All Hay & Cattle @ 7,888 Feet: Wet Mountain Valley - America’s Highest Ranchlands 🐄🌾⛰️
- KCStark
- May 19
- 3 min read
Updated: May 21
By KC Stark
As a “new kid” in town from an old hay field in Weston, MO, I couldn’t resist digging into the land and learning more about the world around me.
One day while driving in Custer County, CO - Kit Carson would be proud of this county.
7888 – America’s Highest Beef!
"7888 - America's Highest Beef." As I write, before me stretches the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the Wet Mountain Valley—one of the highest active grazing regions in the United States!
PS: if you're local and have images of your cattle and hay, let's talk. Did you know? You can also 'tengo dinero' from stock images. Your cattle could actually becomes stars! Like this one below.
At nearly 7,900 feet above sea level, Westcliffe and the surrounding ranchlands offer a rare blend of elevation, water access, and tradition that continues to feed families, fuel the local economy, and shape the future of rural Colorado. Hello, Custer County!
🌄 High-Altitude, High-Value
When I say “high country ranching,” I mean it. I’m at 9,500 feet, and the cattle wander about as close as they can get. Wet Mountain Valley stands peak to peak with well-known ag regions like South Park, Gunnison, and the San Luis Valley—but it brings its own distinct flavor.
What makes Wet Mountain Valley so special?
Clean air ✅
Reliable snowmelt ✅
Strong hay yields despite shorter seasons ✅
Cattle and hay as a way of life for generations ✅
Unlike ultra-high towns like Leadville or Alma—where ranching is nearly impossible due to elevation and harsh climate—Wet Mountain Valley offers just enough growing season to get the job done.
📊 How Wet Mountain Valley Compares:
Region | Elevation (ft) | Ag Use |
Wet Mountain Valley | ~7,888 | Hay, cattle, grazing ✅ |
San Luis Valley | 7,500–8,100 | Large-scale hay & beef |
South Park (CO) | 8,000–9,000 | High-altitude grazing |
Gunnison Valley | 7,700–8,000 | Ranching + limited crops |
Teton Valley (ID) | ~6,500 | Some hay + livestock |
Jackson Hole (WY) | ~6,200 | Grazing, less hay production |
Wet Moutains may not be the biggest—but they're high, hardy, and proud.
"High, Hardy, and Proud." Might make a good tagline too. Hm? Nope, someone might mistake it for a cannabis op. Scratch that idea...
🌱 What It Means for Ranchers and Hay Producers
Where I’m from, you’re about as close to the Missouri River as you can get without worrying about being flooded out. Here, farming at elevation isn’t for the faint of heart, but it comes with real benefits:
Cooler temps = fewer pests
Clean water = better forage
Short seasons = more efficiency
Smaller valley = tighter community and localized markets (could use some expansion, I reckon.)
The folks working these fields and pastures know how to make the most of every inch—and every drop of rain.
I met a gal at a bar—sounds like a joke, but it’s true. She spends nights slingin’ at a local watering hole and days she moves cattle on a quad runner. That’s just one micro slice of the Wet Mountain Valley. This place is a rodeo of good stories!
🛠️ Planning for the Future?
As a new slinger in town, I don't know what I don’t know. But almost everyone I’ve met has impressed me—with what’s being raised, grazed, and built right here in this wild, wonderful Rocky Mountain valley. It’s almost a secret.
But secrets don’t help sell hay, beef, or locally sourced menus. This is just my small effort to shine a light on what others might have missed.
I'm Grazing Near the Top. And Plan to Stay Here. 🐂
I’m also here to help navigate the financing and planning side of that future. I also carry a loaded six-string a mortgage broker license and have turned ideas into cash for decades. Have questions about land values, property financing, or business development? Reach out—I’m KC Stark, and I’m here to stay. Let's graze and raise!
Comments