Seven Waters Ranch

Seven Waters Ranch is a 314.32-acre water-rich horse, hay, and hunting ranch just northeast of Cuba, NM. The property includes 90 acre-feet of irrigation water rights, 30 acres of alfalfa, five dirt tanks, the Rio Puerco, a remodeled 3 bed/3 bath adobe home, newer barns/shop, and excellent elk habitat in the highly-sought-after GMU 6A. Land Seven Waters Ranch consists of 314.32 deeded acres near Cuba, New Mexico, at approximately 7,100' to 7,400' elevation. The ranch sits in the foothills and includes usable bottom ground, hay fields, open meadows, rolling hills, scrub oak, pion-juniper cover, mature cottonwoods, dirt tanks, and badland-style bluffs. From the higher ground, the views open up across the surrounding hills and mountain country. It is the kind of property that changes as you move through it, from green irrigated ground and water in the bottoms to higher country with cover, views, and room to roam. The ranch includes land on both sides of Camino del Rio Puerco and has a gated entrance into the headquarters area. It is fenced and cross-fenced, with pasture, working areas, hay ground, dirt tanks, and natural cover spread across the ranch. The headquarters area sits near the gated entrance, while the rest of the ranch opens into pasture, dirt tanks, tree cover, and quieter country along the Rio Puerco. The Rio Puerco runs through the ranch and is one of the major features on the property. Add in the irrigation water, approximately 30 acres of alfalfa, sub-irrigated pasture, and five dirt tanks, and this ranch has more water than is typically found on New Mexico ranch ground. The dirt tanks add value for livestock and wildlife, and they help attract ducks, geese, sandhill cranes, and other species of birds. The contrast across the ranch is part of what makes it work. Green bottoms, alfalfa, dirt tanks, and mature trees give the lower ground feed, water, and cover, while the rolling hills, pion-juniper, scrub oak, and badland-style bluffs add elevation, views, and room for elk to move. It is a horse and livestock ranch with real water, but it also has the terrain, cover, and wildlife use to stand on its own as a recreational property. Improvements The headquarters area includes a remodeled adobe ranch home, recently built outbuildings, horse pens, hay storage, equipment storage, and a two-car detached garage. The home was recently remodeled from the studs up and offers approximately 1,750 square feet of living space. The main level includes two bedrooms, three bathrooms, a kitchen, entry area, and living room with a wood-burning fireplace. The upstairs is set up as a third bedroom and living area. The home has wood ceilings, exposed beams, tile floors, warm interior finishes, and good natural light. A wood-burning fireplace in the living room and a wood-pellet stove in the entryway provide the primary heat, with wall-mounted electric heaters for supplemental heat. The home has a metal roof and is served by a private well and septic system. Recent outbuildings include a 25' x 25' detached two-car garage, a 45' x 40' barn/shop, and a 54' x 40' hay barn/equipment storage building. There are also several older wooden outbuildings on the property. Between the shop, garage, hay barn, older storage buildings, pens, and working areas, there is room for hay, tack, tools, equipment, vehicles, and toys. Seven Waters Ranch is currently home to 21 horses. The ranch has fenced and cross-fenced pasture, horse pens, water tanks, hay storage, and working areas around the headquarters. This is an established horse property with the water, pasture, and improvements already in place. *Buyer to verify all listing information **Horse panels are excluded from the sale unless otherwise negotiated. Recreation Seven Waters Ranch sits in GMU 6A and is currently enrolled in New Mexico's EPLUS private-land elk authorization system as a Small Contributing Ranch. The sellers report that the ranch typically receives one private-land elk authorization. Elk are regularly seen on the ranch, drawn by the alfalfa, water, cover, and quieter stretches along the Rio Puerco. Buyers should verify EPLUS enrollment, authorization history, and future eligibility directly with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. For hunting, the ranch lays out well. The headquarters area, horse facilities, hay ground, and working areas are separated from quieter portions of the ranch, giving elk room to move. The terrain, tree cover, water, and Rio Puerco corridor help a 314-acre property hunt bigger than it looks