Challenger Ranch Win Expands Recreation Access in Colorado

Outdoor adventurers in Colorado just gained new ground. Thanks to a partnership between The Conservation Fund and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the 320-acre Challenger Ranch — located outside Cañon City in Colorado’s rugged Arkansas River Valley — has been permanently protected and added to a growing network of public lands. Just over two hours from Denver, this wild landscape of cliffs, canyons, and streams offers a rare blend of beauty and adventure. 

New Access to Hiking, Hunting, Fishing, Camping, Climbing, and Off-Roading 

The protection of Challenger Ranch isn’t just a win for nature — it’s a major boost for public access. By linking the property to existing recreation lands, this project opens up direct access to nearly 12,000 acres of the Cooper Mountain Backcountry Conservation Area. That means more opportunities for hiking, big game hunting, and three-season trout fishing along Fourmile Creek. Altogether, it connects people to over 87,000 acres of surrounding public lands that were previously hard to reach. 

It also enhances access to some of Colorado’s most popular outdoor destinations. The property borders the Shelf Road Recreation Area, one of the state’s top climbing sites, with more than 1,000 sport routes and over 60,000 visitors each year. The property ties into nearby BLM campgrounds — recently improved with more than $1 million in investments — and offers adventurous drivers a stunning route along Shelf Road, a winding section of the Gold Belt Tour Scenic Byway framed by towering canyon walls.