Walk the Historic Potter Ranch with
Black Canyon Regional Land Trust
A Western Slope Rural Philanthropy Days Special Activity
June 17, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Potter Ranch: Highway 550 & County Road 3A, Ridgway, CO (Scroll down for map & directions)
Lead by: Susan McIntosh, Executive Director & Marta Laylander, Stewardship Director
Event contact: Alecia Phillips, Communications Coordinator: Click here to email or call (303)501-3472
This activity is FREE to attend.
Black Canyon Regional Land Trust is pleased to offer this special activity to all attendees of the 2013 Western Slope Rural Philanthropy Days. We invite you to join us on a guided walk of the Potter Ranch, a working cattle operation and scenic historic homestead located 7 miles north of Ouray off of Highway 550. Learn about the rich history of ranching in the Ouray and greater San Juan Mountain region, the importance of preserving habitat for native plants and animals within the spectacular Uncompahgre Valley, and the challenge of conserving scenic open lands adjacent to the nationally acclaimed San Juan Skyway Scenic Byway. This walk offers a boots-on-the-ground introduction to the local conservation work of Ouray County landowners, community members, and the Black Canyon Regional Land Trust - a nonprofit organization based in Ridgway, participating in this year’s Western Slope RPD.
Aerial view of Potter Ranch
A true landmark of the Uncompahgre Valley, Potter Ranch was originally settled in the 1800’s, with the current family working the land for almost 60 years. Lush hay fields and agricultural structures provide a highly scenic foreground against a backdrop of high mesas and rugged snow-capped mountains. The scenic beauty and cultural history of the valley draws tens of thousands of visitors annually, many attracted by the reputation of the San Juan Skyway Scenic Byway. The traditional ranchlands between the towns of Ridgway and Ouray have long defined the valley’s rural character and are a critical component of the Skyway’s allure for tourism.
In 2009, the Potter family, in partnership with Black Canyon Regional Land Trust, placed the 140-acre ranch into a conservation easement - an agreement that protects the natural, scenic and cultural values of the land by limiting the land uses and development for the future of the property. The Potter Ranch offers a glimpse into the past and present of ranching life in Colorado’s high altitude valleys. It is a stellar example of how landowners and conservation organizations have partnered to conserve the working open lands that distinguish the Ouray region, the Western Slope and other highly scenic corridors across Colorado. We hope you will join us out on the land!
Please come prepared to spend a few hours outdoors. Please wear closed toed shoes, comfortable clothes and bring water, hat, sunscreen, BUG SPRAY, camera - all those CO essentials.
Driving Directions:
From Ouray: Follow Highway 550 north out of town for 7 miles (6.9 miles from the edge of town at Main St and 9th Ave). Turn left at a small dirt ranch road. The turn is indicated by the green marker on the map below. There will be a "Black Canyon Regional Land Trust" banner hanging along the fence. If you reach County Road 3A, you have gone too far. Please park along the highway.
From Ridgway: Take Highway 550 south toward Ouray for 3 miles (exactly 3 miles from the intersection of Hwy 62 and Hwy 550). Turn right at a small dirt ranch road about 1/3 of a mile past County Rd 3A. Follow same parking directions as above.
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