Bear Creek Ranch , a unique 160 acre (approx.) mountain property is located at approximately 4300 feet in western Idaho in the Seven Devils Mountain Scenic Area, surrounded by the Payette National Forest high above Hell's Canyon and the Snake River.

Bear is located 32 miles northwest of Council and is accessible by a paved road open year round. The first 12 miles from Council were rebuilt and paved in 1996 and the next 20 miles were rebuilt and paved by the Federal Government in 2002. The road meanders through the beautiful and exceptionally scenic Payette Forest. This new road terminates at the entrance of Bear Creek Ranch.

Cuprum is an inactive old historical copper mining town located about 10 miles from Bear Creek Ranch. From Cuprum one can take the breathtaking scenic trip down to Hell's Canyon via the famous Kleinschmidt Grade. At that point the drop is over 5,000 feet to the Snake River and is considered to be the deepest canyon in the Western Hemisphere. Fishing and exciting white water rafting are great fun to experience on the Snake River.

Bear is a small old ranching community surrounded by the Payette National Forest. Except for the OX Ranch employees, there are only a few families that live at Bear year round. The 23,000 acre Ox Ranch is a historic ranch that formerly belonged to Albert Campbell, now deceased. Presently this ranch is owned by numerous members of a large Texas family. Bear Creek is bordered on three sides by the Ox Ranch. The land is boarded on the fourth side by a family that homesteaded the ranch in the early 1900s. All the perimeters of both ranches are completely fenced. There are no stores of any nature including gas stations at Bear.

Prior to 1980 there was no telephone or electrical service available aside from personal generators, gas lights, kerosene lamps, and radio telephones. Between 1980 and 1981 electric power and telephone services were installed underground throughout the community of Bear.

Between 1962 and 1973 Bear Creek Ranch was used as a dude ranch. The owner, an outfitter for the Seven Devils Mountains took his guests to the back country for hunting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, camping and white water rafting on the Snake River.

During the winter there is excellent down hill skiing available at Brundage Mountain at McCall, Idaho which is known for its exceptional powder snow, new high speed lifts and back country cat skiing. Golf is available at Meadow Creek Golf Club, an 18 hole championship course at New Meadows, Idaho which is open to the public. There are also two golf courses available at McCall.

Mail comes to Bear three days a week. However, there is now regular United Parcel Service, Federal Express, television via satellite and an internet service available. Food and many ranch necessities can be purchased in Council. There are two grocery stores, a T V sales and service store, two gas stations, an excellent auto parts store, the Adams County Court House, a veterinarian, antique and craft shops, several beauty shops, a large power products shop which sells and service lawnmowers, snow mobiles, and four wheelers , a few simple restaurants, a school with grades K-12, an insurance agency, a newspaper, a hardware and lumber store, and a hospital. In addition there is a 5,000 foot lighted paved runway at the Council Airport at an elevation of 3,000 feet The population of Council is approximately 1,000 people. It is basically a non-tourist agricultural town except for the trades people and retirees. The logging which was previously a major occupation has substantially decreased due to the closing of the Boise Cascade Mill a few years ago and the Forest Service cutbacks in the sales of timber throughout the state.

Bear Creek Ranch would be most suitable for a large family compound or for someone seeking privacy and the enjoyment of the many outdoor activities available or someone wishing to develop the land for recreational purposes. The property is especially good for horses as they do extremely well because of the high protein value of the high mountain natural grasses and because there are endless scenic miles to ride and train horses.

Bear Creek Ranch has three small guest cabins beside the owner's cabin. Each cabin is independent of each other. Each has its own wood burning fireplace, bathroom, and small kitchen .In addition each cabin has both electric and propane gas available and all the cabins are insulated and can be used in the coldest weather or can be closed up for the winter and winterized if not in use. All the cabins have front and rear decks with exceptionally pretty mountain views. The three guest cabins have a separate laundry building with its own washer, dryer, hot water heater and water well. The horse barn is insulated with three box stalls, a wash area for the horses, a custom metal feed bin, a tack room with a washer and dryer, and a bathroom with a stall shower. On the second floor there is large guest room with a king size bed, a sitting area with a fireplace, satellite TV and electric heat. The owner's cabin has its own separate satellite TV dish. The TV reception is excellent for both local Boise television as well as satellite television. The satellite dishes are the large variety to enable the viewer to receive the livestock reports which many ranches require.

There are four water wells on the ranch all with excellent water. One services the three guest cabins, one services the owner's cabin and horse barn, another has a hand pump near the horse barn for emergencies, and the fourth well is located at a future hilltop undeveloped building site. At this site underground telephone and electric power are installed and are ready to be activated at any time. The lines are buried approximately five feet and much blasting had to be done to make these utilities available and there is no evidence of any evacuation. At this site there is a wonderful 360 degree view of the surrounding mountains and the entire ranch as it is the highest location on the ranch. The ranch has a one acre cemetery dating back to the late 1800's and it is maintained by the county in the summer. Large pine trees have grown up around the cemetery and is not visible from any of the cabins or the undeveloped hilltop building site and it is rarely used. The county maintains the road to the cemetery and will snow plow the entrance if anyone stays at the ranch in the winter. Otherwise the road will not be plowed during the winter months or maintained. The ranch has two creeks. The main one is Bear Creek and the other is Mama Bear. The latter flows in front of the owner's cabin. Its water comes from an adjustable head gate on Bear Creek. Mama Bear is very small compared to Bear Creek which flows year round.

There are three large propane tanks on the ranch consisting of two 1,000 gallons tanks and one 500 gallon tank. These large tanks were used to operate two 12KW gas Onan generators before electrical service was available at the ranch, prior to 1981. Once electrical service was available, the generators were sold and now the only use for the propane is for the gas ranges and wall heaters in the cabins, the barn bath and tack rooms. No power failure has occurred in Bear including the massive one in 1996 throughout the northwest and west coast because the power to Bear comes directly up from the Hell's Canyon power station underground.

In addition to the four cabins and horse barn, there is an insulated shop building with a separate room for the hot water heater and sink. This room also holds the pressure tank for the well which services the horse barn and the owner's cabin. The water lines to these buildings are buried five feet underground to prevent any possible freezing in the winter. The shop has various tools and equipment for operating the ranch. Attached to the shop are two large covered bays used to store farm machinery, wood and hay. There is an old building that was used at one time as a western tack room and an very old large hay barn which is now used to store the old carriages and sleighs, all of which are included in the sale of the ranch.

Bear Creek is offered for sale, completely furnished "as is " for $1,500,000.00. For information or for an appointment to view the ranch e-mail:

bearcreekranchidaho@earthlink.net