With year-round access just 15 minutes from Evergreen and under an hour from Denver, Upper Bear Headwaters Ranch lies in one of the most sought-after corridors of Colorados Front Range. Spanning 844 acres, the property has been held by descendants of Governor John Evans since 1924 and is now available for the first time in generations. This pristine mountain landscape features lush hay meadows along Vance Creek, which winds through the heart of the ranch before giving way to rising timbered slopes, rocky draws, grassy benches, and dramatic cliff faces above. Elevations range from 7,600 to 9,000 feet, offering diverse terrain and expansive viewsheds within the ranch boundaries. Flanked by the exclusive Evans Ranch to the west, Hicks Mountain Open Space to the north, and a mosaic of large or conserved holdings on all sides, the property is exceptionally well-blocked and protected. A conservation easement preserves the lands integrity while allowing for three residential sites and offering flexibility for thoughtful subdivision or shared ownership. Undeveloped and unspoiled, Upper Bear Headwaters Ranch represents a rare legacy opportunity in a region increasingly shaped by conservation values and long-term stewardship.

Hunting

The ranch is located in GMU 39, a unit that is mostly private land with limited public pressure due to its steep and challenging terrain. Upper Bear Headwaters Ranch offers excellent elk and mule deer habitat, featuring a mix of open creek bottoms and timbered hillsides. Elk tags are available through the draw, and the property qualifies for the landowner preference program through Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Upper Bear Headwaters Ranch is an optimal hunting property with a large number of resident elk and mule deer.

Fishing

Vance Creek that runs through the property does provide habitat to trout and could be a great candidate for stream enhancement, opening up the thick willows for casting lanes and developing deeper holes for fish to hold in. Just below the ranch boundary, Vance Creek becomes Upper Bear Creek, which offers ample public access to a classic small Colorado mountain stream only minutes away. For the adventurous angler, the headwaters of Bear Creek and numerous small alpine streams and ponds in the Mount Blue Sky Wilderness offer remote fly fishing for brook trout in a stunning high-country setting. Additionally, several of Colorados premier fisheries are within an hours drive, including the South Platte River near Deckers and Cheesman Canyonrenowned for its technical, year-round tailwater fly fishing.

Upper Bear Headwaters Ranch is located just 20 minutes west of Evergreen, Colorado, with year-round access via Upper Bear Creek Road, a county-maintained route. Properties of this scale and quality are increasingly rare in such proximity to the Denver Metro Area. Many owners in this corridor either commute to the city or rely on the area as a mountain retreat, making the ranchs location, just an hour from downtown Denver, a true standout.