Gallatin River Sanctuary

Listing Price: $799,000

Gallatin River Sanctuary is located just north of Gallatin Gateway in Gallatin County and sits between the larger city of Bozeman and the resort community of Big Sky. Fine dining, shopping, commercial air service, Montana State University, galleries and numerous other amenities can be found in Bozeman while Big Sky offers fine dining, excellent outdoor recreation and is in close proximity to Yellowstone National Park. The park can be accessed through the west entrance approximately an hour and a half from the property allowing an incoming landowner to enjoy over 3,400 square miles of recreational terrain.

With approximately 20 acres bordering both sides of a blue-ribbon fly fishing river, Gallatin River Sanctuary is the ideal setting for a future home and recreational paradise. The terrain includes fertile pastures, riparian corridors, sub-irrigated grass meadows, thickets, berry bushes and woodlands. The Spanish Peaks on the southern horizon create a beautiful backdrop to this incredible river property. Water amenities include over 1,000 feet on both sides of the Gallatin River, Cottonwood Creek, the Farmers Canal, and a spring fed pond. With these water features, fertile pastures and sub-irrigated grass meadows, Gallatin River Sanctuary would make an excellent horse property.

Gallatin River Sanctuary, with its tremendous beauty and diverse landscape offers several possible building sites. One of these sites is located approximately 200 feet from the banks of the Gallatin River. This private building envelope offers spectacular river views as well as views of the Spanish Peaks to the south. A septic permit has also been approved.

The Gallatin River flows for approximately 120 miles from the mountainous western area of Yellowstone National Park to Three Forks where it joins the Madison and Jefferson and flows into the Missouri River. The Gallatin is a well-known and popular Blue Ribbon troutstream that offers three species of trout with populations ranging to 4,000 fish a mile. Rainbows and browns, which are most common, range between 11 and 14 inches with the occasional 17 or 18 inch trout. As the Gallatin River leaves the canyon and continues its journey to Three Forks its pace slows and it widens making for typical riffles, pools and runs. Baetis and midge hatches begin in early March prior to runoff while salmonflies, golden stoneflies, PMD’s and yellow Sallies are effective after runoff.

Gallatin River Sanctuary encompasses over 1,000 feet on both sides of the Gallatin River while it makes its way to the Missouri. This section of the river is not readily floatable providing privacy for an incoming landowner. Thick riparian vegetation and deep undercut banks help to make the Gallatin a perfect trout fishery with numerous hatches including blue wing olives, caddis and hoppers. With ownership on both sides of the river, an incoming landowner has access to secluded islands and additional places to explore for premier fishing opportunities. The property also possesses Cottonwood Creek, a seasonal stream and the Farmers Canal. These waterways are useful in attracting several different species of song birds, upland birds and whitetail deer. Recorded water rights will transfer upon the sale.

Gallatin River Sanctuary is well known for its vast recreational opportunities. Three different ski resorts are within an hour drive from the property including Big Sky Ski and Summer Resort, best known for the most vertical drop in the lower 48 states. Yellowstone National Park, a short hour and a half drive from the property provides over 3,400 square miles of additional recreational possibilities such as fishing, hiking, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and camping. With mountain ranges such as the Bridgers, the Spanish Peaks and the Gallatin Range surrounding Bozeman there are several spots to rock or ice climb. There are thousands of hiking and mountain bike trails, camping destinations, hunting spots and high mountain lakes to fish that surround this beautiful area known to the Native Americans as “valley of the flowers”.

Gallating River Sanctuary with its 4 different water features attracts numerous species of song birds as well as pheasant, grouse and partridge. The property is a natural nesting area for Canadian geese, ducks, Sandhill Cranes and year-around eagles. The resident populations of whitetail deer are frequently seen in the beautiful sub-irrigated meadow. Fox, beaver and occasional moose provide wonderful viewing opportunities for the wildlife enthusiast.