Mountain Lake Ranch
The Mountain Lake Ranch, at 228 acres, is located in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and in the watershed of the Cucharas River in western Huerfano County. It is bounded on the east and west by two prominent hogbacks. From Colorado Highway 12, the two hogbacks are the most visible features on the property.
The property provides a winter concentration area for wild turkey, summer and fall concentration area for black bear, and severe winter range for mule deer, and winter range for elk. There is also potential habitat for numerous wildlife species of concern, including northern leopard frog and Townsend’s big-eared bat.
Protection of the Mountain Lake Ranch enhances the efforts of land conservation by the Palmer Land Trust in the Cucharas River valley, where more than 315 acres of land have been protected. These private lands enhance the conserved public lands on the San Isabel National Forest to the west and south, as the private lands capture foothills, aquatic and riparian ecosystems that are poorly represented on the public lands.
