RED CANYON RANCH, THERMOPOLIS, WYOMING "Think of it as your own National Park" The epic story of Red Canyon Ranch begins when life on Earth almost died. Standing on the rim of Red Canyon and looking out over the beautiful vista, it's hard to imagine that the dove-gray cliffs and rolling tree-covered hills in the canyon bottom represent the biggest mass extinction of all time. The limestone is formed of tiny shells, the dying sea creatures that drifted to the bottom of the ancient ocean. This was 250 million years ago, during what paleontologists call the Permian Extinction, a period when 90% of all life on Earth perished. But the dramatic red cliffs that rise above the gray limestone--the Chugwater Formation--date to around 200 million years ago and represent an Earth filled with oxygen and iron: the foundations for the rebirth of life. The geology of most of the ranch dates to the period when dinosaurs walked and flew, giant trees ruled, and the earth was flourishing, from around 175 million to 125 million years ago. Fossils are abundant and can be found on every high point.The ranch is a true "end of the road" property, with a single controlled access and consists of approximately 1,619 acres. Elevation runs from 4,900 feet to about 6,000 feet and averages 16 inches of precipitation a year. The views from the canyon rim are stunning, from the hundred-mile vista of the Big Horn Mountains to the variegated red, yellow, green, white, and tan strata in the canyon that hearkens to Moab and Sedona.The creeks in Red Canyon are filled with cottonwoods, willows, and cattails, while the uplands are covered in pines and junipers. In total, Red Canyon Ranch has 13 springs, and one spring-fed pond, which produce a combined flow of about 300 gallons of water per minute. All water rights and springs are fully adjudicated or permitted and the earliest date back to 1903--which some have referred to as "Million dollar water." The 20-acre hay field is watered from the main spring through a gravity-fed pipeline and sprinkler system and additional acreage is permitted and can be added. As a result, irrigation is essentially free, and the field produces around 50-60 tons of quality grass hay per year.Not only is the scenic canyon sheltered from prevailing winds, but the abundant water and vegetation attract and sustain a wide variety of wildlife; elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, antelope, and occasional moose, are the major ungulates. Hungarian partridges, chukars, doves, wild turkeys, blue herons, and over 50 migratory bird species are common. The cliffs provide habitat for golden eagles, falcons, hawks and other raptors. The cliffs echo at night with the calls of great horned owls. Predators also visit the ranch: mountain lions, wolves, coyotes, bobcats are common occurrences, and once a while a black bear wanders through eating the currants and gooseberries that grow along the creeks.It is also the water that attracted ancient Native Americans to the ranch. Archaeological sites--the earliest dating to around 13,000 years ago--can be found across the ranch landscape and include prehistoric and historic campsites, stone circles, and numerous petroglyphs, or "rock art." For nearly six thousand years the ancestors of the Shoshoni made Red Canyon--or in their tongue, Engahonabita Ogwebi, which translates, "Red Canyon it's creek"--their home. The Shoshoni believe that if you are still and observant while walking in Red Canyon, you can catch glimpses of the mischievous "little people," the Nynymbi, or magical "water ogres," called, Pandzoavitz, or, perhaps if you are really lucky, the illusive Water Ghost Woman will appear to you. Here at Red Canyon Ranch, the echoes of the spirits and the hearts of a people remain.In 1897, the first immigrants from Europe came to Red Canyon. Jacob and Amanda Nostrum were from Sweden, and they operated a stage lion on the Fort Washaki to Thermopolis road. The current access into the ranch follows the historic Nost
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