Recreational Land & Farm for Sale in Deer Trail, Colorado

Whelden's Wetzel Creek Ranch offers 1,676+- contiguous acres in Adams County, CO, just 30 minutes from Deer Trail, Byers and Brush. The ranch features two well-maintained residences, expansive native grass pasture, and 320+- acres of recently released CRP with strong potential for conversion back to productive dryland farming.

Land

Whelden's Wetzel Creek Ranch encompasses 1,676+- deeded acres of ranchland in Adams County, Colorado, offering a balanced blend of native pasture, retired CRP, and potential tillable ground. The landscape is wide open and gently rolling, ideal for both grazing and dryland farming. The property has been carefully stewarded by the same family since 1909, maintaining strong soils, native grasses, and a legacy of sustainable livestock management.

Of the total acreage, 320+- acres was recently released from the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), providing future owners with a valuable opportunity to return this ground to production agriculture. Whether used for dryland farming, cover crops, custom grazing, or habitat development, this acreage adds significant flexibility and upside to the overall ranch operation.

The remainder of the ranch is primarily native shortgrass prairie, well-suited to cow/calf pairs or yearlings. The ground has historically supported up to 120 pairs or more with rotational use, and it's evident that the land has not been overgrazed. Topography is gently undulating with good natural drainage, and the soil profile supports both forage production and potential crop conversion in select areas.

Improvements

The property includes two homes, several outbuildings, and essential ranch infrastructure:

Main Residence: Built in 1995, this home totals 2,600 sq ft with a finished basement, 3 bedrooms, and 2 baths. It has a metal roof, Andersen window/door upgrades (2019), propane forced air heat, wood stove, and a 2,400-gallon cistern with a submersible pump in addition to ranch well access. The yard features mature landscaping and trees. Outbuildings include a 30? x 40? garage, garden shed, and two small corrugated metal animal shelters.

Secondary Residence: Approximately 2,600 sq ft including finished basement. Originally built in the 1940s and moved from Fort Morgan, the home was expanded in 1980. It offers four bedrooms and two bathrooms, a steel roof, wood stove, propane stoves on each floor, Andersen windows (2020), and steel doors. The house has no central A/C or furnace and portions retain original wiring.

Ranch Outbuildings:

2014 steel barn/shed

Older dirt-floor Quonset

Two "Tuff Shed" style buildings near the main house

Two elevated grain bins on bridge plank foundations for storage

Recreation

While primarily a working cattle and farm property, Whelden's Wetzel Creek Ranch does offer some recreational hunting value. The ranch sees a mix of mule deer, whitetail deer, and pronghorn antelope, particularly in the early mornings and evenings near the CRP, water sources, and shelterbelts. While not managed specifically for hunting, the open terrain and mix of cover provide opportunities for casual spot-and-stalk hunts during the season as well as some upland bird opportunities.

Agriculture

The ranch has a proven track record for supporting cattle and light farming:

Water: The main domestic and livestock well, located in Section 25, is roughly 60' deep and produces approximately 2.5 gallons per minute. It was outfitted with a new pump in 2025 and has historically serviced two homes and up to 120 cow/calf pairs for over 30 years. While it never ran dry, it can reach maximized output during peak summer use with over 200 head. PVC waterlines were installed around 1980, and well power is pulled from a point one-third mile to the north. Some black poly lines still exist near corrals and barns.

Agricultural History: The land has been in the same family since 1909, offering over a century of ranching tradition. The grassland has consistently supported livestock, and the ongoing CRP buyout provides a pathway for expanding dryland crop production or custom grazing.

Region & Climate

Conveniently situated just off the Eastern Plains of Colorado, the ranch lies approximately 30 minutes from Deer Trail, Buyers and Brush--providing easy access to I-70 and regional amenities while maintaining a quiet and private ranch setting. The ranch is also only 1 hour from Denver International Airport. The elevation and open plains offer classic Colorado ranchland conditions, with seasonal variation and the kind of dryland grass climate well-suited for grazing operations.