| C. Gordon Shillingburg's Granite Peaks Ranch Vallecito/Bayfield, Colorado USA |
| Operated seasonally from May through October each year, we at Granite Peaks Ranch "welcome" horse people to come and vacation with their horses or lease one of ours. We offer horse camping, cabin camping and overnight stabling, as well as offer summer pasture board for those who want their horses to graze natural pastures and escape the heat of nearby areas. Our elevation is 8,200 feet and the temperature is always a minimum of 10 degrees cooler than Durango. The weather is usually sunny to mild, with occasional rain showers that can last an hour on a daily basis. After a five-year drought and wildfires that hit the area in 2002, the temperature seems to be returning back to normal. This ranch was not affected by the wildfires but did experience drought setbacks in 2002 and 2003. |
| In 2004 we renovated some of our buildings and practiced forest management through a fuel reduction project, which enabled us to have trees cleared that were dead, diseased or dying. This project has now paved the way for more open space on the ranch for horse trails and hiking paths for ourselves and our guests. A cross-country course in a natural environment is underway for 2005. |
| We offer three cabins for use, that were constructed back in 1936. Two are chink logged cabins with hardwood floors and are unique to the historical value this property represents. One cabin is clapboard and wood siding with hardwood floors, an old fashioned bathroom with an old-fashioned tub, and renovated flooring in the kitchen and bathroom. All cabins are situated within a 5-acre area considered our homestead area. |
| The "River house" cabin is a four-room cabin next to the Pine River, which runs through the property for 3-1/2 miles. The "River house" has a large country kitchen, pantry, mud room, old fashioned bathroom, living room and two bedrooms with closets in each. It easily sleeps four people but can accomodate up to seven or eight. This cabin has a telephone jack for phone and computer use, and we are planning to make this cabin handicap accessible in 2005. |
| The "Lincoln" cabin is a two-room cabin and is situated alongside the "Creek house" cabin, up the hill and facing the barn facility. The "Lincoln" has a combination bedroom/living room, with two beds, closet, love seat and sitting area. It has a full kitchen and modern bathroom with shower. No telephone. |
| The "Creek house" cabin is another four-room cabin, with a modest sized kitchen, living room, two bedrooms with closets, and modern bathroom with shower. No telephone. |
| There is a common use telephone in our barn for use. Television/VCR/DVD players, videos & DVDs from our library, barbeque grills and breadmakers are available upon request. All cabins are fully furnished and equipped with modern appliances, including microwave, toaster, drip coffee maker, electric can openers, pots and pans, dishes, utensils, paper goods, extra pillows and blankets. All you need to bring are your groceries. There are campfire rings at each cabin that can be used as long as no fire-bans are in effect. Pets are welcome as long as they are housebroken, well-behaved and get along with other animals. |
| We have an 8-stall barn with two stalls reserved for our stallions. Circa 1936, this barn is all wood plank and siding, and has outlasted many of the old barns in the area. Overnight stabling and vacationers desiring stalls for their horses need to reserve in advance as stalls are limited. Otherwise, we have several paddocks with fresh running water for those only wanting outdoor space for their horses. In 2005 we are constructing more paddocks for outside horses. No smoking permitted in our barn or immediate area. |
| We are a working horse ranch and breed American Quarter Horses, Miniatures and lease our pastures for cattle grazing each summer. Horses and cattle mix among 435 acres, which is fenced and cross-fenced. Granite Peaks Ranch is adjacent to the Pine River Campground (5 miles north of Vallecito Lake). This campground connects to the USFS trail that goes along our property for 3-1/2 miles on the western-to-northern boundary of our ranch and leads to beautiful Emerald Lake, the second largest natural lake in the Weiminuche. Horseback riders and hikers get to experience a total old-west experience on a trail that is rough to rugged in some areas but generally has good footing on most of it's terrain. Emerald Lake is approximately 11 miles from Granite Peaks Ranch. |
| 25080 CR 501 Bayfield, CO 81122-9103 Summer - (970) 884-2626 (May-Oct) Winter - (405) 275-9988 (Nov-April) E-Mail: granitepeaksranch@sbcglobal.net Link- CactusCreekRanch.net |
