The largest ranches for sale in America span nearly two million acres, stretching from the Aleutian Islands of Alaska to the desert grasslands of Arizona. This winter’s top 10 list features properties that define the scale and diversity of Western ranching: helicopter-worked cattle operations on remote volcanic islands, historic Trans-Pecos holdings with Desert Bighorn Sheep permits, Colorado mountain ranches controlling thousands of acre-feet of senior water rights, and sprawling Wyoming grass operations anchored by legendary trout rivers. Two new entries join the list this season, while several returning properties have shifted positions as the market continues to evolve. Whether the goal is a cash-flow-positive cattle business, a trophy hunting destination, a long-term water play, or a legacy acquisition with all of the above, these 10 ranches represent the most significant large-acreage offerings currently available.
Cover image: The Pitchfork Ranch, Wyoming
#10 Dawson Elk Valley Ranch, New Mexico | 50,039 Acres
Dawson Elk Valley Ranch enters the list at No. 10, bringing 50,039 acres of scenic and historically significant land near Cimarron, New Mexico. Located within an hour of Raton and I-25 to the east and the ski areas of Angel Fire and Red River to the west, the ranch offers convenient access to both major corridors and mountain recreation. Elevations range from approximately 6,160 to nearly 8,000 feet, creating diverse habitat that supports antelope in the lower country and trophy elk and deer in the high-elevation forests and river valleys. Basic ranching infrastructure is in place, including river diversions and irrigation improvements, providing a foundation for reestablishing a functioning cattle operation. The property carries water rights and includes 50% of mineral interests with executory rights. Adding to its character, the ranch encompasses the historic site of Dawson, a coal mining company town that once held 6,000 residents in the early 1900s. Today, remnants of the abandoned town remain, including a cemetery listed on the National Register of Historic Places, making this a rare blend of ranching potential, wildlife, and Western history.
#9 L Cross Ranch, Colorado | 60,025 Acres
L Cross Ranch debuts at No. 9, offering 60,025 contiguous acres in Colorado’s western San Luis Valley near Del Norte. The property includes 6,581 deeded acres along with 11,460 acres of BLM leases, 26,140 acres of USFS leases, and 15,844 acres of state leases, including a signature Colorado Stewardship Lease. At the heart of the ranch’s value are its senior priority streamflow water rights totaling 206 CFS from La Garita Creek and Carnero Creek, with volumes approximating 10,200 acre-feet annually. These rights irrigate over 4,500 acres, including six center pivots, and hold significant future value given downstream augmentation demands under multi-state compact constraints. The ranch runs a registered Sim-Angus herd of 850 to 900 cows year-round, highlighted by an annual bull sale, and generates additional revenue from high-quality grass and alfalfa hay. Recent improvements include 40 miles of new water pipeline with 70,000 gallons of storage, four homes, hay barns, a sale facility, and a full equipment line. Wildlife is exceptional, with elk, deer, bear, lion, moose, bighorn sheep, and antelope all present on the property, alongside small creek fishing for brook and cutthroat trout. Protected by a conservation easement and bordered by public lands, L Cross Ranch stands out as a cash-flow positive operation with long-term water value, diverse recreation, and turnkey potential.
#8 Rawhide Canyon Ranch, New Mexico | 72,680 Acres | 87,819 Acres
Rawhide Canyon Ranch holds steady at No. 8, offering one of the most economically compelling cattle operations in the Southwest. Located near Queen, New Mexico, roughly 50 miles southwest of Carlsbad, the ranch combines 380 deeded acres with a 72,300-acre Lincoln National Forest grazing permit carrying 806 animal unit equivalents year-round. Situated on the northern flank of the Guadalupe Mountains at 5,800 feet, the landscape is defined by grama grass and pinyon trees with Upper Dog Canyon forming a natural boundary along the southwest edge. Water infrastructure is extensive, with over 40 miles of pipeline fed by a permitted spring in Last Chance Canyon and two wells, supplying 45-plus tanks across nine pastures and four working traps, supplemented by eight large earthen stock tanks. The permit renews in 2032 and ties to the deeded base acreage. Improvements include a modular home, single-wide trailer, shop and bunkhouse building, and corrals, with good gravel road access for semi-truck shipping. Operating costs are minimal, with modern genetics producing 550 to 600-pound steer calves and only minor supplemental feeding required. Annual Forest Service grazing fees ran just over $13,000 in 2023. For buyers seeking a large-scale, cash-flow-positive operation with year-round grazing and low overhead, Rawhide Canyon Ranch is a rare find.
