Broken Wing Ranch

Clayton, Idaho
$4,125,000- SOLD!

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This 770-acre cattle and recreational ranch is among central Idaho's premier properties, with 3+ miles of Salmon River frontage, a private owner's residence and compound, outstanding views, and direct access to thousands of acres of high-quality public lands. Accessible and usable year-round, the ranch is a haven for elk, deer, steelhead, chukar and grouse.

The Broken Wing Ranch is located along the Salmon River in mountainous central Idaho, 5 miles east of the historic mining community of Clayton and 20 miles southwest of Challis, the county seat for Custer County. Access to the ranch is direct from State Highway 75. All general amenities can be found in Challis, including groceries, fuel, hardware supplies, sporting goods as well as local offices for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and US Forest Service. In addition, Challis offers a paved, lighted airstrip that is 4,600 feet in length at an elevation of 5,072 feet. Two fixed base operators serve the field, providing aviation fuel and charter service. The famous all-season resort community of Sun Valley is approximately 100 miles southwest of the ranch and offers the closest commercial air service through Skywest and Horizon Airlines. Driving distances to major regional communities with commercial air service are:

Boise, Idaho 165 miles southwest
Idaho Falls, Idaho 170 miles southeast
Twin Falls, Idaho 175 miles south
Missoula, Montana 220 miles north

The ranch is situated in the upper Salmon River basin, a part of the world renowned for its rugged mountain scenery, abundant wildlife resources, extensive public lands, and seemingly endless recreational opportunities. Three of central Idaho's high country landmarks are within a short drive of the ranch - the 2.3 million acre Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness to the north (the largest federally designated Wilderness in the lower 48 states), the 756,000 acre Sawtooth National Recreation Area to the west (arguably the "crown jewel" of the Forest Service's National Recreation Area system), and the 400,000 acre Boulder-Whiteclouds Mountains complex to the south (an area currently under review for Idaho's newest wilderness designation). Encompassing the vast network of peaks and ridgelines that extend along the west side of the Salmon River for much of its length, the Salmon River Mountains form the dramatic backdrop for the ranch and add another dimension to the region's mountainous terrain.

Flowing through the Broken Wing for over 3 miles, the Salmon River originates 70 miles south of the ranch in the Sawtooth Valley and flows unobstructed for 425 miles until its confluence with the Snake River at the Idaho-Oregon border. The Salmon is the lifeblood of the region, providing critical habitat for a multitude of wildlife, including several endangered fish species, as well as vital irrigation water for the basin's farmers and ranchers.

One of the river's principal upper tributaries, the East Fork of the Salmon, joins the mainstem only a mile upstream of the ranch. The East Fork is home to some of the region's most important spawning grounds for salmon and steelhead and drains the Whitecloud Mountains, arguably central Idaho's most scenic mountain range.

Custer County is among the state's largest counties at 4,925 square miles. Over 95 percent of the county's land base is in federal and state ownership. In spite of its size, Custer County is one of Idaho's least populated counties with a current population of 4,242. The recorded history of Custer County begins with fur traders and pathfinders traveling through the region as early as 1824, with prospectors and miners arriving in the 1860's and 1870's. Named for the General Custer mine, Custer County was established in 1881. The county's principle industry is cattle ranching with livestock operations often stretching back multiple generations. The mining and timber industries have also played an important role over time. More recently, tourism and outdoor recreation have emerged as important components to the local economy by capitalizing on the area's rich recreational resources.

The elevation ranges from 5,300 feet to 6,200 feet. The climate is best described as semi-arid with annual precipitation of 8 inches and over 300 sunny days per year. Summers are warm with temperatures occasionally reaching the low 90's and cooling to the mid-50's at night. Although winters can be cold, the ranch's exposure ensures that it remains relatively open without continuous snowpack on the valley floor. Average annual snowfall for the lower elevations of the ranch totals less than 20 inches.

The Broken Wing is long and narrow in shape and is accessed year-round via State Highway 75, which runs in a north-south direction through the property's east boundary generally following the course of the Salmon River. Approximately 75 percent of the ranch lying on the west side of the Salmon River has no "through access" to the public. This ownership configuration results in a very private and insulated setting for the owner. Public lands managed by the BLM and State of Idaho border the ranch on all sides with the exception of approximately 25 acres which are privately owned and lie between the highway and the river at the south end of the property. Privately owned lands are also found on the opposite side of the river at the north end of the property. The Salmon-Challis National Forest boundary lies 1 mile west of the ranch.

The owner's residence is situated on the west side of the river at the north end of the ranch in a private, shady location along Lyon Creek. The residence consists of 4,130 square feet and offers a master bedroom and 3 additional bedroom suites. Originally constructed in the early 1900s, the house has been extensively updated and remodeled to a quality owner's home. Attached to the residence is a 4-car garage of 835 square feet. The original 1901 homestead cabin is still intact and lies just beyond the residence along Lyon Creek. A private bridge spanning the Salmon River provides direct access to the residence from Highway 75.

