Prickl y Pear Mountain Ranch CANYON CREEK, MONTANA Fly Fishing Hunting Ranching Conservation
Prickl y Pear Mountain Ranch CANYON CREEK, MONTANA Introduction: Situated in the Little Prickly Pear Valley, 22 miles northwest of Helena, Montana, is the Prickly Pear Mountain Ranch. Comprised of 1,338 deeded acres and Play video of the ranch 800 BLM acres, including 320 acres of riparian corridor and 1,800 acres in a variety of unique mountain terrain, the ranch offers habitat to wildlife including elk, Whitetail and Mule deer, mountain lion, black bear, and the occasional grizzly bear or wolf. Surrounded by public land on three sides, an incoming owner will enjoy privacy and peace unrivaled by other ranches. Little Prickly Pear Creek runs through the ranch for approximately one mile providing onsite fishing opportunities for rainbow, brook and brown trout. Naturally appealing, the irrigated meadows accent the valley meadows of the ranch, some of which are used for hay production. Year round accessibility provides the opportunity to live on the ranch continually or make this a summer vacation property. Improvements include a custom 4-bedroom main home and Herb s House, a 4-bedroom guesthouse. Prickly Pear Mountain Ranch is an ideal choice for a family or corporate retreat. Craig Janssen, Montana Managing Broker Jack McInerney, Sales Associate Toll Free: 866.734.6100 Office: 406.586.6010
Location: The Prickly Pear Mountain Ranch is located 4 miles east of the small community of Canyon Creek, and approximately 22 miles northwest of Helena, the state capital of Montana. Nearby amenities include hotels, dining, shopping, museums, quality healthcare and the Helena Regional Airport, which offers daily flights to Denver and Salt Lake City. Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks are 3 to 4 hours away, providing endless exploration of the outdoors. These two parks are historic, and yet feel timeless. Acreage: Comprised of 1,338 deeded acres with an adjoining 800-acre BLM lease, including 320 acres of riparian corridor and 1,800 acres in a variety of unique mountain terrain, the ranch acreage is naturally appealing. Irrigated meadows accent the valley of the ranch, some of which are used for hay production. Year round accessibility provides the opportunity to live on the ranch continually or make this a summer vacation property. Significant stands of Douglas Fir and Ponderosa Pine are present from the creek through the upper reaches of the ranch. The creekside and wetland areas are populated with alder, cottonwood and aspen trees. Timber stands throughout the ranch appear to be in good health and provide cover for wildlife.
Improvements: This immaculate 4,987 sqft log home is ideal for year round living or as a second home with plenty of room for visiting family and friends. The residence boasts a spectacular gourmet kitchen, expansive living room with massive stone fireplace, upstairs master suite, library and main floor bedroom and bath. The remaining upstairs living area is accessed by separate entry and includes a 2-bedroom, 1-bath mother in-law suite with kitchen and living room. The sprawling outdoor spaces feature large decks and patios. This custom home was constructed with expert craftsmanship by a well-known Helena builder. The attached 3-car garage and greenhouse add to the overall functionality of the home.
Improvements: (Continued) The guesthouse or Herb s House was originally constructed in 1979. It is a split entry design with main access off the attached garage and stairs leading up to main floor and down to basement. The main floor has 2 bedrooms, bath and an open living room and kitchen. The dining area enjoys glass doors leading to a wood deck at front of the house all situated to look down the stream valley to the east. The walkout basement offers entry onto a comfortable patio shaded by the upstairs deck. This level includes 2 additional bedrooms, bath and a large family room that can also be used as a game room with a quality pool table ready for all challengers. The attached garage has a storage area with built-in shelving and double overhead door with an automatic opener. The guest house roof was replaced during the summer of 2012. Located near the guest house is a newer 30 x 22 detached garage. Several older buildings reminiscent of the Wild West are situated around the ranch. These include, barns, cabins and a horse shelter.
Area: Canyon Creek was formerly called Georgetown. It takes its present name from the creek that flows through a canyon to the Missouri River. The town, which has had a post office continuously since 1871, now serves as an outpost for the ranches of the Prickly Pear Valley. The general store and fuel station is located a few miles northwest of Helena. Canyon Creek is located a few miles from Marysville, a former gold camp that is now almost a ghost town. The small community of Marysville has several buildings on the National Historic Register. The Marysville/Austin System Snowmobile Trail, Great Divide Ski Area, Stemple Pass Ski Trail and Helena National Forest are also nearby. Ranch Operation: In recent years, the ranch has been leased to a neighbor for both grazing and hay production. With the emphasis by the owners of maintaining riparian and rangeland health and wildlife habitat, the current lessee has operated the ranch in a method to meet the owner s goals.
Live Water: Little Prickly Pear Creek flows through the property for approximately 1 mile and is the ideal size for wade fishing with plenty of casting room. Basic stream enhancement work has improved the creek, and it fishes very well with rainbow, brook and brown trout being the most prolific. The creek headwaters are situated near the Continental Divide, a few miles west of the ranch. Once onsite, the creek takes on the character of an idyllic meadow fishery as it meanders through hay ground and bends in the shadow of the bracketing mountains. From its deep slots and undercut banks lined with lush vegetation and healthy willows, to its classic riffle run pool dynamic, Little Prickly Pear Creek provides an excellent trout habitat. Due to the abundance of food sources such as mayflies, caddis, and stoneflies, the trout inhabiting the deepest holes have good size, with a few bigger ones from time to time allowing for the classic fisherman stories. Little Prickly Pear Creek is the ideal light tackle fishery for stalking and fooling the wary resident trout. This alder and willow lined fishery features multiple deep holes with crystal clear water for targeting the nimble feeders of the deep. The stream flows become slightly lower in late summer with trout gathering into the bigger pools. Several springs provide consistent cold, clear water making Little Prickly Pear Creek an excellent candidate for further enhancement work to create more deep runs and holding water.