#7 Eagle & Carrizo Mountain Ranch, Texas | 77,260 Acres
Eagle & Carrizo Mountain Ranch continues to stand out as one of the most distinctive offerings in the Trans-Pecos, combining two connected properties totaling 77,260 deeded acres in Hudspeth County. The Eagle Mountains were once evaluated by US Fish and Wildlife as a potential National Wildlife Refuge, and the qualities that drew that attention remain: a true sky island habitat with mountain woodlands, grassland valleys, and desert scrub supporting an exceptional range of species. Elevations climb from the Rio Grande to 7,484 feet at Eagle Peak, with 12 miles of paved and concrete road engineered up to the summit providing rare access to high-country terrain. The 49,899-acre Eagle Mountain Ranch includes a remodeled four-bedroom adobe headquarters, Rio Grande frontage, and water infrastructure fed by wells, tanks, and springs. The 27,361-acre Carrizo Mountain Ranch to the north is a working cattle operation encompassing the entire Carrizo Mountain range, with Hackett Peak reaching 5,296 feet and the historic Bass Canyon segment of the 1800s Overland Trail running through the property. Wildlife is the headline here: huntable Desert Bighorn Sheep with active permits on both ranches, strong mule deer and elk populations, Aoudad, javelina, blue and Gambel’s quail, and diverse nongame species. An adjoining 47,000-acre property is potentially available, which could block up roughly 125,000 contiguous deeded acres. For buyers seeking a legacy-scale property with world-class hunting, cattle operations, and dramatic West Texas scenery, this remains one of the most compelling options on the market.
#6 Brazos Highland Properties, Texas | 87,819 Acres
Brazos Highland Properties moves to No. 6, offering 87,819 acres spread across non-contiguous ranches in eastern Val Verde County. The largest block, approximately 72,415 acres, sits north of Comstock and west of Highway 163, with an additional 12,301 acres east of the highway and 3,103 acres accessible via SH-277 to the northeast. The terrain is rugged and varied, featuring boxed canyons, rolling hills, high mesas, steep bluffs, and flatlands, along with numerous caves for those interested in exploration. Water resources include multiple wells, storage reservoirs, and troughs, with Red Bluff Creek and Indian Creek running through the property. Vegetation is classic Southwest Texas hill country: Mountain Laurel, cedar, live oak, shin oak, sotol, and native grasses providing strong habitat for native wildlife. The ranch remains largely unimproved, preserving its raw character, though historical structures including old barns, pens, and an established hunting camp in the southwest section are in place. Utility infrastructure includes nearly 15 miles of Rio Grande Electric Coop high-volume transmission lines through the western portion and just over a mile of Southwest Texas Electric Coop line along Highway 277. For buyers seeking a large-scale project property with diverse landscapes, water resources, and room to build a custom operation from the ground up, Brazos Highland Properties offers a blank canvas at serious scale.
#5 Haystack River Ranch, Wyoming | 92,000 Acres
Haystack River Ranch moves up to No. 5, anchored by several miles of the legendary North Platte River near Rawlins, Wyoming. The ranch controls approximately 92,000 acres through a combination of 25,000 deeded acres, 40,960 acres of BLM permits, a 23,527-acre private lease from Anadarko, and a small state lease, supporting over 9,000 AUMs. The North Platte supplies irrigation for several hundred acres of meadows that form the backbone of the cattle operation, while 30 stock ponds and numerous springs keep livestock watered across the property. Elevations sit around 7,000 feet where the broad river bottomland meets the Haystack Mountains, creating a classic Wyoming landscape of irrigated and native grasslands, sagebrush flats, and rocky outcrops. The fishing rivals the ranching: the North Platte here is large enough to float or wade, holding resident brown, rainbow, and cutthroat trout, with trophy fish moving up from Seminoe Reservoir downstream. Hunting is equally strong, with elk, mule deer, pronghorn, upland birds, and waterfowl all thriving on the property. Improvements are built for efficiency, including two homes, a calving and vet barn, feedlot, horse barn, and outbuildings. Beyond cattle, the ranch offers investment angles in wind rights, conservation easements, and carbon credits. Currently under a multi-year cattle lease generating attractive annual income, Haystack River Ranch delivers a proven low-overhead operation with the North Platte as its enduring asset.
#4 Wild Horse Basin Ranch, Wyoming | 92,351 Acres
Wild Horse Basin Ranch moves to No. 4, offering nearly 93,000 contiguous acres of shortgrass prairie in Natrona County, just 25 miles from Casper. The ranch includes 31,893 deeded acres, 6,604 acres of Wyoming State leases, 34,946 acres of BLM permits, 7,840 acres of private leases, and 11,069 acres under a long-term lease with PacifiCorp. Positioned between the Granite Mountains to the north and the Bighorn Mountains to the south, the property operates as a low-overhead cattle ranch with capacity to run over 1,000 head year-round. Infrastructure is well established, with working facilities, reliable water sources including creeks and stock tanks, and barn improvements in place. The landscape is classic Wyoming shortgrass prairie with varied terrain that supports strong wildlife populations, including elk, mule deer, and antelope. The combination of scale, proximity to a growing regional hub, productive grazing land, and the unique PacifiCorp lease arrangement makes Wild Horse Basin Ranch a rare find for buyers seeking a large, operational cattle property with long-term flexibility and minimal distance to services.
