Deep Creek Ranch - Vanderhoof, BC

30 minutes south of Vanderhoof, this working cattle ranch offers a lucrative opportunity—complete with a large range, hay fields, a home, equine barn with suite, homesteader cabin and outbuildings. This is an ideal location for a new or current rancher, or investor looking to grow/diversify their investment portfolio.

The ranch is estimated to support 350 cow/calf pairs or more, plus 100 head each of goats and sheep, and 10 horses. The 40,000 acre grazing licence surrounding the ranch is being reviewed for additional capacity and an agriculture lease. The ranch is fenced and cross fenced to manage herd rotation. The deeded land and range are contiguous.

Within this ranch is a newly constructed equine barn, cattle/animal barn, feed shed, workshop, homesteader log cabin, and wood shed. Cattle pens, a crowding pen, working alley, covered squeeze chute and headgate, along with a loading chute are all in excellent working condition. Some farm equipment and machinery is included. The summary list is; excavator, dozer, tractor, semi-truck, flat deck trailer with bale rack, diamond harrow bar, two harrow bars, and hay liner.

Situated above the main working area, the two storey 2,600 ft² modular house provides opportunity to view the ranch infrastructure, and the interior plateau. Constructed in 2002, the home includes an open kitchen, living and dining room, three bedrooms and a full washroom upstairs. The lower floor has a suite complete with bedroom, kitchen, living room, bedroom, full bathroom, and a laundry room, which are close to completion.

39980 Blackwater Road - Vanderhoof, BC

Turn south onto Blackwater Road 7 km southeast of Vanderhoof. You will pass the Sinkut Lake Road turn off in about 5 km. Continue for about 31 km where you will reach a four-way stop at Bobtail FSR. Continue straight for another 6.5 km. The ranch driveway is on the left.

Vanderhoof

(pop 4500 ±)

Vanderhoof is a rich, fertile valley known for its cattle ranches and dairy farms. As the geographic centre of the province, this is one of the last vast wilderness and resource industry frontiers. The area is sparsely populated, yet accessible, well serviced, and close to city amenities. Closely followed by forestry, ranching and farming are the primary industries.

As the second-largest and most easterly area of the Bulkley-Nechako Regional District, Vanderhoof encompasses a land area of approximately 78,000 square kilometres. Natural resources attract businesses to the low cost of living, access to government services, superior education and health care providers, along with a strong retail sector. Vanderhoof is rich in culture, history, natural resources, and recreational opportunities.

The significant interior Highway 16 connects to shipping terminals Prince Rupert and Tsawwassen. Rail lines in Vancouver and Edmonton combine with air access directly from nearby regional airports in Prince George, Quesnel, Smithers, Kamloops, and Kelowna.

The Nechako River, which joins the Fraser River at Prince George, runs along the north edge of Vanderhoof.

Vanderhoof lies on 632 m above sea level. The climate here is classified as cold and temperate. Rainfall is significant, (about 510 mm annually) with precipitation even during the driest months.

Surrounded by the Northern Interior Plateau’s low-rolling and upland terrain, Vanderhoof is forested with sub-boreal spruce and pine. This is the core of the forestry and agricultural industries that have dominated the economy since 1926.

Situated in the Nechako Valley, rivers, lakes, mountains, grassy fields all combine to create a diverse backdrop for adventure, recreation, fishing and hunting.

Beaumont Provincial Park

Beaumont Provincial Park lies within the Nechako Plateau bordered to the west and north by the Hazelton, Skeena and Omineca Mountains. The park has a sandy beach for swimming, sunbathing and a variety of facilities for water-oriented activities. Beaumont was the site of the historic Fort Fraser in the 1840s, and there are still signs of habitation around the park.

Stuart River Provincial Park

Stuart River Provincial Park also lies on the Nechako Plateau and features flat to gently-rolling terrain and rounded mountains with low ridges and high bluffs along the Stuart River. The corridor has riparian areas and forests associated with the major river systems of the plateau. Paddling, fishing, hunting and plentiful wildlife viewing highlight this park.

Stellako River Wildlife Management Area

Stellako River Wildlife Management Area protects 503 hectares of river and riparian habitat along the Stellako River near Fraser Lake. The Stellako River is one of the top rainbow trout river fisheries in BC, and is also used by chinook and sockeye salmon. The area is a destination for sport fishing and other recreational opportunities.

