Sleeping Dog Ranch

Details & Features

Featuring nearly 2 miles of exceptional trout fishing and surrounded by Powderhorn Wilderness Area to the west, and the La Garita Wilderness to the south and east, Sleeping Dog Ranch represents the ultimate in Colorado retreats. There are inspiring views to the snowcapped peaks of the San Juan Range, and the timbered draws and exposed cliff bands to the north provide excellent habitat for the extensive elk, deer and Bighorn sheep populations in the area. The Sleeping Dog Ranch, perched at an elevation of nearly 9,100 feet, is located in the Gunnison River Basin in the northeast portion of Hinsdale County, Colorado. Hinsdale County is a true sportsmen’s paradise with nearly 95% of the land controlled by the US Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management offering access to seemingly infinite recreational land.

Live Water: Tumbling out of the San Juan Mountains into the Powderhorn Valley, Cebolla Creek forms as it collects water from hillside springs and mountain snowmelt. Making its way north to Blue Mesa Reservoir in Gunnison County, the Cebolla offers quality dry fly fishing. Cebolla Creek is described in the Flyfisher’s Guide to Colorado as offering “very good dry fly action” featuring an “excellent food base with strong hatches of all aquatic insects.” At other times, streamer fishing is a great way to bring bigger trout to the surface.The Sleeping Dog Ranch features approximately 1 ¾ miles of recently restored and enhanced fishing on Cebolla Creek, a freestone fishery teeming with trout. Both Cebolla Creek and the existing wetlands on the Sleeping Dog Ranch had been degraded by historic agricultural practices. More than 6,600 linear feet of Cebolla Creek on the ranch had been channelized or straightened, and roughly 50 acres of existing wetlands adjacent to the stream had been harmed. All wetlands and the stream channel had been impacted historically by ditching, filling, grazing, straightening and dredging.

Location: Located in Colorado’s famed management unit 66, the ranch boasts direct access to some of the West’s premium elk and mule deer habitat. This unit enjoys excellent bull to cow elk ratios and buck to doe ratios. In addition to the elk and deer seen on the ranch and on nearby public lands, Bighorn sheep, mountain lion and black bears are also common. Given the size of the ranch the owner has historically received numerous landowner elk and deer tags per year. It is possible to build up preference points for a trophy Bighorn sheep hunt and enjoy the challenge of stalking these majestic animals directly off the ranch.

Summary: The 309-acre Sleeping Dog Ranch, located in the picturesque San Juan Mountain Range offers recreational opportunities with nearby access to Gunnison National Park. This area offers some of the best fishing and hunting in the state, all within close proximity to the resort town of Gunnison. With exceptional dry fly and streamer fishing on nearly 2 miles of Cebolla Creek and plus the incredible big game hunting, Sleeping Dog Ranch is rich with sporting tradition.

• Powderhorn Wilderness Area
• La Garita Wilderness
• Elk, Deer And Bighorn Sheep