History: Native Americans inhabited the valley in which greater Helena is situated more than 12,000 years ago. Although never serving as the permanent home of any particular tribe, the valley was a crossover area for Salish, Crow, Bannock and Blackfeet tribal members. In 1805, members of the Lewis and Clark expedition were the first white men to visit the valley. While investigating the area on foot, William Clark stepped on and had to remove 17 cactus spines from his feet. This caused him to name the nearby creek and valley Prickly Pear. In the early nineteenth century trappers came to the area, later to be pushed aside by groups of white settlers. In 1862, a group of immigrants in a wagon train decided to build homes for the winter in Prickly Pear Valley, however this settlement proved temporary. In 1864, four ex-confederate soldiers from Georgia discovered placer gold in Last Chance Gulch, the heart of Helena s present-day downtown. The gold strike attracted hundreds of miners eager to find riches. Over the next 20 years 3.5 billion dollars worth of gold was discovered in the gulch. By 1888, Helena was home to more millionaires per capita than anywhere else in the world. Early settlers considered naming their new boom town Pumpkinville or Squashtown, but instead settled on the suggestion of John Somerville, who named the place after his hometown of Helena in Minnesota. The inhabitants chose to pronounce it HELL-uh-nuh, with the accent on the first syllable. Climate: Average temperatures range from a high in July and August near 70s, to low averages of 20s in December and January. Most of the precipitation happens in the spring and summer, with May and June accounting for the highest average amount of 1.8 inches. The Helena Valley s days of sunshine are near the national average, with July and August higher and November and December slightly lower.
Nearby Live Water: The Madison, Gallatin, and Yellowstone Rivers are located nearby the ranch, and are arguably the most famous fly fishing rivers in the world thanks to their scenic beauty, incredible numbers and size of trout, and the legendary anglers who helped put them on the map. The Madison, Gallatin, and Yellowstone Rivers are known for their dry-fly fishing from blue-winged olives and midges in the spring, the salmon fly hatch in June, mayflies, caddis, hoppers, and terrestrials in the summer, and back to blue-winged olives and midges in the fall and winter. Throw in some of the best streamer fishing in the state as well as great nymph fishing, and there is a variety of rivers that can provide a lifetime of entertainment for beginners as well as seasoned veterans looking for those 24-inch-plus lunkers. Other nearby world-class trout rivers include the Jefferson, Ruby, Big Hole, Missouri, and Beaverhead Rivers. Several renowned spring creek fisheries are also close at hand. The Milesnick Ranch offers challenging dry fly fishing about five miles from the ranch. About 30 miles away in the Paradise Valley along the Yellowstone River, the DePuy, Armstrong, and Nelson spring creeks attract anglers from across the globe. Along with all those opportunities, other tributaries, spring creeks, and mountain lakes in the area are there waiting for discovery. Wildlife: Along with the varied terrain and habitat comes an incredible diversity of wildlife. Many species of big game animals can be found on the ranch and the surrounding national forest. An incoming owner can expect excellent big game hunting opportunities for elk, Mule and Whitetail deer, Black bear, mountain lion, Sharptailed and Mountain grouse. The surrounding area and the ranch specifically offer great potential for trophy quality elk and Mule deer.
Summary Prickly Pear Mountain Ranch is a unique offering with a serene ranch feel, stunning views, ample wildlife and an incredible custom home. The close proximity to Montana s capital of Helena provides nearby amenities. With private creek fishing onsite and plentiful recreational opportunities close at hand, Prickly Pear Mountain Ranch is an ideal escape in a striking valley setting in the Rocky Mountain West. PRICE: $3,750,000 TAXES: $9,639 in 2014 The adjoining caretaker s house on 1.7 acres (separated from the main ranch by county road) is available for an additional $200,000 to the purchase. Notes: CONTACT: Craig Janssen, Montana Managing Broker Jack McInerney, Sales Associate Toll Free: 866.734.6100 Office: 406.586.6010 1) This is an exclusive listing of Live Water Properties LLC; an agent of Live Water Properties must be present to conduct a showing. The owners respectfully request that other agents and/or prospective buyers contact Live Water Properties in advance to schedule a proper showing and do not attempt to tour or trespass the property on their own. Thank you. 2) Offering subject to errors, omissions, prior sale, change or withdrawal without notice, and approval of purchase by owner. Information provided herein is intended as a general guideline and has been provided by sources deemed reliable, but the accuracy of which we cannot guarantee. 3) Live Water Properties LLC represents the Seller as a Seller s Agent.
Prickl y Pear Mountain Ranch Public Lands Map (Orange - BLM land, Blue - State land, Green - National forest) Maps are for visual aid only ~ accuracy is not guaranteed.
Prickl y Pear Mountain Ranch Aerial Map Maps are for visual aid only ~ accuracy is not guaranteed.
Prickly Pear Mountain Ranch Topographic Map Maps are for visual aid only ~ accuracy is not guaranteed.