Nechako River Bird Sanctuary

The 180 hectare Nechako River Bird Sanctuary, along the Pacific Flyway, is considered a mecca for bird watchers and photographers. Tens of thousands of Canada geese stop to rest and feed on the small islands of the Nechako River during the spring and fall migrations. Migratory hawks and owls also travel the Flyway.

Lakes and Rivers

Vanderhoof is near the edge of the Lakes District, which comprise a multitude of lakes. In this peaceful, uncrowded area, canoeing and kayaking are an opportunity to boat or sail, relax, enjoy nature and, if you wish, just drift. The Stellako and Nechako Rivers, Tachick, Nulki Lakes are all on the ranch’s back step.

Fishing and Hunting

People travel from around the world to hunt and fish specifically in the Nechako Valley due to the prize-sized rainbow trout and the vast forests rich with wild game. Moose, elk, grizzly, mule deer, whitetail deer, black bear, cougar, wolf, lynx, and coyote all call this region home. Fantastic upland game bird and waterfowl hunting combined with unbelievable fishing are a mecca.

Golf

Omineca Golf Course has an 18 hole course, clubhouse, pro shop, restaurant and bar. The front nine holes transects the woods and crosses gullies, while the back nine is flat, open, and has water features on three fairways. This course is a perfect opportunity to enjoy some ‘me’ time or to join up with some buddies for an unrushed round.

Winter Sports

Murray Ridge Ski Hill, 72 km north of Vanderhoof, has an impressive 1,700 vertical feet of terrain with 22 runs. Here, enjoying maximum time on snow instead of lineups is a reality. This mountain is referred to as the ‘best-kept secret of the north.

Many of the hiking trails around Vanderhoof turn into excellent cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails in the winter. The Nechako Valley Sporting Association maintains 40 km of tracked cross-country and snowshoeing trails at Waterlily Lake. Snowboarders and tobogganers can use the bike park in the winter. Lake tops and backyard rinks also make for winter fun. In town, there is a curling rink and ice arena.

During the early years, Vanderhoof (Dutch for "of the farm") began as a small community with the surrounding area made up of large cattle ranches and logging operations.

Settlers came in from the south over the western end of the Telegraph Trail. They travelled up the west coast to Prince Rupert, where they boarded river steamers to Hazelton then, trekked along the trail to Fort Fraser.

The telegraph line was erected in the early days to create an overland connection between America and Europe. The telegraph trail line swept across BC and was the main artery of travel. Many who were employed on the telegraph line remained in the north, trading, trapping and prospecting for gold.

In 1906 the Vanderhoof was only a survey line in the wilderness to mark the location of the planned railway. On April 7th, 1914 the ‘golden spike’ was driven in marking the end of railway construction. The town was founded soon after by Herbert Vanderhoof, a Chicago publicist who worked on behalf of the Grand Truck Pacific Railroad. He had hopes to lure settlers into the region by promising unlimited, fabulously wealthy farmland, homes and businesses, plumbing and electricity. The people came in droves.

The town swelled, and in 1926 the Village of Vanderhoof was born. With the arrival of World War II many young men left, and Vanderhoof came to a standstill. With the rise of lumber prices and the arrival of new people in the late 1940s, it began to grow again. The next boost to the population and the economy came with the construction of Kenny Dam in the early 1950s. At the peak of development, it employed 1,500 workers. The next growth spurt came with an influx of American immigrants in the 1960s.

53°46'0.18"N and 123°35'14.78"W

In 2015 the “Little Bobtail” forest fire burned 25,569 hectares in the immediate area. A sizeable portion of the Deep Creek Ranch range was within this fire perimeter, burning much of the timber. Recently a full scale project has cleared about 3,700 acres (1,500 ha) of the burned timber for pellet export by Pacific Energy. The clearing has been completed to a high standard, with only some piles left to be removed. The result is a greatly enhanced range for grazing and agricultural lease opportunities for hay production.

A ground water stock watering licence is pending to support 350 cow/calf pairs, 100 head each of sheep and goats and 10 horses.

Limited irrigation may be possible. Estimated hay production without irrigation or fertilizer is 1,000 (1,200 to 1,400 lbs.) round bales on the deeded land.

Power is supplied by a new solar system and diesel generator
Propane provides radiant heating to the home and barn
New septic fields installed; one for the main home and another to serve the suite above the equine barn and homestead cabin
The owner reports excellent artisan well based on current use