Harwood Ranch

Details & Features

Straddling Gallatin and Madison Counties in southwest Montana, the Harwood Ranch is one of the most significant recreational land offerings to come onto the Montana Ranch market in recent years.

Situated in a beautiful, private, and secluded end-of-the-road setting, the ranch is a scenic 10-minute drive south from the small town of Willow Creek. The property consists of 4,996 contiguous deeded acres of farmland, rangeland, and creek riparian habitat associated with Willow Creek – a fantastic tailwater trout fishery – which meanders through the property for approximately 6± miles. In addition to the creek, the property has significant frontage on the north arm of Harrison Lake, aka Willow Creek Reservoir. Offering strong recreational and agricultural features, the ranch is home to a varied wildlife community that includes elk, mule deer, whitetail deer, antelope, Hungarian Partridge, pheasant and mixed waterfowl species. Historically, 772 acres of the property have been farmed with 216 acres irrigated, and the balance of the crop ground being seeded to rotational dryland crops. Quality improvements including a main residence and guest house were built in the early 1990’s, and upgrades have been made to the support buildings on the ranch, all of which are sited in close proximity to Willow Creek. The property shares common boundary with both State of Montana and Bureau of Land Management lands and immediate neighbors are mostly larger landowners. There are countless wonderful building sites scattered over the ranch and no conservation easements in place.

The surrounding area is one of the most sporting-oriented locations in Montana, renowned for a number of legendary trout fisheries and world-class hunting options for upland birds, waterfowl and big game. The Harwood Ranch is a stunning property with amazing recreational attributes, and combined with a premier location, represents a truly rare and unique purchase opportunity.

LOCATION
The ranch is located approximately 13 miles southwest of Three Forks, 33 miles from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, 44 miles from Bozeman, and 80 miles from Big Sky, Montana. Access to the property is by State Highway 287 from Three Forks to Willow Creek, then about 5 miles of county maintained graveled road.

AREA
Southwest Montana, and particularly the Gallatin Valley, is considered by many to be one of the most desirable addresses in the Treasure State. This region is characterized by varying geography; productive irrigated river valleys, timbered foothill and bench country, large expanses of rolling farm ground and rangeland, and high-alpine mountainous terrain. The area is touted for its premier recreational opportunities, cultural variety, historical richness, and distinctive western “feel”. Situated on the northern fringe of the greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and about 70 miles north of Yellowstone National Park, the Gallatin Valley is framed by several prominent mountain ranges; the Bridger Mountains to the east, the Gallatin and Madison Ranges to the south, and the Tobacco Root Range to the west, with the snow-capped summits of some peaks exceeding 10,000 feet in elevation. Numerous cottonwood-lined rivers, freestone streams and spring creeks bisect the valley floor, the majority of which originate from the high, forested slopes of the surrounding mountains. Populations of elk, deer, and moose are frequently seen in the foothills and hayfields around the perimeter of the valley, and the grizzly bear can still be found roaming the forests and peaks of the Gallatin and Madison Ranges.

Bozeman, the largest community in the region with a population of some 53,000, is considered the major trade center for all of southwest Montana and is home to Montana State University with almost 17,000 students enrolled. Bozeman offers all major shopping and service related opportunities, many small specialty businesses, art galleries, historic buildings, sporting goods and fly shops, fine restaurants, and myriad cultural amenities including the Bozeman Symphony, dinosaur exhibits at the Museum of the Rockies, and the Taylor Planetarium on the campus of MSU. Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport at Gallatin Field provides jet service to the area with numerous arrivals and departures daily – including direct flights to 30 major U.S. cities – facilitated by 10 commercial airlines. There are also two full-service FBO’s catering to private aircraft at Gallatin Yellowstone International Airport.

Three Forks, with a population of some 2,100 residents, offers basic small town shopping amenities and a handful of “watering holes” and good eateries. There is also a public 9-hole golf course on the edge of town and medical facilities.

