Cienega Amarilla Ranch

Cienega Amarilla Ranch is ±400 acres in western New Mexico, defined by rare year‑round water: the Cienega Amarilla runs the length of the property, shaded by mature trees and forming a natural wildlife corridor. A comfortable, solar‑powered ranch house and corrals anchor the headquarters. In GMU 12 and currently receiving a landowner elk tag through EPLUS, this is a secluded, capable gentleman’s ranch. Land Cienega Amarilla Ranch offers ±400-acres with a blend of riparian bottomland and upland high desert. The Cienega Amarilla flows year-round through the entire length of the property, lined with mature cottonwoods and willows that create rare, lush habitat in this part of New Mexico. Native grasses flourish along the cienega and provide excellent forage for light livestock or big game use. Beyond the creek, the land rises into piñon-juniper hillsides with scattered open benches, sandstone bluffs, and expansive views across the valley.

Historically used for cattle ranching, the property remains well suited for use as a gentleman’s ranch—capable of supporting a few head of cattle or horses while maintaining its strong wildlife habitat. The combination of perennial water, healthy cover, and forage makes the ranch a natural draw for elk, deer, and other game throughout the year.

Improvements The ranch headquarters centers on a comfortable, rustic home set just west of the Cienega Amarilla. Interior features include a large living area with a wood-burning stove, log-accent walls, and a covered porch that captures sunset views as the cliffs above the cienega light up. Electricity is provided by a solar array with battery storage and inverter. There is no well; domestic water is pulled directly from the Cienega Amarilla via on-site pumping. Propane service supports heating and appliances.

The yard around the home includes fruit trees, shade trees, and raised garden beds, along with stone and paver patios that frame the headquarters area. A dedicated storage and utility room supports extended off-grid use.

Outbuildings include a shop/garage with ample storage and workspace, plus additional ranch structures for tools and supplies. Adjacent to the headquarters is a functional set of corrals and small livestock pens. The ranch is fully fenced except where sheer cliffs create natural borders. Internal ranch roads and two-track trails provide 4×4 and UTV access along the creek corridor.

Recreation Cienega Amarilla Ranch lies within New Mexico Game Management Unit 12, known for healthy populations of elk, mule deer, and pronghorn, along with black bear and mountain lion. The year-round water and riparian corridor of the Cienega Amarilla create dependable habitat that consistently attracts wildlife.

The ranch is currently enrolled in the EPLUS program as part of a larger cooperative of ranches, which provides a landowner elk authorization. With the features of this ranch, including the habitat created by the year-round cienega, future owners may have the opportunity to apply for habitat improvement incentive tags, thereby increasing the total number of tags*.  Hunting for other species, including deer, pronghorn, and bear, is available to landowners through over-the-counter tags, giving owners a wide spectrum of hunting opportunities on the property.

Beyond hunting, the ranch’s secluded setting offers quiet privacy for horseback riding, hiking, and exploring the sandstone bluffs and historic settlement remnants. Nearby public lands and national forests across western New Mexico and eastern Arizona expand the scope for additional recreation.

*Always check the latest regulations with NMDGF.

Agriculture Cienega Amarilla Ranch was historically a cattle ranch, supported by the perennial water of the Cienega Amarilla and the grass it produces along its corridor. While the property’s ±400 acres are not suited to large-scale operations, it offers strong potential as a gentleman’s ranch—ideal for running a small herd of cattle or a few horses. The cienega provides consistent forage and water, a rare advantage in this part of New Mexico.

Water/Mineral Rights & Natural Resources The defining resource of the ranch is the Cienega Amarilla—a perennial, spring-fed wetland that runs the full ±400-acre length of the property. Ciénegas are unique to the Southwest: permanently saturated wetlands in an otherwise arid landscape. Once common across the region, many have been lost to overgrazing and groundwater diversion, making this intact ciénega especially rare.

These wetlands are sustained by groundwater discharge and patterns of winter precipitation, creating organic-rich soils and supporting a mosaic of vegetation. Along the Cienega Amarilla, sedges and rushes thrive in the saturated soils, while willows and cottonwoods line the corridor and provide shade and shelter. This continuous green ribbon stands in sharp contrast to the surrounding high desert.

Region & Climate Set in Catron County near the Arizona line at roughly 6,800 feet, the ranch sits in New Mexico’s high-desert plateau. Summers are hot, with daytime highs commonly in the 90s, often followed by late-summer monsoon storms. Spring and fall are cooler transition seasons. Winters are cold with periodic snow. Annual precipitation is light, and the area is known for abundant clear, sunny days.

Location The ranch is accessed by county-maintained roads, offering a secluded setting near the New Mexico–Arizona line. While Quemado is the nearest New Mexico community, the most practical full-service base is St. Johns, Arizona, less than an hour to the west. Springerville and Eagar are also within easy reach for supplies and services, with Show Low serving as the closest larger hub.

Approximate drive times:

• St. Johns, AZ – 45–60 minutes

• Springerville/Eagar, AZ – about 1–1¼ hours

• Show Low, AZ – about 2 hours

• Albuquerque, NM – 2¾–3 hours

• Phoenix, AZ – 5½ hours

• Tucson, AZ – 5½–6 hours