2,310 Acres with Borders State/BLM Land, Electricity, Hunting Game, Spring in Rio Arriba County, Counselor, New Mexico

When one stands on top of the rimrock overlooking the canyons of the Old Spanish Trail Ranch, it is easy to visualize an encampment of Spanish soldiers around the spring at the homestead or a band of Apaches standing in the same spot watching for their quarry.  This area, like much of the desert Southwest, is a rough unforgiving country with miles and miles of desert with little or no water. That fact alone makes the Old Spanish Trail Ranch special given the large spring located at the homestead and additional wet weather springs in various canyon branches. The father of the current owner, over the years, found many artifacts from the Spanish days as well as Indian artifacts. This whole area is an archaeological gold mine. The story goes that the ranch was a stopping point in Largo Canyon for Spanish Soldiers traveling the old Spanish trail to Santa Fe. Thus the ranch name. There is even evidence on the canyon walls of much earlier visitors. Petroglyphs on the canyon walls tell a tale of ancient travelers and even more recent ones. The Crow Canyon Petroglyphs lie only a few miles to the north and are an incredible place to visit. It is easy to imagine the same ancient people who created the petroglyphs at Crow Canyon stopping by the homestead spring and leaving their own mark on the canyon walls. If you have a love for history, Southwest history in particular, or ancient cultures, you will love this area and the Old Spanish Trail Ranch. The ranch is awaiting a new owner to make it their home away from home for recreation, discovering old history and exploring, big game hunting (renowned New Mexico Mule Deer hunting) or building their dream hacienda for relaxing while enjoying the famous Southwests sunrises and sunsets. Location The ranch is located 20 minutes north of Counselor, New Mexico in some of the most scenic mesa and canyon country of north western New Mexico. Farmington, New Mexico - 1.5 hours Cuba, New Mexico - 1 hour Albuquerque, New Mexico - 2 hours Jicarilla Apache Nation Reservation - 5 minutes Access Access to ranch is via county maintained dirt road. Elevation, Topography, Vegetation The topography of the ranch is typical of the area with rimrock mesas covered in pinyon pines and junipers and in places where canyons provide shade and water gambel oaks that giving way to sagebrush flats criss crossed by deep arroyos. The elevation of the ranch ranges from 6,500 feet at the sagebrush flats to 6,700 ft on top of the mesas. Improvements There are no improvements on the deeded land.  The old homestead is in disrepair and is located on the BLM. Current owner has indicated that the BLM may be open to a land swap for the homestead. Buyers to verify to their satisfaction. . Ag Uses Historically the ranch along with the BLM lease was predominantly utilized as a cattle ranch. With some improvements, the ranch could run a…

Borders State/BLM Land, Electricity, Hunting Game, Spring

Acreage, Cattle Ranch, Equestrian Property, Hunting Property, Ranches, Recreational Land

Counselor, 87018 New Mexico

County: Rio Arriba