Flat Creek Ranch

Details & Features

Located less than an hour from the resort community of Jackson Hole, Flat Creek Ranch is a true spring creek offering in the heart of Star Valley in Thayne, Wyoming. The ranch consists of 138 +/- acres of open meadow pastures, mature cottonwood trees, willows and open grasslands with a half mile of the Salt River bordering the property on its western boundary. Flat Creek meanders through the heart of the ranch for ¾ mile providing an intimate spring creek fishery filled with native cutthroat and a healthy population of brown trout. Improvements on the ranch include a 2,900 sqft turnkey residence and a 600 sqft log guest cabin that overlooks Flat Creek and has mountain views in every direction. With a creekside home, incredible scenery and private spring creek fishing all within close proximity to the resort town of Jackson Hole, Flat Creek Ranch is a first class offering.Flat Creek Ranch is naturally divided into two distinct parcels by an elevated bench on the eastern border of approximately 30 acres and a low lying riparian river bottom and pasture parcel on the western border encompassing 110 acres. The Salt River lies on the western edge of the hay meadows and serves as the property boundary to the ranch. The Salt flows from the south through private lands before entering the ranch, and it continues north before meeting County Road 125, or Robert’s Road Bridge, the property’s northern boundary. Large stands of mature cottonwoods, dense willows and native grasses follow the Salt’s meandering path along its western edge providing critical riparian habitat for area species and a dramatic, scenic backdrop from the main residence and entire ranch.

Improvements include the main residence, detached three-car garage, guest log cabin and equipment shed. They are located in close proximity and easily accessible during the winter months on a flat well maintained drive. This property is offered as turnkey, which includes all furnishing in the buildings and the necessary equipment for life on the ranch. The main residence is ideally located on the edge of the bench overlooking the heart of the ranch and river bottoms and is well-appointed for entertaining guests. Built in 1983, the main residence is 2,900 sqft with three bedrooms and four and a half bathrooms, in addition to a loft area ideal for children.

Although there are hundreds of tributaries to the Salt River, many are spring creeks and are excellent fisheries in their own right, Flat Creek possesses the finer qualities that make it outstanding among all others. Flat Creek flows for ¾ mile at an estimated 10-15 CFS (cubic feet per second) similar to the area’s spring creeks. What Flat Creek offers that other fisheries might not is a significant gradient due to the property’s natural terrain features and elevation changes. This gradient creates an excellent natural flow, keeping the spring waters well-oxygenated and limiting weed growth, while still providing an excellent food source and habitat for the area’s trout populations. Anglers can maneuver easily along the banks of the entire creek with a vehicle or by foot while stalking rising trout behind willows and native grasses, undercut banks or long riffle runs. The lack of excessive weed growth in the creek provides fishermen the added advantage of presenting a dry fly accurately and uninhibited in the crystal clear spring waters.

The Salt River is a classic meadow fishery that flows through the center of Star Valley for approximately fifty miles. The river is navigable by small drift boat or raft, however receives minimal boat traffic. The tributaries to the river number in the hundreds, with over 75% of the summer flows from spring sources throughout the valley. Brown trout typically choose the Salt River system due to the incredible spring resources and the exceptionally fertile waters the river provides. Along with healthy populations of wild brown and cutthroat trout, the river supports a wide variety of food sources. The riffles, runs, pools and undercut banks host area insects such as blue-winged olives, pale morning duns (PMDs) and grey drakes. Additionally, there are many caddis and small, yellow stoneflies as well as freshwater shrimp.

The best fishing of the season is during the summer and early fall months when the larger terrestrials such as beetles and grasshoppers are hatching in abundance. This is a time when large dry flies resembling grasshoppers bring the largest trout to the surface to feed. The fall brings the migration of trophy brown trout resting on the bottom of deep pools, hungry and ready to dart out after something resembling a big meal. Browns are abundantly present in the river and valley spring creeks in deep pools throughout the year, and their numbers grow tenfold during the fall spawning run. During normal flows, the stream is ideal for wade fishing with shallow areas in the riffles that make fording the stream safe and easy. The streambed consists of smaller pebbles and rocks and is devoid of the huge boulders found in some freestone streams that make wading difficult. Resident trout, up to 24” in length and trophy browns up to 31”, migrate through the property each fall on their spawning run.

Flat Creek Ranch is a true sporting ranch offering an incoming owner a personal fishing experience on over a mile of private water, access to thousands of acres of nearby National Forest lands in a picturesque river bottom setting. This ranch is located in the heart of Star Valley, all within close proximity to modern day conveniences, and near to Jackson Hole resort amenities.

• 2,900 Sqft Turnkey Home
• 600 Sqft Guest Log Cabin
• Close To Jackson Hole