A group of people paddling canoes on a river near Escalante Ranch in Western Colorado, surrounded by lush greenery.
Our Impact News & Insights Vast Canyon Landscape Protected in Western Colorado: Escalante Ranch
March 17, 2026

Vast Canyon Landscape Protected in Western Colorado: Escalante Ranch

The Conservation Fund has permanently protected over 4,000 acres of at-risk land in western Colorado, approximately 25 miles south of Grand Junction. Now conserved, this former ranch will be integrated into Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area — a dramatic canyon landscape known for red-rock cliffs, free-flowing rivers, and rugged backcountry. 

When the privately owned ranch went up for sale, The Conservation Fund acted quickly to prevent this vital landscape from being subdivided and developed — which would have compromised wildlife habitat, waterways, and recreation access. 

Photo credit: Todd Winslow Pierce

From Uncompahgre Plateau to the Gunnison River 

This unique property encompasses some of Colorado’s most dramatic scenery and important natural resources. Stretching from the forested Uncompahgre Plateau down to the Gunnison River, it provides vital wildlife habitat and key migration corridors across a wide range of elevations. Escalante Creek runs through the heart of the land, supporting native fish and other aquatic species while helping safeguard water quality in the broader Colorado River Basin.   

For outdoor enthusiasts, the protection secures access to remote canyons that are popular for rafting, hiking, rock climbing, hunting, and backcountry exploration. The land sits alongside designated wilderness, expanding opportunities to experience some of Colorado’s most scenic and wild terrain. 

Photo credit: Todd Winslow Pierce

Addition to Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area 

The property has been transferred to the Bureau of Land Management, where it will be stewarded as part of the national conservation area. Irrigated agriculture on the property will continue under BLM ownership. 

This project was made possible with support from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the Wyss Foundation, and a loan from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO). 

Photo credits (from top of page): Todd Winslow Pierce

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