THE RANCH
At elevations ranging between 4,400±’ to 5,200±’, the Harwood Ranch consists of 4,996± total deeded acres, with approximately 1,876 acres lying in Gallatin County and 3,120 acres lying in Madison County. The ranch is all contiguous save for a small parcel across an arm of Harrison Lake, and borders two pieces of state of Montana land as well as totally surrounds 280± acres of BLM land which is not leased. None of the public land has public access. The county road ends at the ranch buildings on the north side of the property so the ranch is truly an “end-of-the-road” place with neighboring ownership being mostly larger ranch holdings. Principally, the property has been utilized by the owners as a summer fishing retreat for friends and family. The acreage is a beautiful mosaic of native range grasses and irrigated cropland, riparian corridor, and high ridges bisected by draws with scattered trees and large rock formations. The most dramatic land feature on the property is a massive timber-filled canyon that runs for roughly 2.5± miles through the ranch, cradling close to 4± miles of sparkling Willow Creek. From the higher country on the property, incredible panoramic views can be seen of the Tobacco Root, Madison, Gallatin, Bridger, Big Belt, and Absaroka Mountain ranges. Average annual precipitation for the area is estimated at 12”-14”.

The land use classifications of the ranch per Montana Cadastral is as follows:

Grazing: 4,224.01± acres
Fallow: 491.87± acres
Wild Hay: 63.94± acres
Irrigated: 215.94± acres
Farmsite: 1± acres

The irrigated portion of the ranch is currently being served by two pivots via water rights in the form of both decreed and water association shares sourced from Willow Creek and Harrison Lake. The ranch controls 10 decreed irrigation and stock water rights dating in priority from 1865 to 1920. The irrigation water contract shares owned by the ranch total 300 ac ft/year. The primary crop being grown in 2021 on both the dryland and irrigated cropland is spring wheat.
There has been limited cattle grazing on the ranch and the range is in very good condition. The ranch is perimeter fenced utilizing standard barbed wire.

Improvements on the Harwood Ranch include a main residence and guest house, a detached garage, large barn and additional storage building. All buildings are clustered together on the west side of the creek. The grounds around the buildings are beautifully landscaped, and there is also a nice pond at this location.

The 1992 custom-built main residence has 2,160 SF of living space on 1 level with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. The house has wood siding, metal roof, and central gas heating – hot water/radiant floors. The guest house was built in 1991 with wood siding, metal roof, and has 1 bedroom and 1 bath. Total living area on one level is 704 SF. The house has central gas heating – hot water/radiant floors.

The additional ranch buildings include a 28’ x 31’ detached garage built in 1991, a 14’ x 16’ storage shed building built in 1935, and 36’ x 93’ barn that was built in 1935.

FISHING OPPORTUNITIES
Montana’s trout streams are legendary in quality and scale, and the state arguably contains more premier water than could probably ever be fished in a lifetime. Seven rivers in Montana have the distinction of being considered the very best; designated “Blue Ribbon” status, and five of these – the Yellowstone, Gallatin, Madison, Missouri and Big Hole, are all within a 1.5-hour drive or less from the ranch. Other great fisheries in the general area include the Jefferson, Ruby, Beaverhead, Boulder, and Shields Rivers, as well as the enormous diversity of Yellowstone National Park waters. The world-class O’Hair and Depuy sections of Armstrong Spring Creek, and also Nelson’s Spring Creek, are a little over an hour drive of the ranch. Additionally, a number of high-mountain lakes and small stream fisheries are located nearby, as are several valley lakes and reservoirs that offer excellent stillwater fishing opportunities for trout.

While the Harwood Ranch is positioned at the epicenter of some of the finest trout fishing country in the world, within its borders, the ranch features an outstanding fishery in its own right. Approximately 6± meandering miles of choice tailwater fishery flows through the heart of the Harwood Ranch. The ranch’s ownership is on both sides of the creek essentially creating a private fishing venue, and the impracticability of public access due to topography is a huge asset in a state where stream access laws are fairly liberal concerning public use. The ranch directly borders the dam on Harrison Lake, an irrigation storage impoundment built in 1938. The dam is bottom-discharging, so cold, clear water in the creek is the norm year-around. The upper 4± miles of the creek winds through the rugged canyon offering a compelling mix of prime trout habitat; enticing riffles and boulder pocket water, undercut banks and rock ledges, and deeper pools with long tailouts. Vehicular access points at both the canyon mouth and top end of the canyon by the dam are connected by a walking trail. There are also a few access points to the water in the mid-canyon, albeit these require more of a hike. Once the creek exits the canyon, the gradient lessens, and the stream meanders through approximately 2± miles of grass meadows and agricultural ground. The creek supports a healthy resident trout fishery consisting of brown and rainbow trout that mostly run between 8”-18”, with an occasional fish exceeding that size. There is good dry fly fishing due to consistent caddis and mayfly hatches throughout the summer, and terrestrials – grasshoppers, beetles and ants – are major food items for the fish during the warmer months as well. Any number of nymph and streamer patterns are always excellent options and consistent producers on the stream. In a nutshell, the fish are generally very receptive to a variety of different fly patterns.