#3 Elk Mountain Cattle Ranch, Colorado | 120,000 Acres
Elk Mountain Cattle Ranch moves up to No. 3, offering approximately 120,000 total acres in Colorado’s historic South Park region, a nearly 1,000-square-mile intermontane grassland basin that Congress designated a National Heritage Area in 2009. The ranch includes roughly 30,000 deeded acres and 90,000 leased acres, with headquarters at 8,800 feet elevation in Hartsel, within two hours of Denver and Colorado Springs. Water is the defining asset here: the property controls over 6,000 surface acres of stored South Platte River water in Spinney Mountain and Elevenmile Canyon Reservoirs, plus a water right for 81 acre-feet from Spinney Mountain Reservoir. Over 30 miles of named rivers and creeks run through the ranch, and six stocked ponds complement more than three miles of private fly-fishing habitat on the Middle Fork of the South Platte. The fourth-generation family operation currently runs approximately 1,200 mother cows and 500 bison pairs. Improvements include five ranch homes with three to five bedrooms each, along with extensive barn and livestock infrastructure. Hunting is exceptional, with Boone and Crockett pronghorn, trophy mule deer, elk, bear, moose, and turkey all present on the property. Surrounded by 14,000-foot peaks and never before offered for sale, Elk Mountain Cattle Ranch represents one of the most diverse combinations of water resources, livestock production, and recreation available in the West, with the option to purchase in whole or in parts.
#2 Sand Arroyo Ranch, Arizona | 160,000 Acres
Sand Arroyo Ranch moves up to No. 2, expanding to approximately 145,000 acres under fence and claiming the title of the largest cattle ranch in Wickenburg, Arizona. The operation runs 825 head year-round on base permits, with eligibility for ephemeral increases that have pushed capacity above 1,900 head in recent spring seasons following winter rains. The ranch combines 274 deeded acres, including 30 irrigated acres, with extensive BLM permits and Arizona State Land Department grazing leases. Elevations range from 1,400 to 4,000 feet across rolling desert, large rock hills, and small mountains to the northeast, with headquarters sitting at 2,100 feet. Vegetation transitions from grama grasses and bush muhly at higher elevations to mesquite, palo verde, ironwood, and Mormon tea in the lower country, supplemented by strong spring forbs. Water infrastructure includes 22 wells on leased lands, 20 of which have been converted to solar for reduced operating costs, along with numerous dirt tanks and domestic and irrigation wells on deeded ground. Improvements include four homes: a two-bedroom main house with pool at the headquarters, a four-bedroom guest ranch home, a recently remodeled one-bedroom casita, and a two-bedroom north ranch house currently used for management. Working infrastructure spans three sets of corrals, 12 horse stalls opening to irrigated pasture, and 10 pastures with three large holding traps. Located in and around Wickenburg, the team roping capital of the world, the ranch offers the rare combination of serious scale, proven cattle production, and proximity to town. Cattle are negotiable separately.
#1 Bering Pacific Ranches, Alaska | 230,000 Acres
Bering Pacific Ranches holds the top spot with 230,000 acres under grazing lease on Umnak Island, a 686-square-mile landmass in Alaska’s Aleutian chain just west of Dutch Harbor. This is America’s westernmost ranch, set in what locals call the Cradle of Storms, where the frigid Bering Sea meets the warmer Pacific and its Kuroshio current. The resulting weather keeps the island draped in fog and the grasslands lush enough to support a year-round carrying capacity of 8,000 to 10,000 head without supplemental feeding. The current herd stands at approximately 10,000 cattle, alongside roughly 10,000 reindeer, a small bison herd on the far end of the island, and a few wild horses. Operations run from a former World War II Army air base, Fort Glenn, which provides the ranch headquarters, cowboy housing, shop, hangar, and a USDA and Oregon Tilth certified organic slaughter facility built on the original military foundation. Given the scale and terrain, with stock ranging 50 miles or more from the pens, cattle work is done by helicopter rather than horseback, using an R22 Beta to drive animals through the valleys to holding pens. The ranch becomes fully operational each fall, processing 500 to 1,000 head per season at 40 to 60 head per day. Grazing rights are leased from Native corporations that own land on the island, with the headquarters site leased from the Alaska Department of Transportation. For buyers seeking unmatched scale, organic certification, and one of the most singular ranching operations in North America, Bering Pacific Ranches remains in a category of its own.
Ranches at this scale don’t come to market often, and when they do, they tend to attract buyers thinking in generational terms. The properties on this list offer more than acreage. They represent water rights that will only grow more valuable, wildlife populations that take decades to build, and operational infrastructure refined over generations of family ownership. From the organic-certified remoteness of Bering Pacific to the team-roping convenience of Sand Arroyo, from the senior streamflow rights of L Cross to the sky island habitat of Eagle and Carrizo Mountain, each ranch tells a different story about what large-scale land ownership can look like in the modern West. For qualified buyers ready to step into that story, these are the opportunities worth watching.
