Escalante Ranch Acquisition FAQs
Escalante Ranch Acquisition: What Visitors Should Know
The recent acquisition of the Escalante Ranch property within the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area is an exciting milestone for public lands in western Colorado. This addition expands recreation opportunities, protects an important landscape from development, and improves access to thousands of acres of surrounding public lands.
Below are answers to common questions about the property, public access, and what visitors can expect.
View overlooking the Gunnison River from Escalante Canyon.
How does the public benefit from the Escalante property acquisition?
This acquisition permanently expands opportunities for both land- and river-based recreation while improving access to approximately 80,000 acres of adjacent public lands.
Public ownership also protects the property from future subdivision or development for residential, commercial, or resort uses—something that has occurred along portions of the northern boundary of the conservation area.
How soon can the public access the property?
Public access is available immediately.
Approximately 3,000 acres are open for public use right away. Visitors should note that some acquired routes are limited to foot and horse travel only.
About 900 acres are currently not open to the public because they are part of an existing agricultural lease.
Are any areas closed to the public?
Yes. Areas associated with the active agricultural lease are not open for public access. These include:
Irrigated fields and pastures
Residential areas
Corrals and agricultural infrastructure
Equipment and materials storage areas
Visitors should follow posted signage and maps that the Bureau of Land Management is installing throughout the area. For updated information about access points and closures, visitors may contact the BLM Grand Junction or Uncompahgre Field Offices.
Grand Junction Field office: (970) 244-3000
Montrose Public Lands Center: (970) 240-5300
Why is agriculture still occurring on the property?
When the BLM purchased the property, it included an existing agricultural lease that allows continued irrigation and grazing on designated fields and pastures. As a result, visitors may see active farming operations and staff living on-site.
The lease can be renewed annually for up to five years while the BLM works with community members, stakeholders, and local governments to plan long-term management of the agricultural areas.
Continuing agricultural use provides several benefits:
Maintains beneficial use of the property’s water rights
Helps control weeds through active cultivation
Maintains a presence on the landscape that discourages unauthorized camping or off-highway vehicle use
Supports community goodwill by continuing historic agricultural uses
What does this mean for hunting and fishing access?
The acquisition adds more than 3,000 acres of new public land and improves access to nearly 80,000 acres of surrounding public lands, expanding opportunities for hunting, fishing, and other recreation.
Only areas associated with the agricultural lease remain closed to public access.
Will this affect grazing or agriculture in the future?
After purchasing the property in 2024, The Conservation Fund relinquished the grazing permit that previously applied to the parcel.
The BLM will evaluate future grazing management objectives through its resource management planning process. Any changes will include public input through environmental review and land use planning processes.
The property includes approximately 900 acres of historically irrigated land, and the BLM plans to engage the community when determining long-term management options for these areas.
How was the property funded?
The total purchase price for the Escalante Ranch property was $12,020,000.
Funding came from multiple sources:
$6,939,135 from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund
$4,860,865 from donated and grant funds secured by The Conservation Fund
$220,000 donation from The Conservation Fund
Will there be fees to visit the property?
Currently, no fees are required to access the areas open to the public.
If any fees are implemented in the future, ample notice will be provided to the public in accordance with the 2024 Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area Business Plan.
Visiting Responsibly
As more people begin exploring this newly protected landscape, visitors are encouraged to recreate responsibly by following Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics principles:
Stay on designated routes
Respect closed areas and agricultural operations
Pack out all trash and belongings
Leave the landscape as you found it
These practices help protect the natural and cultural resources that make the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area so special. Thank you for doing your part!