From the residence, a gravel road follows the river upstream along the base of the mountains to the irrigated hay fields at the south end of the ranch. These fields are irrigated with water from the Salmon River as well as Sink Creek, a small stream that originates in the hills above the ranch and eventually disappears into the porous soil at the mouth of the Sink Creek canyon. A buried pipeline delivers irrigation water from Sink Creek to the sprinkler system on the ranch below. Improvements on the ranch's south end include a mobile home, metal barn and shop, and corral system.

The ranch also includes a unique 160-acre "inholding" which lies just a quarter-mile west of the main ranch and is surrounded by BLM lands. Encompassing its own private valley, this secluded gem offers ½ mile of Lyon Creek, flood-irrigated meadows, aspen trees, and beautiful "down valley" views. Accessed via a gravel road leading from the residence, this parcel would be an ideal location for a secluded hunting or guest cabin.

The balance of the ranch is located on the east side of the Salmon River and consists of irrigated hayfields and livestock pasture. These fields are a haven for the numerous whitetail and mule deer that live on the ranch.

The owner leases the property to a local ranching family for winter livestock feeding and calving, summer grazing, and hay production. The Salmon River corridor is currently fenced to restrict cattle from entering the river. The ranch has appurtenant water rights from the Salmon River, Lyon Creek and Sink Creek and is irrigated through a combination of flood and sprinkler irrigation. The total allowable diversion rate is 15.89 cubic feet per second to irrigate a total of 353.1 acres. Irrigation equipment includes 3 valley center pivots, 5 wheelines, and assorted handlines. Complete water rights information can be furnished upon request.

The Broken Wing Ranch is home to a rich array of wildlife. Elk, mule deer, pronghorn antelope, chukar partridge, and blue grouse utilize the ranch's irrigated hayfields and native rangelands throughout the year.

The stretch of the Salmon River flowing through the ranch is well known for spring steelhead fishing. The river is also home to westslope cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, bull trout and mountain whitefish, which provide fly fishing opportunities during the summer and fall.

Golden eagles and other raptor species utilize the cliff faces and rock formations on the ranch for nesting and hunting, while bald eagles are frequent visitors during the winter months and are often seen perched in cottonwood trees above the river. Lyon Creek and Sink Creek and their associated riparian corridors are also important components to the lifecycle of many wildlife species. The adjoining Forest Service lands allow access to tens of thousands of acres of hunting, fishing, horsepacking, and wildlife viewing opportunities.

770 +/-

The 770-acre Broken Wing Ranch is among central Idaho's premier properties, offering over 3 miles of frontage on the Salmon River, 1 mile of Lyon Creek, access to thousands of acres of high quality public lands, extensive irrigation rights, and a private owner's residence and compound. The ranch also consists of a secluded 160-acre inholding surrounded by BLM lands, adding a unique feature to an already exceptional property. Light winters make the ranch accessible and usable year-round. Abundant public lands and diverse wildlife resources offer near endless opportunities for hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, and horsepacking in one of the state's most scenic regions.

Property taxes for 2006 were $926.

MANAGEMENT SERVICES – Hall and Hall’s Management Division has a very clear mission – To represent the owner and to ensure that his or her experience is a positive one. Services are customized to suit the owner’s needs. They often begin with the recruiting and hiring of a suitable ranch manager or caretaker and are followed by the development of a management or operating plan along with appropriate budgets. Ongoing services include bill paying, ranch oversight, and consulting services as needed. Even the most sophisticated and experienced ranch owners appreciate the value of a management firm representing them and providing advice on local area practices and costs. Wes Oja and Jerome Chvilicek at (406) 656-7500 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (406) 656-7500      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (406) 656-7500      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or Randy Clavel at (303) 861-8282 are available to describe and discuss these services in detail and welcome your call.

RESOURCE ENHANCEMENT SERVICES – Increasingly the value of a ranch is measured by the quality of each and every one of its resources. Coincidentally the enhancement of a ranch’s resources also increases the pleasure that one derives from the ownership of a ranch. Our management services have included the assessment of everything from wildlife habitat to bird habitat to water resources and fisheries and the subsequent oversight of the process involved with the enhancement of these resources. Wes Oja or Jerome Chvilicek at (406) 656-7500 are available to describe and discuss these services in detail and welcome your call.

SPECIALIZED LENDING - Over the past 59 years Hall and Hall has created a legacy by efficiently providing capital to the intermountain west. In addition to traditional farm and ranch loans, we specialize in understanding the unique aspects of placing loans on ranches where value may be influenced by recreational features, location and improvements and repayment may come from outside sources. Our extensive experience and strong relationships with our lenders allows us to quickly tell you whether we can provide the required financing.
Competitive Pricing ● Flexible Terms ● Efficient Processing
In-House Appraisals ● Common Sense Underwriting
Dave Roddy ● (406) 656-7500
Mike Hall, Judy Chirila, or Randy Clavel ● (303) 861-8282
Monte Lyons ● (806) 698-6882