For many years the creek has been open to public fishing through a reservation system that permits 5 rods per day. Multiple area fishing guides utilize this opportunity, as do many resident and non-resident fly fisherman who have been fishing the ranch for decades. While Montana regulations allow fishing on the creek year-around, the owner restricts fishing access to the 3rd weekend in May through the 3rd weekend in November. A testament to the quality of the fishing is evident in the fact that for the 2021 season, the creek was totally booked for the entire season in less than 48 hours. Willow Creek is well-known and highly regarded in angling circles, and an internet search will produce many positive reviews touting the quality of this wonderful fishery.

WILDLIFE AND HUNTING
Some of Montana’s best hunting opportunities are found in the southwest portion of the state. The mountains and plains comprising the region harbor all the recognized big game species in Montana, including elk, whitetail and mule deer, antelope, black and grizzly bear, mountain lion, moose, big horn sheep and rocky mountain goats. Waterfowl and upland wingshooting is also superb in this area with the possibility of decoying ducks and geese in the morning, then hunting for Hungarian partridge, and both plains and mountain grouse species in the afternoon of the same day.

The water resources on the Harwood Ranch create a prolific ecosystem that supports a rich and diverse wildlife community. Excellent bedding habitat on the higher ridges and along the creek riparian corridor – in addition to adjacent crop food sources – provide ideal conditions for mule and whitetail deer. Pronghorn Antelope are also seen on the ranch as well as elk. Hungarian partridge are found in scattered coveys throughout the property and there are some pheasant along the riparian areas bordering the cropland. Ducks are also frequent visitors to the creek.

The ranch lies in Montana deer and elk Hunting District 311. The deer and elk season for archery and/or gun hunting runs from early September through the end of November. Depending on bow or gun, antelope can be hunted from the middle of August until the middle of November. The upland bird season opens September 1 and runs until December 31.

RECREATION
Southwest Montana offers an overwhelming bounty of natural resources. The area is blessed with millions of acres of mountains and pristine forests, river riparian ecosystems that include some of the finest wild trout streams on the planet, vast expanses of prairie and plains, and a wildlife community that in terms of density and variety, most likely exceeds any other region in the continental United States. Whether the pursuit is fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, skiing, or any number of other similar activities, the possibilities are limited only by the imagination, and countless people visit Big Sky Country every year to experience outdoor pursuits amidst some of the most magnificent scenery found anywhere in the world.

The closest downhill skiing opportunities are at Bridger Bowl and Big Sky Resort, located 60 and 80 miles respectively from the ranch. The Bohart Ranch, which is adjacent to Bridger Bowl, has 30 kilometers of groomed cross-country trails. The region also offers countless acres of public lands in the form of National Forest, designated Wilderness, State of Montana and Bureau of Land Management that is easily accessible to hikers, campers, horse enthusiasts, and other outdoor adventurers.

WATER & MINERAL RIGHTS
The seller will convey/transfer all appurtenant water and mineral rights, if any, at closing, however the seller makes no representations or warranties concerning current status or validity of any of these rights. Independent investigation of both these items is recommended to any prospective purchaser.

SUMMARY
Seldom do truly standout fishing-oriented properties become available for purchase in Montana, and with 6± miles of prime, secluded tailwater fishery, the Harwood Ranch presents a compellingly rare and unique opportunity. The ranch is located in a significant recreational-oriented region, offers beautiful viewsheds, features excellent water resources and a varied wildlife community, provides solitude and privacy, and lies within a convenient drive to one of the most dynamic and highly-touted small cites in the Rocky Mountain west. The agricultural component of the ranch creates a viable income stream, while at the same time benefits and promotes the wildlife resources. The improvements are not overbuilt, yet provide top quality, tasteful construction and function. In short, the Harwood Ranch possesses a number of highly desirable amenities that combine to create one of the finest high-caliber sporting and private fishing properties on the Montana market today.

• 4,996+/- contiguous deeded acres of farmland, rangeland, and creek riparian habitat
• 6+ miles of Willow Creek - a fantastic tailwater trout fishery - which meanders through the property
• 2,160 sqft. main residence
• 704 sqft. guest house
• Historic barn built in 1935
• 13 miles southwest of Three Forks
• 33 miles from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport
• The ranch is home to a varied wildlife community that includes elk, mule deer, whitetail deer, antelope, Hungarian Partridge, pheasant and mixed waterfowl species