This 100-acre property sits in Gunnison County, about 13 miles southwest of the City of Gunnison. It’s clearly visible from County Road 31 and Highway 149, a popular route for outdoor enthusiasts heading to the Curecanti National Recreation Area, Powderhorn, and Lake City.
Willow Creek Ranch was donated to Gunnison Ranchland Conservation Legacy (GRCL) by a conservation buyer in 2022. It’s currently used for dryland grazing under a local lease and features montane sagebrush shrublands and grasslands that support an incredible variety of wildlife.
The property is home to Gunnison Sage-grouse and American peregrine falcons, and provides critical winter habitat for bald eagles and ferruginous hawks—all Colorado Species of Concern. It also lies within ranges used by black bear, elk, mountain lion, and mule deer, including important summer and winter ranges, winter concentration areas, and a vital elk migration corridor.
Protecting Willow Creek Ranch also strengthens a growing network of conserved lands in the area. Within five miles of the property, five other conservation easements protect approximately 4,400 acres.
This project was fully donated, with transaction costs funded by the Gunnison Valley Land Preservation Board.