Pitchfork Ranch

The Pitchfork Ranch transports you to a simpler time, where solitude and unspoiled beauty define the landscape. Located 30 miles south of Silver City, New Mexico, rugged mountains give way to the dramatic Chihuahuan Desert, and nine miles of the Burro Cinaga flow through the heart of the ranch, providing a rare and critical water source. Elevations range from 5,150 to 5,650. Spanning 11,393 acres, including 5,160 deeded acres, 3,597 Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lease acres, and 2,626 New Mexico State lease acres, the ranch is a hub for wildlife and habitat conservation and is protected by a Conservation Easement. The Pitchfork Ranchs reach of the Burro Cinaga is the only cinaga being restored on private property in New Mexico. Cinagas are shallow, slow-moving, marsh-like water unique to the American Southwest. With 95 % of cinaga habitat lost, Burro Cinaga is an important refuge for wildlife, including at-risk species such as the Chiricahua leopard frog and Gila topminnow. Recent scientific evidence indicates cinagas have substantial carbon sequestration, five times more than forests and 500 times more than oceans. The Cole Family has invested over a million dollars in restoring Burro Cinaga and its surroundings using a combination of private and public funding. After two decades of habitat restoration, this land is returning to its pre-settlement condition. The ecotone created by the cinaga and the Chihuahuan desert makes for an incredibly rich biodiversity. Mule deer, foxes, coyotes, mountain lions, javelina, and Gambels quail are common here. Elk have become frequent visitors in recent years. Bald and golden eagles enjoy the solitude. A comical troop of coatis sometimes gathers near the headquarters. Old West charm, beauty, wildlife, and conservation are central to this property. For a detailed history of the ranch and the habitat conservation efforts, please see A.T. ColesRestoring the Pitchfork Ranch, How Healing a Southwest Oasis Holds Promise for Our Endangered Land(2024), published by The University of Arizona Press.