34797 powell mesa road

Jay Creek Ranch — Lower 251± Acres | Hotchkiss, CO | GMU 52 Turn-key 251± acre Western Colorado mountain holding off Powell Mesa Road outside Hotchkiss in Delta County's North Fork Valley. Two adjoining parcels (171 and 80 acres) bordering thousands of acres of BLM in GMU 52 — one of Colorado's premier mule deer and elk regions. A steel bridge over Fire Mountain Canal leads onto the 171-acre parcel, climbing to a plateau building site with unobstructed views of Mt. Lamborn, Lands End, the Raggeds, and the West Elk Mountains. Unlike most raw mountain ground, this site is ready to build: DMEA power has been brought in from Powell Mesa Road with a brand-new service box at the building site, and the property has two water wells in place. The owner recently completed over 70 acres of professionally managed fire mitigation — thinning on average 12 of every 15 trees. The result is reduced wildfire risk and defensible space, improved emergency access, more attainable insurance costs, and enhanced habitat, with thinned areas reseeded in a mountain grass mix that draws and holds deer and elk. A portion of the 171 acres is under conservation easement, preserving open space in perpetuity, while the main usable area including the building site remains unencumbered. Terrain is diverse — open meadows, wooded hillsides, valleys, and ridgelines. The adjoining 80-acre parcel sits in a rugged, steep-sided valley with Jay Creek and seasonal water flowing through dense timber. Direct BLM connectivity makes it a private extension of the surrounding public land — low-pressure habitat for elk, mule deer, bear, and turkey, and an ideal base for hunting, hiking, horseback riding, and backcountry recreation. The current owner works with a local outfitter and consistently harvests quality mule deer and elk, with later seasons especially productive. Power, water, road access, completed fire mitigation, panoramic views, and public land at the back gate.