About Crazy Horse Ranch
A view of our horse corral
History
The area that became Crazy Horse Ranch was first homesteaded in the late 1800s as a source of beef and dairy products for prospectors and the railroads then opening up the area to white settlement. The property continued as a working cattle ranch for many years, but since it sits at such a high elevation this proved economically impossible, so eventually the area became more important for deer and elk hunting and general outdoor tourism, especially after the nearby West Elk Wilderness was created, in 1964. These opportunities for outdoor recreation and mountain vacations only increased with Colorado's 1980 Wilderness Act, which increased the West Elk Wilderness to its present size of 176,172 acres. Co-owner Jerry Broadfoot first became acquainted with the guest cabin and its lovely setting in 1995, when he began outfitting hunting trips from the cabin. He purchased the Crazy Horse Ranch property in 2004 in partnership with his cousin, Les Lockhart.
Geography
Crazy Horse Ranch sits at an elevation of 8450 feet in Big Soap Park (valley), in the West Elk Mountains of western Colorado. Elevations in the area range from approximately 7,500 feet to over 13,000 feet. West Elk Peak is the area's high point, at 13,035 feet. The guest cabin sits on forty acres of mixed mountain meadows and forest, with aspen, blue spruce, and fir predominating. West Soap Creek flows approximately 25 yards from the cabin, while Big Soap Creek is a leisurely stroll away. Big Soap Creek feeds into the Gunnison River system at Blue Mesa Reservoir only thirteen miles downstream. The cabin is accessible to four wheel drive-equipped vehicles via the Soap Creek Road, known on some maps as Forest Road 721. The road is some eighteen miles long and terminates at the ranch, ensuring solitude. A vast network of trails spreads through the neighboring wilderness and national forest, some following ridgelines and others the valley floors. The nearest large town is Gunnison, which is thirty miles away. Please note, however, that the last seven miles of Soap Creek Road are quite rough.
The Cabin
Though our cabin is remote, it offers a variety of amenities to make your
stay comfortable. Running water is furnished through a well and septic system,
while power is provided by a generator. The cabin can sleep up to eight
guests and features a full bathroom as well as complete kitchen and dining
facilities. The cabin sits in an open grove of evergreens, providing
plenty of shade as well as grass that invites lounging with a good book.
Our guests also have access to our corral, if you care to bring your own horses.
Contact Info:
E-mail:
Les Lockhart
leslockhart "at" comcast.net
Phone or Mail:
Jerry Broadfoot
30473 North Rd
Hotchkiss, CO 81419
(970) 872-4467