATER RIGHTS
From Steamboat Springs, go west on Highway 40. Turn north on County Road 70. Turn north on County Road 80. The ranch lies on the east side of County Road 80.
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
Yellow Dog Ranch is not encumberd by a conservation easement and opportunity exists to protect the agriculture and wildlife values.
Each of us at Fay Ranches 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 Ranches has guided owners toward a legacy of conserving wide-open spaces, enhancing and creating fisheries and wildlife habitats, and implementing sustainable agricultural operations. Fay Ranches 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.
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Yellow Dog Ranch | Hayden, Colorado
SUMMARY
Yellow Dog Ranch is a premier 340± acre recreational retreat in Northwest Colorado, ideally located below Pilot’s Knob in the heart of elk country (GMU 441) and just an hour from Steamboat Springs. The ranch features diverse terrain— meadows, aspen, timber, ponds, and springs—perfect for big game hunting and family adventure. A custom barn anchors the property, complete with a gourmet kitchen, a heated shop, and a cozy living space. Rainbow trout–stocked ponds, water rights, and direct access to public lands like California Park and Slater Park enhance its appeal. Designed for comfort, functionality, and unforgettable family memories, Yellow Dog Ranch has it all.
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PRICE TERMS
$3,549,000 Cash
$2,198.16
Conventional Financing 1031 Exchange
CONTACT NOTICE
Please contact Ren Martyn, ALC, at (970) 846-3118 | rmartyn@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.
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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