on a map. The ranch also has a waterfowl component that is not common on many New Mexico properties. The dirt tanks, irrigated ground, and Rio Puerco corridor attract ducks, geese, sandhill cranes, and other species of birds. That adds another layer to the recreation and is one more example of how much the water shapes this ranch. Beyond the ranch, the Cuba area is well positioned for public-land recreation. The nearest Continental Divide Trail access is close to town, with CDT access points near NM 126 northeast of Cuba and NM 197 southwest of Cuba. San Pedro Parks Wilderness is also close, with the Las Vacas/San Gregorio trailhead area roughly 25 to 35 minutes from the ranch, depending on road conditions. Fishing is another strong regional draw. San Gregorio Reservoir and the upper San Pedro Parks country are close enough for short trips from the ranch. Fenton Lake, the Rio Cebolla, and Jemez Mountain trout water are roughly an hour away, while the Valles Caldera National Preserve is about 1.25 hours away. Navajo Dam and the San Juan River Quality Waters below it are roughly 1.75 to 2 hours north via US 550, giving owners access to one of New Mexico's best-known trout fisheries along with boating, lake fishing, and additional recreation at Navajo Lake. For winter recreation, Pajarito Mountain is roughly 2 hours away, Purgatory Resort near Durango is about 3 hours away, and Wolf Creek Ski Area is roughly 3.5 to 4 hours from the ranch, depending on route and weather. This gives Seven Waters Ranch good access to both New Mexico and southern Colorado mountain recreation without giving up the privacy and usability of the ranch itself. Agriculture Seven Waters Ranch includes approximately 30 acres of irrigated alfalfa, with the owner reporting annual production of about 1,000 square bales. The hay ground is a key part of the ranch's current horse operation and is supported by 90 acre-feet of irrigation water rights associated with 30 acres. Combined with the sub-irrigated pasture, fencing, cross-fencing, dirt tanks, hay barn, and equipment storage, the ranch has a functional agricultural setup. Water/Mineral Rights & Natural Resources Seven Waters Ranch enjoys 90 acre-feet of irrigation water rights associated with 30 acres. Those rights support the irrigated alfalfa field and are one of the major assets of the ranch. The ranch also includes the Rio Puerco running through the property, five dirt tanks, sub-irrigated pasture, and a private well serving the home and headquarters area. The Rio Puerco may be seasonal in dry years, but the overall water package is what separates this ranch from much of the surrounding country. Region & Climate The Cuba area sits in a scenic part of northern New Mexico where foothills, high-desert grassland, pion-juniper country, ponderosa pine, badlands, mesas, and mountain views all come together. Seven Waters Ranch sits at approximately 7,100' to 7,400' elevation, giving the property cooler summers than much of the lower country while still keeping it usable year-round. Area climate averages for Cuba are roughly 1216 inches of annual precipitation and about 2439 inches of annual snowfall, depending on the weather station and reporting period. Summer highs commonly reach the upper 80s, while winter nights can drop into the teens and low 20s. History The Cuba area has deep roots in northern New Mexico's ranching, farming, and travel history. Originally known as Nacimiento, the village grew near the Rio Puerco and the old San Joaquin del Nacimiento Land Grant, with agriculture, livestock, timber, mining, and highway travel all shaping the area over time. Today, Cuba remains a service hub for the surrounding ranch country and public-land users traveling between Albuquerque, the Four Corners, the Jemez Mountains, and southern Colorado. Location Seven Waters Ranch is located just northeast of Cuba, New Mexico, with easy access a few miles off US 550. US 550 is a major four-lane highway through this part of northern New Mexico, which makes the ranch easy to reach while still feeling private once you are on the property. Cuba is less than 5 minutes from the ranch and offers fuel, groceries, restaurants, schools, and basic services. From the ranch, drive times are approximately 1.5 hours to Albuquerque and Rio Rancho, 2 hours to Santa Fe, and 2.5 hours to Durango, Colorado. For air travel, Albuquerque International Sunport is approximately 1.5 hours away, Santa Fe Regional Airport is approximately 2 hours away, and Durango-La Plata County Airport is approximately 2.5 hours away.